For two weeks delegates of many Presbyterian and other Reformed Churches from all over the world will be meeting in Seoul. We have come here to renew our common commitment to the service of Jesus Christ. The theme of our gathering is Christ's question to his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" (Mt 16.13; Mk 8.27; Lk 9.18). As we are about to begin our work, we send you our cordial greetings and ask for your prayers of intercession.

Christ's commission to his disciples included both a promise and a call: "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses" (Acts 1.8). As Christians today, we are heirs both to that promise and to the call to bear witness to Jesus Christ. Ours is a time of immense threats to the survival of humanity. More than ever, Our common witness to the gospel is required. Let us, therefore, respond together to God's call. Let us pray together for the gift of the Spirit, that through our joint witness God's reconciliation in Christ may become manifest in the world.

In many countries, churches of the Reformed tradition have been true ambassadors of the good news. We give thanks for the rich testimony of our various churches. At the same time, we are aware how often our witness has been obscured by manifold divisions. Thus, the pressing question which the Apostle Paul addressed to the Corinthians, "Is Christ divided?" (1 Cor 1.13), offers a particular challenge today to the family of Reformed churches.

We confess together that, in Christ, there we are one body. Therefore, as we seek to be faithful to God's call, we need to find ways of breaking down existing barriers and coming together in Christ's service. In one of his letters, John Calvin wrote: "One of the main evils is the fragmentation of the churches. As far as I am concerned I shall not shun any effort to redress this situation and if I am needed I am prepared to cross ten seas." May that same passion for unity inspire us today. This issue will be one of the major concerns at our gathering in Seoul.

We realize how little we are able to achieve through our human efforts. We depend on God's grace. At the same time, we know that God will never abandon the people who put their trust in God. God's covenant stands firm. In confidence, therefore, we pray to God that through the power of the Spirit a movement of renewal and reconciliation may be initiated in our midst. We invite you to join us in prayer, and we would rejoice in closer contact and fellowship among the Presbyterian Churches in Korea and the member churches of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Rev Dr Allan A Boesak, president

Rev Dr Edmond Perret, general secretary