More than 75 pastors and religious activists from across the Chicago area gathered on Thursday, 13th August 2026 at a South Side church to endorse a joint statement calling for the release of a 95-year-old Christian leader detained in South Korea.

Held under the banner of the “1st Joint Assembly of World Pastors,” the gathering connected via livestream with approximately 2000 pastors and religious leaders participating at dozens of locations across the United States, Europe, and Asia. The assemblies focused on reports of religious persecution around the world and encouraged religious leaders to work together through networking and advocacy.

The international assemblies called for the release of ManHee Lee, founder and chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, based in Seoul, South Korea. Lee, who is 95, was arrested in June 2026 on allegations of political and election interference—allegations that he and his associates deny.

Participants endorsed a joint statement titled “Declaration of 2000 Global Church Leaders for Freedom of Religion and Human Dignity,” which calls for Lee's release and raises broader concerns about religious freedom and human rights in South Korea.

“Today, approximately 2000 Christian leaders from around the world have gathered here, transcending denominations and borders to protect the freedom of religion and human dignity that are currently under threat,” the statement declared.

The statement cited Article 20 of the South Korean Constitution, which protects freedom of religion and establishes the separation of church and state.

Participants expressed concern over what they described as the stigmatisation and suppression of certain religious groups in South Korea, including references to government discussions surrounding the dissolution of organisations characterized as “pseudo-religions.”

Panellists warned that allowing government authorities to discriminate against one religious group could ultimately threaten religious freedom more broadly.

The statement further declared:

A Shincheonji lecturer associated with the international human rights organisation Human Rights Without Frontiers, also encouraged attendees to sign a letter addressed to the Republic of Korea judiciary calling for Chairman Lee's release.

Throughout the gathering, pastors repeatedly called on religious leaders to speak out against what they described as religious persecution.

“We can no longer remain silent,” several pastors said, emphasising that religion should be protected under constitutional guarantees. They urged religious communities to stand together in defence of people facing persecution because of their faith.

“We must protect those who are suffering because of their faith and speak out against religious persecution in Korea,” participants said. “Oppression continues to grow.”

The Hazel Crest assembly came one week after an international conference in Seoul, South Korea, that was broadcast online from the Seoul Foreign Correspondents Club (SFCC). Organisers and scholars at the conference called on mainstream media outlets to examine the human-rights concerns surrounding Chairman Lee's detention.

Organisers of the assemblies argue that Chairman Lee has been denied due process and say his advocacy reflects principles shared by Christian leaders across denominations, including peacebuilding, international dialogue, and the protection of religious liberty.

“Global churches cannot remain silent,” participants said. “We are raising our voices to say religious freedom must be respected. What we are seeing in South Korea is unprecedented.”