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A UMNS photo by Sang Yean Cho
The Rev. Jung Yong Na, followed by Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, leads the meeting in dance and song.
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| The
Rev. Jung Yong Na, mission superintendent for the South Central
Jurisdiction, followed by Bishop Mary Ann Swenson, Los Angeles Area,
start off the United Methodist Council on Korean American Ministries
meeting in dance and song. The council held its organizational meeting
Jan. 27-29 in Houston. A UMNS photo by the Rev. Sang Yean Cho. Photo
#05-117. Accompanies UMNS story #078, 2/2/05 |
Feb. 2, 2005
By United Methodist News Service The
Korean church is a “gifted community with much to offer the whole
church,” a bishop told leaders at the organizational meeting of the
United Methodist Council on Korean American Ministries. “We
actively serve God’s people through our collective gifts and wish to
join continually for glorious transformation and God’s miraculous
expectation for the United Methodist Church,” said Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, who leads the denomination’s Chicago Area. In
setting a vision for the council, he said members of the
Korean-American United Methodist community are not just consumers but
contributors toward a “future-oriented, gifted community of faith.” Thirty-one lay and clergy members from around the country attended the council’s meeting, Jan. 27-29, in Houston. Jung said the Korean United Methodist Church
could offer “an excellence of hospitality,” a class-meeting model for
discipleship, “passion for prayer life and missional zeal.”
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A UMNS photo by Sang Yean Cho
Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, center, sets the vision for the council.
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| Bishop
Hee-Soo Jung, who leads the denomination's Chicago Area, sets the
vision for the United Methodist Council on Korean American Ministries
during the organizational meeting Jan. 27-29 in Houston. Jung said
members of the Korean-American United Methodist community are not just
consumers but contributors toward a "future-oriented, gifted community
of faith." A UMNS photo by the Rev. Sang Yean Cho. Photo #05-118.
Accompanies UMNS story #078, 2/2/05 |
In the first session,
retired Bishop Hae-Jong Kim described how the council worked for the
Korean community and its churches in the 2000-2004 quadrennium. “The United Methodist Council was just a funding organization responding to churches, programs asking for money,” he said. He recommended the new council “should work as a body that gives direction and functions as a think tank.” The 2004 General Conference approved continuing the Korean American National Plan with a budget of $3.2 million. The 2000 General
Conference approved $2.83 million for the work of supporting Korean
American Ministries. During the 2000-2004 period, the council focused on
leadership development, next-generation ministry and congregational
nurture and support. Bishop Kim expressed thanks to the Rev. Brandon Cho, who served
for four years launching the council and helping secure funding for
another quadrennium. Kim also expressed gratitude to Bishop Mary Ann
Swenson, Los Angeles Area, and the staff of the Board of Global Ministries. The council agreed on three vision areas for the Korean American National Plan: - Servant-leadership formation for clergy, laity and youth.
- Next-generation ministries to develop English ministries and campus ministries for English-speaking 1.5 and 2nd generations.
- Congregational
development, nurture and redevelopment focusing on new Korean-language
ministries, existing Korean United Methodist churches and Korean mission
congregations.
The council also set six goals: - Implement
an effective servant-leadership formation strategy and program for
clergy, professional staff and lay leaders for first and next
generations. Emphasis will be on spiritual servant-leadership formation,
the United Methodist connection, community outreach and justice
ministry, mission interpretation, intergenerational partnership and
cross-cultural communication.
- Emphasize
a leadership formation program and integration plan for Korean-American
clergywomen, focusing on ministry in Korean congregations as well as
the overall United Methodist Church.
- Strengthen existing next-generation congregations and campus ministries, and establish 15 new ones.
- Implement
a strategy to recruit next-generation men and women for training and
ordination through United Methodist-related seminaries.
- Help
existing Korean-American mission congregations become self-sufficient,
strengthen chartered Korean United Methodist churches and establish 15
new Korean congregations.
- Expand culturally relevant resource materials and national data on Korean-American United Methodist churches and mission.
The job description for a new council executive director will be
decided during the executive committee’s Feb. 21 conference call. News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Korean News
