Family Peace Association

The Family Peace Association is an international peace organization. It was inaugurated on December 2, 2017, in Seoul, South Korea, where it announced its mission: "To enlighten humanity by uplifting their spiritual consciousness through universal principles and values rooted in God-centered families.".[1][2][3][4] The co-founders of the Family Peace Association are Hyun Jin Moon (one of the sons of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon) and Junsook Moon.[5][6][7][8][9][10] Jinman Kwak is its president.[11][12]

The Family Peace Association is one of the successors to the HSA-UWC (widely known as the Unification Church and informally as the Moonies). The others are the Rod of Iron Ministries, led by Hyun Jin Moon's brothers Hyung Jin Moon and Kook Jin Moon,[13][14] and The Women's Federation for World Peace led by their mother Hak Ja Han.[15][16][17] Hyun Jin Moon also founded the Global Peace Foundation, in 2009.

It was suggested that the Family Peace Association could play a leadership role in the reunification of the Korean peninsula through a focus on reuniting families divided between North and South.[18]

Relation to Sun Myung Moon and the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

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Sun Myung Moon established the HSA-UWC (Unification Church) in 1954. He stated that the association was meant to foster ecumenical cooperation among Christian sects to promote families with deep spirituality and a commitment to serving their larger society.[19][20] In 1994, Rev. Moon declared the completion of the mission of HSA-UWC aiming to dissolve the Unification Church structure. The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification was established in the mid-1990s by Sun Myung Moon.[21] Sun Myung Moon stated at the founding of the FFWPU that he never intended to create a new religion, but to open an age after religion where families would serve as the core of spiritual and character growth.[21]

Two years later the FFWPU was launched as a new entity to advance Unification Church theology and principles.[21] The FFWPU was created as a broad-based social movement to promote healthy families and strong societies.[22] According to a memo from the HSA-UWC North America Headquarters in 1997, from the beginning it was clear that the two entities, FFWPU and HSA-UWC, were completely separate, both in objectives and legally.[23]

Hyun Jin Moon was appointed vice-president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification in 1998 and held the role for ten years.[24] In 2017, he stated, "I can no longer work through the FFWPU because it is not true to my father's original mission", and dedicated the Family Peace Association as the "new vehicle" to realize his father's intentions of "creating a global movement to inspire all humanity to establish God-centered families.".[25]

Relation to the Unification Church

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In his address at the inaugural opening of the FPA, Hyun Jin Moon expressed that the FPA was created to carry on the trans-religious work his late father, Sun Myung Moon, sought to accomplish with the establishment of the FFWPU. Since Sun Myung Moon's death in 2012, several factions of the Unification Church have been established. While his son Hyun Jin Moon created the Family Peace Association, his youngest son, Hyung Jin Moon started the Sanctuary Church, while his widow Hak Ja Han has continued to lead the Unification Church (Also known as FFWPU - Family Federation for World Peace and Unification).[26]

Beliefs

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The FPA believes that all people are a unique creation of God, and members of a human family.[27]

The FPA believes that the family is a sacred institution for God's original vision of creation.[28] The FPA sees its role as providing a meeting space for like-minded families.

The FPA does not define itself as a church, but says it is a faith community and a movement of ideal families.[29]

The FPA follows the main rituals established by Sun Myung Moon including daily study of holy books, the Blessing marriage ceremony and the Seong Hwa funeral ceremony.

Projects

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The FPA operates across several countries including Korea, Japan, US, Philippines, Mongolia, Taiwan, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia.[29]

It offers educational programmes for young people, guidance for parents and leadership training, as well as community projects.

References

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  1. ^ "Family Peace Association - GuideStar Profile". www.guidestar.org. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. ^ "가정평화협회 창설". Newsis (in Korean). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  3. ^ "가정평화협회 창설". Newsis (in Korean). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ "가정평화협회 창설, 환영사하는 곽진만 조직위원장". Newsis (in Korean). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  5. ^ 송, 홍근 (31 December 2017). "문현진 가정평화협회 창설자". shindonga.donga.com (in Korean). Shin Dong A. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ^ "문현진 곽전숙 가정평화협회 창설자 내외". Newsis (in Korean). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ^ "기조연설하는 문현진 박사". Newsis (in Korean). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ "가정평화협회 창설". Segye Times (in Korean). Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  9. ^ "기조연설하는 문현진 박사". Buja Dongne Times (in Korean). Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  10. ^ "가정평화협회 창설, 축사하는 사이드 아킬 시라즈 총재". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  11. ^ 이, 동원. "가정평화협회 창설, 환영사하는 곽진만 조직위원장". Buja Dongne Times (in Korean). Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  12. ^ 이, 채봉. "가정평화협회 창설, 환영사하는 곽진만 조직위원장". Segye Times (in Korean). Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  13. ^ Dunkel, Tom (May 21, 2018). "Locked and Loaded for the Lord". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  14. ^ Dickinson, Tim (18 August 2022). "Inside the Bizarre and Dangerous Rod of Iron Ministries". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Moon's wife to speak in Lawrence". The Kansas City Star. The Kansas City Star Co. June 19, 1993. p. E10.
  16. ^ Cuda, Amanda (December 28, 2004). "Event works for understanding through friendships". Connecticut Post. p. Section: Womanwise.
  17. ^ Peterson, Thair (March 21, 1998). "Bridging the Interracial Gap". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. A3.
  18. ^ Rai, Markandey (2 February 2018). "Indo-Korean Emotional Connect - THE DAYAFTER". THE DAYAFTER. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  19. ^ Moon, Sun Myung. "Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity - Sun Myung Moon". www.tparents.org. Retrieved 28 February 2018. There are so many religions, while separated and disintegrated, are proud of only their respective historical backgrounds, and wield power that influences many nations, and has separate traditions firmly established. This is the sad reality seen from Heaven's side who wants to unify the world... what the members of Unification church should know is how we can bring the unity among these religions.
  20. ^ Moon, Sun Myung (1985). "34". God's will and the world. New York: Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. ISBN 978-0910621472. Retrieved 28 February 2018. So why the term, "Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity"? ...when a marginal man such as Reverend Moon is attempting to unite world Christianity, everybody always feels uncomfortable... By what means can I unite Christianity throughout the world? By the Holy Spirit. Hence the name Holy Spirit Association... The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity means an association, not a church.
  21. ^ a b c Fisher, Marc; Leen, Jeff. "WashingtonPost.com: The Cult Controversy". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  22. ^ Moon, Sun Myung. "THE FAMILY FEDERATION FOR COSMIC PEACE AND UNIFICATION AND THE COSMIC ERA OF BLESSED FAMILY". Unification.net. Retrieved 28 February 2018. Up until now, the religions of the world have focused upon individual level salvation. But once we come out of that shell and follow True Parents we enter into the family level.... For this purpose, Father took down the HSA-UWC sign and placed a new sign: The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification... we are living in the cosmic era of Blessed families... The members of the Family Federation for World Peace are not just Christians. They are the sovereigns of nations and powerful leaders.
  23. ^ Hendricks, Tyler. "The Relation Between HSA-UWC and FFWPU". www.tparents.org. HSA-UWC North America Headquarters. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Today's World - July 1998 - Volume 19, Number 7" (PDF). Unification.net. World Mission Department of the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Family Peace Association Inaugural Ceremony Founder's Address - Family Peace Association". Family Peace Association. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  26. ^ Family Federation USA website
  27. ^ Official Website
  28. ^ Official Website
  29. ^ a b World Religions & Spirituality Project
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