Over a dozen Tsubaki priests and members attended the August 1996 Korea Congress of the international Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). The IARF, founded in 1900, is the world's oldest interfaith organisation.

At the closing business meeting, Dr. Yukitaka Yamamoto, chief priest of Tsubaki Grand Shrine, was elected president. Dr. Yamamoto is a leader in bringing Shinto into the Dialogue of World Religions. Since he led Shinto prayers at the United Nations 30 years ago, Dr. Yamamoto has taught that the "Kami Spirit" of "Reverence for Nature" embraces the whole earth. Thus Shinto is called to work in harmony with other faiths for peace and understanding.

This was a difficult Congress to arrange. Many Koreans view the Japanese as oppressors. In the days just before the Congress, Koreans who had been used as "comfort women" by the Japanese troops with anger rejected the "unofficial compensation" offered by Japan.

Is interfaith dialogue worth it? Especially in three different languages in a unfamiliar land? A Korean Jesuit described Korea to me as "The Ireland of the Orient." Like Ireland, Korea is divided into North and South. Like Ireland there are violent demonstrations for unification. Like Ireland there is deep resentment of an "imperial" island to the west which often invaded. For Ireland the invaders were English: for Korea the invaders were Japanese. Like Ireland, religion is strong in Korea. Of 40 million Koreans, perhaps 20 million follow various forms of Buddhism. Over 10 million are Protestant Christians. About 3 million Koreans are Catholic.

Our hosts were Won Buddhists, founded in Korea seventy years ago. Their focus of worship is a circle which reminds them of "the interdependence of all things. There is no independent existence." In keeping with their teaching they invited the IARF Congress to meet at the beautiful campus of the Won Kwang University in Iksan City, about 100 miles south of Seoul. The University provided a first rate modern art show, three glorious concerts featuring drums and dance, and an excellent air conditioned center for the Congress.

Japanese/Korean dialogue became a vital part of the Congress. In a moving speech, Rev. Norio Sakai of Rissho Kosei-kai (Japanese Buddhist) apologised to the Koreans. Later, in the Study Group on Religious Practice, a young woman from Japan told her experience as a volunteer aide in a Korean home for the elderly. When the Koreans learned that she was Japanese, several expressed their hatred of her. At night she would go home in tears. She prayed for strength to continue. To be an agent of the Buddha spirit of compassion. After weeks, one of the Koreans thanked her.

In his opening address, John Buehrens, president of the North American Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), said, "The religion that cannot be criticised becomes a threat to religious freedom." His speech on five virtues closed with hope:

"A quiet confidence that the resources are there to make the world a better place of more justice and love and less suffering."

Other speakers included Christine Hayhurst of Great Britain and Dr. Fe.L. Sycip, a Filipino Physician who was co-awarded the Albert Schweitzer Medal. Near the close of the Congress, an Israeli Jew and a Palestinian Christian told of their friendship in a divided land.

There were no delegates from Romania. A week before the Congress, Unitarian Bishop Janos Erdo died. Others in the delegation stayed at home to join in the funeral, and to take part in changes taking place in the Romania Church. The IARF Interfaith Service on Sunday was dedicated to the memory of Bishop Erdo, a courageous man who had endured a Communist prison for his faith.

Westerners were in the minority at the Korean IARF. There were more delegates from India than from England. In an effort at cross-cultural friendship, most days at noon we met in "Circle Groups" of 12 to 14. In my group was a Korean Priest who ministers to a congregation of Korean Buddhists in Japan. The second day he sang a Korean song about the river which flows between North and South. "A bird can fly across the river, but a human being can not."

At the close of the Congress, Chief Priest Yamamoto led almost 200 of the delegates in buses to a prayer service at an observation point looking across the river to North Korea.

One prayer was by Dr. Peter Gerlitz of Germany who said,

"We, Christians of the reunified Germany, join with the Korean People and pray:

Almighty God, bless the Korean people in their desire for unification and peace. ..."

For me, the most memorable moment came six days later at the close of our tour of Buddhist Temples. We were at Pusan at the graveyard of the United Nations Troops who turned back the invading Communist Forces. Several of my friends died in that war. We saw graves from Turkey with Islamic Symbols. We saw Dutch graves, and English graves, and American graves. I believe 21 nations were represented. That week an American Presidential Candidate was saying that "Americans will never again serve under the Blue Flag of the United Nations." I thought of the contrasting teaching of the Won Buddhists, who know that "there is no independent existence."

In the dialogue of religions there will be agony. But there will also be ecstasy as we move beyond dialogue to friendship, trust, and hope for our world.

For information: IARF, 2 Market St, Oxford, OX1 3EF, U.K.

The next IARF Congress will be the first week of August 1999, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

(Dr. Boeke, former member of the board of Tsubaki America, is the part-time minister of the Unitarian church of sevenoaks in England, his wife, Johanna, is the minister of the Unitarian church in Horsham, Worthing and Godalming in England. The Boekes previously served is ministers of the Unitarian church in Berkeley, CA.)