---
title: Korea Presbyterian Church members urge rejection of LGBTQ+ hatred ahead of General Assembly
url: https://www.faithfulnews.com/en/korea-presbyterian-church-members-urge-rejection-of-lgbtq-hatred-ahead-of-general-assembly
published: 2026-09-16T16:21:24+00:00
language: en
section: Culture and Ideas
source: https://www.newsnjoy.or.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=400714
organizations: Korea Presbyterian Church, Korea Christian Council, Human Rights Center of the Korean Church, Presbyterian Church in the United States
publisher: FaithfulNews
---

# Korea Presbyterian Church members urge rejection of LGBTQ+ hatred ahead of General Assembly

Approximately sixty pastors and congregants from the Korea Presbyterian Church and other denominations gathered on September 11 to oppose the rising tide of hatred toward sexual minorities within the denomination. The event, held at the Korea Christian Council building, took place just days before the denomination's 111th General Assembly was scheduled to begin on September 15. Participants called for the restoration of public discourse and the rejection of discriminatory attitudes that they argued contradict the church's founding theology.

The gathering was organized by the LGBTQ+ Non-Discrimination Korea Presbyterian Church Community. Speakers emphasized that the denomination must remember its historical commitment to standing with marginalized groups. They urged the church to stop movements aimed at erasing the existence of sexual minorities and to create a space where diverse viewpoints can communicate openly. One attendee, a member of a welcoming congregation, shared that finding a church that accepted them allowed them to recover their faith, warning that without such support, they might have been overwhelmed by life's difficulties.

Theological arguments were presented to counter the growing conservative opposition. A pastor from the Hanbaek Church cited the denomination's 1953 declaration of independence from the Korean Presbyterian Church. He explained that the founding document rejected Pharisaism and affirmed freedom of conscience and an ecumenical theology that lives with the world. He stated that harboring hatred toward sexual minorities is a betrayal of this core DNA and a violation of the church's established theological principles.

Concerns about the suppression of open dialogue were also raised. A pastor from the Human Rights Center of the Korean Church noted that the General Assembly's online bulletin board was closed after discussions about sexual minorities became contentious. He argued that this closure allowed prejudice to take root in the shadows, preventing necessary public scrutiny. Another speaker, a pastor from the Presbyterian Church in the United States, drew a parallel to the 1950s persecution of a prominent theologian, urging the community to stand together to prevent a repeat of such historical sins. He emphasized that issues of acceptance can be a matter of life and death, requiring collective solidarity rather than individual effort.

The event concluded with a call for direct engagement rather than division. The moderator expressed a desire to hold a public forum with the anti-LGBTQ+ groups within the denomination. He rejected the label of hate group for these members, preferring to identify them as a conservative faction. He stated that the ultimate goal is to discuss the reality of human existence in a shared public space, moving beyond simple arguments for or against specific identities.

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