Madness - but worth it

So the alarm went at 4.25am, and I was down from the 21st floor getting in the minibus that had come from San Sung Presbyterian Church to collect 4 of us at 4.40 for morning 5.30 daily prayers. In fact we were there soon after 5 and were ushered into a gloomy church with a handful of people already there sitting in silence. We were joined by other sand there were more lights on by 5.20 with some recorded soft religious music. With perhaps 100 present there was a short time of worship, a chapter of scripture read - Isaiah 59 which was appropriate to the Assembly theme - then the Pastor spoke for 20 minutes or so on the cross, holding up one from when he was a missionary in Chile 17 years previously. Then to prayer which began with a 3fold shouted Lord, Lord, Lord - it was simultaneous personal prayer but was mostly quiet, though some wailing too the other side of the church - and it was over in about 5 minutes! We were ushered out, served with coffee, ice cream, a lightest cakey type thing and the circular rice things with additional vegetable contents. It turned out to be an excellent discussion that I've recorded elsewhere with the pastor who spoke good English. Among other things our questioning elicited that their Church of 3000 members had actually lost some over the coming of the WCC Assembly. They have sent out 82 missionaries - church members pay 100 dollars a month to support a missionary, 10 families covering the cost for a missionary.

Had some more breakfast back at the hotel, and decided to walk along the beach to the Centre on a beautiful and distinctly warm morning (my warmest bonfire night!). Approaching the Centre, joined in conversation with a young Russian Orthodox woman from Minsk. She conveyed the sense that the Orthodox are not happy. She hadn't been at the Yoido Full Gospel event yesterday evening as the Orthodox had a meal together. The morning Plenary on Unity was very worthwhile. It gave the Romanian Patriarch chance to convey the uneasiness but he was gracious enough, with Neville Callum, Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, a fully paid up ecumenist following him. After their theology, there was on the ground stuff from a young white woman from South Africa, and the Anglican Bishop for the indigenous in Canada.

Decided to go to an Orthodox event on Authority, which left with a feeling that they knew what power was, but didn't understand much about genuine authority. In fairness Hilario who had written the paper wasn't there to present it, and the chap who did ended up totally on the defensive in the incisive questions that followed mainly from other Orthodox, but also the Bishop of Chester and an American Quaker. Then we had the last session of the Ecumenical conversation on new ecumenical landscapes which was largely concerned with drafting its 1 page document. Heard a longer talk with He Qi than I heard last week, dipped into a Business Session where there were repeated (but procedurally rebuffed) attempts to get attitudes to homosexuality mentioned. Then it was Roman Catholic prayers which were as quiet as last night's were loud - harp, cello etc and some very graceful dancers. Somehow it's got to 11.25pm and I think it's time to call it a very long day.