Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
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The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification was created by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon to expand the mission of the Unification Church, although some people see no difference and regard it is a puzzling or misleading name change.
The Family Federation is pretty much identical with the Unification Church.
In 1997, Rev. Moon asked church members to change the official name of the church from Unification Church to Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, but for various practical reasons the new name has not entirely replaced the old.
- The era has changed from one of faith and setting up conditions of indemnity to a new era of attendance in which a true family lifestyle is itself our life of faith. This is the reason for such a change. (member website)
Regardless of any organizational changes, the aims of Unification movement remain unchanged, and the religion practiced by Unificationists is still called "Unification Church". The seminary is still the Unification Theological Seminary, and there are no plains to change the names of Unification Thought or Unification Theology.
Peace Work
Supporters regard the Family Federation as having been instrumental in non-violent change in the former Soviet Union and in the Middle East. Reverend Moon met with Mikhail Gorbachev to encourage the Soviet leader to restore religious freedom and to permit financial incentives to workers.
In the Middle East, Reverend Moon has worked with religious leaders for reconciliation of ancient resentments. Ceremonies of reconciliation have been held among Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders in Jerusalem (see Jerusalem Declaration). In the 1980s, the Grand Mufti of Syria and a contingent of his followers traveled to New York for a six-week in-depth study of Moon's teaching, in an effort toward inter-faith understanding.
Links:
- Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (http://www.familyfed.org) - official web site
- Unification Church (http://www.unification.org) - official website
- Unoffical FFWPU discussion group and mail list (http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/unification)