PHILIPPINE pastors and Christian delegates joined a massive global movement recently, uniting with approximately 3,000 religious leaders worldwide to champion religious freedom, human dignity, equality, and due process.
The domestic leg of this mobilization brought together 374 participants who took part through a hybrid format of onsite and online sessions held across three locations in the Philippines.
The initiative was part of the 1st Joint Assembly of World Pastors, which originally convened in South Korea on August 13.
The global event was jointly organized by the Council for Christian Mutual Growth (CCMG), the Korea Christian Leaders Training Institute (KCLTI), and the Pastors Alliance for Life and Human Rights (PAFHLR).
Centered on the theme “Defending Religious Freedom and Christian Innovation,” the assembly urged faith leaders to transcend denominational divisions under the banner, “One Body. One Voice. One Mission. Advancing Peace Through God’s Word.”
The gathering focused on three core pillars: Global Fellowship, Defending the Truth, and Innovating for the Kingdom.
Beyond the Philippine contingent, the international summit drew leaders from various nations, including Russia and Zambia, demonstrating that the fight for religious liberty is a universal concern transcending borders and specific denominations.
A central point of discussion during the assembly was the ongoing legal situation in South Korea involving the detention and trial of 95-year-old Chairman Lee Man-hee of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus.
International delegates emphasized that judicial proceedings must remain objective, relying strictly on law and evidence rather than bowing to public pressure or religious prejudice.
“Public opinion must never replace evidence, truth, and due process,” participants noted in a joint declaration, cautioning that unchecked discrimination against any single religious community jeopardizes the rights of all.
Rev. Im Young-woong of the Presbyterian Church of Korea questioned controversial calls to dissolve religious corporations, highlighting the dangerous precedent such actions could set for other faith groups.
Meanwhile, Bishop Elias Elijah Changa of Zambia underscored that respecting Chairman Lee’s peace-building initiatives through Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light does not exempt anyone from the law, but insisted that judgments must be anchored strictly in legal evidence, not theological disagreements.
Organizers expressed deep concern over emerging threats to religious freedom and the separation of church and state in South Korea, urging the global faith community to treat the issue as a collective responsibility.
For local attendees, the assembly reinforced the vital role of Philippine Christian leaders in standing up for justice, human rights, and religious liberty worldwide.
