CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE OF ASIA MOURNS THE PASSING AWAY OF Rev. KANG YOUNG-SUP
The passing away of Rev. Kang Young-sup, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Korean Christian Federation (KCF), was received with deep sorrow and regret. On behalf of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, sent a letter of condolence to KCF expressing feelings of grief at the loss of not only an eminent ecumenical church leader but also a dear friend of the CCA. Conveying her deep sorrow, solidarity and prayers to the bereaved family and all members of the KCF, she said that Rev. Kang had made significant ecumenical contributions in the areas of advocacy, dialogue, ecumenical exchanges and visits, development and emergency efforts and other areas of ministries, that have inspired both the North and South Korean churches.
Rev. Kang, she said, had led the closing worship at the commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the historic Tozanso Peace Process held in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, in October 2009, marking the ongoing ecumenical efforts towards peace, human security, and reunification in the peninsula.
Dr. Henriette observed that with his sad demise, the CCA has not only lost a distinguished religious leader, but a courageous and patriotic leader whose Christian values inspired him to tirelessly work for peace and reconciliation in the Korean region, and for nation building.
“The CCA”, she added, “remembers with gratitude his accompaniment in our journey and wish to uphold him as an icon of good and responsible leadership. We thank God for the life and witness and his contributions to the ecumenical family.”