“A big tree in World YMCA has fallen”: our deepest condolence for the sudden demise of Dr. David Suh, former President of World YMCA

Last Updated (Thursday, 03 March 2022 17:38)

Dr. David Kwang-sun Suh, former President of the World Alliance of YMCAs (1994-1998), passed away in Goyang city near Seoul, Korea, at night-time on February 26, 2022. “A big tree in World YMCA has fallen” as quoted from Mr. Carlos Sanvee, Secretary General of World YMCA.

Dr. Suh was born in 1931 in Kanggye city which is located in North Korea now. He studied in the US for his B.A. and M. A. and graduated with M.Div. in Theology from Union Theological Seminary, and obtained Ph.D on Religion in Vanderbilt University. From 1966, he, as Professor of Theology, taught in Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea, and served as Dean of University Chapel, Dean of Graduate School. During the year 1980-1984, he was dismissed from Ewha Womans University – a political persecution towards dissidents by the harsh military dictatorship. In 1981, he was ordained Presbyterian Minister. After retirement in 1996, he was invited as Henry Luce Visiting Professor of World Christianity, Union Theological Seminary, New York and taught for two years, as well as Visiting Professor of Asian Theology at Drew University School of Theology until 2001. Thereafter, he served as Vice President of United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, Hong Kong Office, and an Honorary Professor of Chinese University of Hong Kong until 2006.

Dr. Suh served enthusiastically throughout his entire life and contributed greatly to YMCA movement worldwide, as well as in the ecumenical communities. Among other contributions, in the 12th World Council meeting of the World Alliance of YMCAs in Seoul, Korea, he was appointed Chairperson of the “Commission on Christian Mission and Ecumenical Concerns” that was formed as an outcome of the resolution brought forth by APAY and LACA during the Council. The Commission was formed with members from all six continents, young and old, male and female, lay and clerical, protestant and Catholic, and all with different accents or tongues of English. It continued its work for the ensuing eight (8) years including the four years of his Presidency of the World YMCA. And at the 14th World Council in Freshen, Germany in 1998, the historical statement was unanimously adopted and declared as a contemporary interpretative Mission Statement of the 21st century.

As a close friend of the late Kang Moon-kyu, former NGS of Korea YMCA, he contributed to the formation of the contextual mission statement of the Korea YMCA in 1970s, thus laid a cornerstone for Korea YMCA to advance as socially responsible movement based on the teachings and footsteps of Jesus Christ. Along with this, he was frequently invited as resource person to the Executive Committee meetings, Advanced Studies and other APAY programs for his inspirational inputs on the contemporary theological thinking and YMCA Mission in context.

Dr. Suh's father was a pastor, who was killed by the North Korean soldiers during the Korean War in 1950 in the wake of the Korean War. Nevertheless, Dr. Suh forgave his enemy and prayed as well as committed himself to working to build peace, reconciliation and reunification of the whole Korea. The Tosanso Process - a joint attempt by WCC and the NCC-Korea with a view to bridging the Christians of the two Koreas, is widely recognized as a historical milestone towards people-initiated peace and reconciliation process in the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Suh played a pivotal role with other Christian leaders in South Korea, in this historic process, as well as in the making of the “Declaration of the Churches of Korea on National Reunification and Peace” (88 Declaration) in 1988.

In his condolence message conveyed to Sun Yong, David’s wife, Dr. Bart Shaha, former Secretary General of World YMCA wrote, “I have no doubts that the YMCAs in the Asia Pacific region and the world-wide YMCA movement will always remember him with gratitude for his dedicated service and outstanding leadership. The YMCA has indeed lost a great thinker, a profound Theologian and a constant guide. We will miss him a lot!”

He will be remembered long by the World YMCA family with all of what he contributed to the advancement of YMCA movement nationally, regionally, as well as worldwide. May God receive him into an eternal peace in heaven.

Dr. David Suh with Advanced Studies participants, Dr. Bart Shaha, former Secretary General of World YMCA, Mr. Babu Gomes, then President of APAY, Ms. Hiromi Nagao, then VP of APAY, Prof. Song In-dong, then Executive Committee member of World Alliance.

-Co-written by Prof. Song In-dong, President of Korea YMCA and Nam Boo-Won, General Secretary of APAY