Rev. James Kim Elected President of the Korean-American Caucus of the UMC
The Rev. James Chongho Kim, senior pastor of Korean Church of Atlanta, is president-elect of the Korean American caucus.
By the Rev. David Kwangki Kim*
ATLANTA (UMNS) – The Rev. James Kim, senior pastor of Korean Church of Atlanta UMC, will be the new president of the Korean-American caucus of the United Methodist Church. He was elected by the National Association of Korean American United Methodist Churches during their national caucus meeting March 30 - April 3 in Atlanta.
During that meeting, Kim issued a challenge to pastors and lay leaders to launch 500 Korean-American churches in five years.
Kim urged caucus members to "take advantage of a paradigm shift with which to see the church as a faith community and pioneer it in various ways."
Currently, 295 Korean American United Methodist churches dot 42 states. The United Methodist Church has 648 Korean clergy with 330 serving Korean congregations–229 in cross-racial appointments and the remainder at agencies and centers.
Bishop Jeremiah J. Park challenged the 254 clergy and lay people attending the caucus assembly to recover their first love for the Lord and to raise a banner of mission for the nations.
"We are called to build a healthy and effective church that brings the message of hope to the world and that serves the world," said Park, who leads the denomination's New York Area.
The Rev. Hoon Kyoung Lee, outgoing president, asked attendees to make the caucus a leader in bringing the hope and the power of the risen Lord to a dark world.
During three evening services, the caucus demonstrated its support for mission with gifts of $10,000 each to Hispanic Ministry New Church Development in the North Georgia Annual (regional) Conference, Korean-American Ministry New Church Development of the Southeastern Jurisdiction and the Korean-American community in Atlanta.
Growth from pain
Retired Bishop Woodie White and the Rev. Walter L. Kimbrough discussed African-American spirituality and their experiences in The United Methodist Church. Reflecting on black history and life in America, they said African Americans grow from their pain and deepen their spirituality through worship.
"We have struggled to be who we are and whose we are," Kimbrough said. "The church is the place to come to have hope and find the meaning in life."
The Rev. Young Jin Cho, superintendent of the Arlington district in the Virginia Conference, honored such spirituality.
"The church should touch and embrace the pain of our community," Cho continued, noting that the church has been the center of the Korean-American community since the first Korean immigrants came to Hawaii in 1903.
The Rev. Chan-Hie Kim of Claremont School of Theology encouraged those attending "to train and equip the laity, especially laymen, and include them in the church leadership."
"We also have to prepare for the second-generation ministries and nurture the second-generation pastors," he said.
In addition to celebrating the leadership of five retired Korean clergy, the caucus endorsed four Korean candidates for the episcopacy: the Rev. Bo-Joong Kim, Greater New Jersey Conference, and the Rev. Constance Youngmi Pak, New York Conference, Northeastern Jurisdiction; the Rev. Christina Back Eun Sung, Iowa Conference, North Central Jurisdiction; and the Rev. Youngsook Charlene Kang, Rocky Mountain Conference, Western Jurisdiction.
*Kim is director of Korean resources at United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.
Korean American UMC Leaders Gather in Atlanta
By Sybil Davidson
ATLANTA - Nearly 300 Korean American United Methodists gathered in metro Atlanta March 31 through April 3 for the annual meeting of the National Association of Korean American United Methodist Churches.
The group chose Atlanta as its meeting location to celebrate and learn from Korean Church of Atlanta UMC, the largest Korean United Methodist Church in the United States. Korean Church of Atlanta is located on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth.
Korean Church of Atlanta is the 63rd fastest growing church per capita in the United States, and one of only two United Methodist Churches on the top 100 fastest growing churches.
Korean Church had around 300 members when it moved to a new building in 2003. Today it sees 2,000 worshippers on Sundays.
“The North Georgia Conference has a lot to offer and our growth is a product of this culture,” said Rev. James Kim, senior pastor of Korean Church of Atlanta. “We are proud to be a part of this conference."
Meeting at Korean Church of Atlanta and at nearby hotel meeting room, there were 30 or 40 workshops on leadership development, prayer, preaching and giving.
The group made three donations totaling $30,000 while in Atlanta. A gift of $10,000 each was given to the North Georgia Conference Hispanic Ministries, to the local Korean Community Center and to the Korean Ministries of the Southeastern Jurisdiction.
Kim hopes the growth in the Korean church inspires other Korean American churches, but also hopes it inspires the church at large.
“We have the ability and the leadership to grow,” he said. "And it’s a historical mandate.”
(Scroll down for pictures from the event)
Rev. Paul Chang, Rev. James Kim and Rev. Hyo Kim.
A General Meeting at the Marriot Pleasant Hill in Duluth.
