National Seminar for the Promotion of the Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) with the guest lectures of Rev. Jose Marins and Rev. Gerry Proctor was held at Aaron Retreat House in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, from November 27 to 30, 2008. In this seminar, organized by the Committee for Basic Ecclesial Communities under the Committee for Evangelization of the CBCK, about 130 priests, religious men and women, and the lay faithful from many dioceses participated to ponder more deeply upon the object and method of the BEC.

In his opening address, the Most Rev. Paul Choi Deok-ki, President of the Committee for Evangelization of the CBCK, said, "The BEC are the futuristic vision in solving all together the local social problems, as well as the way to communicate our faith to our neighbours, local communities and even our posterities."

Rev. Jose Marins said, “The BEC are intending a small Church centering around the Word, instead of the Church of clericalism. Small Church represents the first Church of the community of Jesus and His disciples.” He added, "The members of the Church in Korea, which was established by the sweat and blood of the martyrs who were mostly the lay faithful, should strive for the renewal and development through the vitalization of the BEC, when they want to live the faith life of the first Church."

During the seminar, both Rev. Jose Marins and Rev. Gerry Procter said in one voice, "We have to first serve for the progress and development of the Church and the society, living a life for the poor, before we become the true members of the BEC."

There were already the local seminar and public lecture for the promotion of the BEC by Rev. Jose Marins and Rev. Gerry Proctor in Seoul, from November 17 to 20, 2008 and November 22, 2008 respectively. The Diocese of Cheju also separately held the seminar and public lecture for the promotion of the BEC at St. Isidore Retreat House from November 24 to 26, 2008.