The Rev. James T. Laney’s focus has been centered on the Korean Peninsula since 1947 when, as a 19-year-old, he was part of the U.S. Army’s counterintelligence corps.
He and his wife, Berta, went back years later as missionaries. In 1993, he returned after he was appointed U.S. ambassador to South Korea by then-President Bill Clinton. The following year, the first North Korea nuclear crisis began.
His greatest treasure has been the deep friendships he developed with the Korean people.
His most fervent hope is for an end to tensions on the peninsula.
“I welcome the attempts to have talks with the North Koreans on the part of President Trump and President Moon in South Korea,” he said in an interview. “I had great hopes earlier, but at this point, things seem to be somewhat at a stalemate. I have concerns that it doesn’t fall back into a pattern of threats and counterthreats.”
It’s his work for peace on the Korean Peninsula that has earned Laney, president emeritus of Emory University, the United Methodist Church’s highest honor — the 2019 World Methodist Peace Award.
He served as president of Emory University from 1977 to 1993.
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The award, which is presented annually to individuals or groups who made significant contributions to peace, reconciliation and justice, will be presented Thursday night during a service at the UMC General Board of Global Ministries in Atlanta. Past recipients include former President Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, who was imprisoned for decades because of his work to end apartheid.
It’s presented by the World Methodist Council, which represents more than 80 million Methodists worldwide.
“It’s really very moving and overwhelming,” said Laney, an ordained United Methodist minister and former dean of Emory’s Candler School of Theology. “It came so unexpectedly. It brings into focus how much Korea has meant to me.”
In 2014, Emory created a program in honor of Laney, and his wife, Berta. The Laney Program in Moral Leadership promotes the development of moral leaders who work for the common good.
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At 91, Laney said, it’s unlikely he will one day journey back to Korea.
“I’m not going back,” he said. “I had an opportunity to go back this fall to lecture, but I declined. I just can’t do it. My heart is there, but my body is not able to make the trip.”
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to try to negotiate nuclear agreements.
Since then, relations have chilled considerably, and North Korea has tested several missiles.
And recently North Korea said Kim had turned down an invitation from South Korean President Moon Jae-in to participate in a regional summit later this year.
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