Family Federation for World Peace and Unification

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Family Federation for World Peace and Unification
Type	Religious (Supporting Foundation : SP/R)
Founded	May 1, 1954 (as the Unification Church)
Headquarters	New York City Seoul Worldwide
Key people	Sun Myung Moon Hak Ja Han Michael Jenkins Dr. Chang S. Yang Michael Lamson Dr. Joon Ho Seuk
Industry	Peace Making Various Productions
Products	Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace Divine Principle The Washington Times Family Federation Productions
Website	http://www.familyfed.org/

The Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) was created by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon to replace the Unification Church while expanding its mission.

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 "Unificationism". The seminary is still the Unification Theological Seminary, and there are no plans to change the names of Unification Thought (philosophy) or Unification theology.

[edit] 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 freedom of religion 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 late 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 exchange and understanding. Rev. Chung Hwan Kwak then decided to back out of the agreement, which would have sent a similar number of Unificationists to Syria to study Islam.