Protestant Elders: "The Government Must Never Prevent On-Site Worship Under Any Circumstances"

"Worship is like life itself"
"One thing we cannot give up even during the COVID-19 crisis is worship"
"We will strive to end the COVID-19 pandemic"

On the morning of the 26th, at an emergency press conference hosted by the Korea Christian Leaders Council and the Korea Church Lay Leaders Association in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Seon-gyu, former president of the Korea Christian Federation (right), is speaking about the importance of on-site worship.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] The Korea Christian Leaders Council and the Korea Church Lay Leaders Association held an emergency press conference on the 26th in front of the Korea Christian Federation Hall in Jongno 5-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, stating, "The church will hold worship services no matter what sacrifices are involved."

At the press conference held that day, they issued a statement titled "Worship is like Life."

In the statement, these organizations claimed, "Worship is a value more precious than life" and "It is one thing that cannot be given up even amid the COVID-19 crisis."

They said, "Worship was maintained even in the brutal scenes of being torn apart and swallowed by starving lions in the Roman Colosseum, under harsh torture, persecution, and oppression during the Japanese colonial period, and in the tragic circumstances of the Korean War," adding, "Worship is the core and life of Christianity."

They emphasized on-site worship, saying, "It is the purpose of our lives that must be held no matter how difficult the situation."

They stated, "Worship is the core and life of Christianity, and it is the duty of Christians to protect it at all costs, regardless of any sacrifice," and added, "Closing worship services can be considered the dismantling of the church."

In particular, they said, "The government must not block on-site worship under any circumstances."

However, they also said, "We will take the lead in COVID-19 prevention with responsibility and vigilance and work even harder to end the pandemic," adding, "We will comply well with whatever level of social distancing the government implements, take the lead in executing government quarantine measures, and do our best in local quarantine efforts."

Furthermore, they urged awareness, saying, "The church bears great responsibility for the spread of COVID-19." Regarding the COVID-19 crisis, they said, "It is a disaster brought by our greed and the result of the church failing to fulfill its mission as the light and salt of the world," and claimed, "The church must live for the country to live, and the church must rise again as the hope of the nation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.