A Kairos Chapter

Jan Kok brought a determined Dutch, reformed church tradition and style as a basic approach to his work. He also discovered, enhanced and published an ever-wider view of the potential, mission and purpose of the ecumenical movement where he saw great hope for the Church. He could lament and bemoan the tedium of ecu-bureaucracy and the cumbersome processes of ecu-decision making, yet his hope and love for the ecumenical movement outweighed its human failings.

From childhood, theological debate was part of Jan’s search for the place of faith in his life and work. At the end he made this claim: “In life, in death, I am His.” A million words lay behind that confession, words honed, in the company of many people, especially two friends.

Jan and Marlin van Elderen were colleagues for 17 years. Until his death in June 2000, at the age of 54, Marlin was Senior Editor for WCC Publications. As editor and writer he gave “voice” to the vision and practice of the WCC. His sensitivity to the church’s local and global ministry brought integrity and depth to his work. With Jan Kok he tested ideas and concepts, and together they dreamt of things that were not, but could be.

T.K. Thomas of India was part of this remarkable journey for nine years. A career ecumenist, T.K. was a man of letters and original ideas, uniting the wisdom of the ages with the realities of the day. He saw value and worth in others, in their cultures, and in their faiths. When any number of pressures might have caused the ecumenical movement to turn inward, TK would model how life could be open with our faith enhanced in the process. In retirement, and until his death in October 2001, T.K. contributed to the editorial life and spirit of WCC Publications.

These three faithful men wrote a particular chapter in God’s plan for ecumenical communication. Jan, Marlin, and T.K. were brought together at a kairos moment and place. Brothers in Christ, they created a wonderful backlist of published ideas, honest questions, and affirmations of faith. Within the space of two years their kairos chapter has now closed. This chapter has added immeasurably to the continuing story of a faithful God who dearly loves the stories and the storytellers.

Kim Kwan Suk

We would like to inform you of the passing away of the Rev. Dr. KIM KWAN SUK, a former general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea, on Monday, February 4, at 8 p.m. He was 80 years old.

Rev. Kim was also a former president of the Christian Broadcasting System in Korea. An outstanding ecumenical leader, Rev. Kim served as moderator of the Communication Committee of the Christian Conference of Asia in 1981-85.

Rev. Kim was also a strong democratic leader especially during the military dictatorship in Korea. An ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of the Republic of Korea, Rev. Kim also taught at Hanshin University in Seoul.

He is survived by wife Kim Ock Sil and three sons, all of whom are married.

37 journalists killed in 2001

Confirmed killed in 2001 because of their work as journalists:
Afghanistan (9): Marc Brunereau, free-lancer; Johanne Sutton, Radio France Internationale; Pierre Billaud, Radio Télévision Luxembourg; Volker Handloik, free-lance reporter; Azizullah Haidari, Reuters; Harry Burton, Reuters Television; Julio Fuentes, El Mundo; Maria Grazia Cutuli, Corriere della Serra; Ulf Strömberg, TV4. Algeria (2): Fadila Nejma, Echourouk;Adel Zerrouk, Al-Rai. Bangladesh (1): Nahar Ali, Anirban. Bolivia (1): Juan Carlos Encinas, free-lancer. China (1) Feng Zhaoxia, Gejie Daobao. Colombia (3) Flavio Bedoya, Voz; José Duviel Vásquez Arias, La Voz de la Selva; Jorge Enrique Urbano Sánchez, radio and television journalist. Costa Rica (1):Parmenio Medina Pérez, "La Patada". Georgia (1): Georgy Sanaya, Rustavi-2. Guatemala (1) Jorge Mynor Alegría Armendáriz, Radio Amatique. Haiti (1): Brignol Lindor, Radio Echo 2000. India (1): Moolchand Yadav, free-lancer. Latvia (1): Gundars Matiss, Kurzeme Vards. Mexico (1): José Luis Ortega Mata, Semanario de Ojinaga. Palestinian Territories (1): Muhammad al-Bishawi, Najah Press Office, IslamOnline.net. Paraguay (1): Salvador Medina Velázquez, FM Ñemity. Philippines (2): Roland Ureta, Radio DYKR; Candelario Cayona, Radio DXLL. Russia (1): Eduard Markevich, Novy Reft. Thailand (2): Withayut Sangsopit, free-lancer; Kaset Puengpak, Thai Rath. Ukraine (1): Igor Aleksandrov, Tor. United Kingdom (1): Martin O'Hagan, Sunday World. United States (2): William Biggart, free-lancer; Robert Stevens, The Sun. Yugoslavia (2): Kerem Lawton, Associated Press Television News; Milan Pantic, Vecernje Novosti.