FOLLOW US
L Rouse: Address to World Summit 2020
Written by Rev. Dr. Luonne Abram Rouse, Co-Chairman, American Clergy Leadership Conference
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Address to World Summit 2020, Seoul, Korea, February 3-8, 2020
I am addressing the topic “Direction of WCLC Activities from 2020–2027 from the Perspective of Christian Mission” for the World Clergy Leadership Conference (WCLC) session of the World Summit in Seoul, Korea, on February 5, 2020. I was invited to be a keynote speaker on the theme and by personal privilege would like to place a special emphasis on the “Essentiality of Clergy in the 21st Century Christianity.” With expressed thanks to Dr. Michael Jenkins for the recommendation of my voice on this subject and gratitude for the invitation extended by Rev. Jin Hun Yong of the FFWPU International Headquarters, I am humbled to be here accompanied by my wife, Minister Marie Rouse. And, it is a great joy and honor to be chosen by True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, to represent my Christian calling to worldwide leadership.
Now, thinking eschatologically within the Providence of Restoration, the Creator has so ordered the world that we have a place in current existence and a say in the future of the universe.
The direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of the Christian mission is significance to the salvation of the 7.7 billion people in the world. The purpose of the WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of the Christian mission is to restore all children of God unto righteous abundant living in accord with the original righteousness intended for humanity with God.
Historically, the Christian mission has been grounded in the Good News, not of the cross where Jesus shouldn’t have been crucified, rather in the Great Commission given by the risen Messiah to his Apostles to go make disciples throughout the world as stated in the Gospel of Matthew:
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)
The primary activity given through the Great Commission, one might argue, is to educate and influence all nations to be obedient to the will of God.
In modern times Christian activities have been to uphold the perspective of salvation through teaching the Good News of Jesus as well as encouraging people to do good things for people.
In light of this reality, the current situation facing Christianity is to reach the 7.7 billion people with ways and means of unity between faith communities and cooperative peace throughout all societies. The challenge has been and remains unity between the West and the East in the Christian movement.
The Unification leader, True Mother, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, has asked the World Clergy Leadership Conference to do the necessary things: Clergy must respond positively to the call to worldwide leadership.
Therefore, the direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission ought to be the following:
- Building unity between Western Christianity with churches of the East (Two-Thirds World countries);
- Bridging the relational gap between young clergy and older clergy leaders;
- Creating supportive cooperation among conservative and progressive Christian leaders;
- Teaching social responsibility as well as the divine principle of true love;
- Establishing worldwide sacrificial humanitarian services;
- Proclaiming the poetic and prophetic Word influencing actions worldwide; and
- Strengthening familial relationships into a global one family, under God.
The WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of the Christian mission transforms eschatological visioning of an other-worldly end time anticipating a dramatic world-stopping return of Jesus the Christ into an understanding that the Spirit of Christ has returned to teach all people to embrace the indwelling Spirit, so as to build Messiahship in every nation.
The WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of the Christian mission are to establish and maintain inclusive faith communities for the realization of salvific live here on Earth. In the 21st century the mission of Christianity is to build the awareness of Christ in the world and teach people how to live for the sake of others, here and now.
It is important that the direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission fulfill the will of God on Earth. The hope for fulfilling the will of God is grounded in the realization of a cosmic redemption. The essentiality of clergy is lost when preachers, called or ordained, fail to preach and teach relevant cosmic redemption. However, when clergy preach and teach the truth, we might accomplish the unifying of North and South Korea.
WCLC might take seriously the studies developed by Rev. Sun Myung Moon on eschatology, Christology, and the role of clergy in the physical redemption of families through teachings and blessings. An intellectual paradigm of redemption might revise understanding the role of clergy as active leaders in the making of world peace. Men and women who might often pray together can also stand firm in unity against all injustices.
The direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission is to liberate the understanding of the parousia, the Second Coming, from thoughts of the final return of Christ for a catastrophic end of the world. It is an essential role of clergy to take a serious reflection on Jesus' self-understanding as the purpose of God’s empowerment of men and women, so as to discern the work of the Messiah within the world today. This, I believe, is why Jesus had no hesitation in issuing the Great Commission, knowing that the Spirit within him might be given the Apostles and thereby given to us, who dare to believe. Let us work hand and hand as clergy to teach people the ways and means to world peace.
The direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission is to build a sacred community of physical salvation. This means we are to work to break down barriers to enable the beloved community, (Martin Luther King, Jr.)—a healthy psycho-social community of faith, hope, and love—to be realized. In this beloved community families of justified and sanctified individuals are purified into the one family under God.
In conclusion, the direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission might correspond to an understanding of being commissioned to complete the salvation work of Jesus the Messiah. Might we take action as clergy to fulfill our essential obligations to live and teach true love as the means to correct and eliminate injustices worldwide?
Clergy Leadership, I propose that the direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission shall correct political leaders, media false information, and social unjust stratification systems, and so forth and build moral societies upholding true family values.
The direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission is essentially that clergy be led to break down all unjust barriers of prejudice against races, ethnicities, genders, and so forth.
We, clergy have the responsibility to move the direction of WCLC activities from 2020–2027 from the perspective of Christian mission for the completion of redemption on Earth and the glorification of God. Let us “Just do it!”
Thank you for listening; in the grip of God, I am Luonne Abram Rouse.
To go back to the WCLC Assembly Schedule page, click here.
To go to the World Summit 2020 Schedule page, click here.