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Chicagoland pastors reiterate call to release religious leader detained in South Korea
By Ray Hanania
Chicagoland pastors joined an international Assembly of “Human Rights, Religious Freedom and Essence of Faith” Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, approving a Resolution advocating for freedom of religion and an end to religious persecution throughout the world and in South Korea
The Assembly networked 15 Chicagoland pastors and activists at the Hillcrest Christian Church, 3223 W. 175th Street, in Hazel Crest, Illinois, with about 100 attendees and speakers, including pastors and activists at six other global hub locations using live streaming video, including: New York City; South Korea; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Sri Lanka; Liberia; and New Delhi, India.
During the two-hour meeting, speakers from the six different international communities urged “the real church” to stand up and speak out for justice, freedom, and fairness regardless of race or nationality.
They urged religious leaders of all faiths to stand together and speak out on religious freedom, centering on the case of Chairman Lee Man-Hee, a peace advocate who has traveled the globe 32 times and the Chairman of Shincheonji Church. Chairman Lee was detained in June 2026 at the advanced age of 95.
Minister Leslie Green from New York welcomed the international assembly.
“The World Pastors Joint Assembly is a gathering where pastors from around the world come together to reflect on the challenges facing Christianity in our time. We revisit the essence of our faith and explore the future of Christianity and the direction of reform. At this assembly, we will take special, we will take a special look at the issues of human rights and religious freedom, with particular attention to the current issues concerning religion and human rights be- being raised in the Republic of Korea,” said Green, who served faithfully at Upper Room Baptist Church for over 30 years under the leadership of Bishop William G. Bennett.
“We must raise our voices for truth and justice. Following the teachings of Jesus, putting freedom, peace, and justice into practice is the sacred mission entrusted to us through today’s assembly. I hope we can share the experiences and perspectives of pastors from different countries, build a shared understanding of human rights and religious freedom, and make this a meaningful occasion for solidarity that transcends borders and denominations.”
Reverend Mark Thompson, who joined the Assembly gathering Thursday from the Bronx, New York, said that by coming together, religious leaders send a strong message in defense of all religious rights and freedoms.
“Justice continually shapes how people, leaders, churches, and communities across the globe work together. Justice should be upheld and practiced by churches throughout the world. Today, I am saddened as I think about 95-year-old Chairman Lee, who is currently incarcerated, and the concerns that have been raised regarding his treatment and the issues of religious freedom. From different parts of the world, many of us are looking at his situation and asking whether justice is being fairly applied,” Rev. Thompson said.
“The real church in New York and Brazil and Africa, in India and countless other parts of the world should stand together on behalf of Chairman Lee and in defense of religious freedom, as we must understand that standing up means taking action. It means doing something constructive to bring about change that helps produce a positive outcome in what we believe to be an unjust situation. Every person should have the right to practice their faith and study according to their beliefs while seeking God and pursuing true righteousness.”
Rev. Thompson stressed, “Religious freedom must apply even when a person’s beliefs are different, or when the situation is taking place far beyond our own neighborhoods where we live.”
Pastor Lucilla Richards-Seaton, of Power, Prayer and Praise International Ministries, said that when she learned of the detention of Shincheonji Chairman Lee, she spoke out for religious freedom immediately.
“A few weeks ago, on August 13th, I personally learned about a pastor who had been jailed over allegations of violations of election law. However, when examining how the case had been handled and the history of this individual’s treatment, it seems that the detention that was taking place, and is taking place, is because he spoke God’s word boldly and truthfully,” Seaton said, adding that if persecution can take place against Chairman Lee, it can take place against the leaders of every religious group overseas and in America.
“When I heard his testimony, it changed and touched my heart. It changed my mind. It helped me to see the signs of the times in which we are living today. God has called us as His people to look at the times in which we are living.”
Several speakers from overseas addressed the Assembly by live video stream, under the banner “Human Rights and Religious Freedom and the Essence of Faith.”
They included Pastor Krishani Sandika Ferrera of the Yeshuwa’s Battle Army speaking from Sri Lanka; and Pastor Joelson Oliveira of Apostolic Ministry Church Rescuing Lives speaking from Brazil.
Also addressing the Assembly from various locations around the world, were: Fabrício Leonardo Vasconcelos, Cathedral of Apostolic Miracles (Catedral dos Milagres Apostólicos); Subhash Chandra Yadav, Assembly Builders Church; Pastor Joe D. Kerkula of God Fellowship International Ministries, Liberia.
Following the presentations, the Hazel Crest attendees discussed several important issues facing religious freedom and concluded by unanimously voting to approve the joint resolution resolving to Stand united, across denominational lines, in support of religious freedom as a right belonging to all people; affirm commitment to due process and humane treatment for any person of faith, anywhere; and pledge continued unity among our congregations, ready to speak with one voice on matters of conscience.
The resolution, also adopted unanimously by attendees at all of the international global assembly locations, reads:
WHEREAS, Chicago’s faith leaders, across all denominations, share a belief in human dignity and the right to worship freely; and
WHEREAS, the recent pretrial detention of a 95-year-old religious leader abroad has called our attention to the importance of due process and humane treatment for people of faith everywhere;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned faith leaders of Chicago:
Stand united, across denominational lines, in support of religious freedom as a right belonging to all people.
Affirm our commitment to due process and humane treatment for any person of faith, anywhere.
Pledge continued unity among our congregations, ready to speak with one voice on matters of conscience.
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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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