| Korean-American clergywomen celebrate 20 years of experiences By Linda Worthington
UMCONNECTION STAFF Nearly 60 Korean-American clergywomen from across the United States assembled Aug. 3 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the National Association of Korean-American United Methodist Clergywomen. They met at the Korean UMC of Greater Washington in McLean, Va.  | LINDA WORTHINGTON / UMCONNECTION | Korean-American Clergywomen in their colorful stoles, a gift from their sisters inKorea, sing praises at the 20th anniversary celebration. |
Rev. Yoon | President George W. Bush sent greetings to the participants. 'I applaud your commitment to your faith,' read the Rev. Amy Yoon, pastor of National Korean UMC in Rockville, and secretary of the association, while the presidents words were projected on a screen in Korean. 
Rev. Lee | The Rev. Kyunglim Shin Lee, vice president of Wesley Theological Seminary and an elder in Baltimore-Washington Conference, led the three-day event. 'These gatherings (the past 20 years) were very important to us because it was the only channel that we felt free to talk about our pain and struggles as women clergy in the Korean community,' she said.The organizing meeting in 1985 included 'two clergywomen and a few seminarians,' said Shin Lee, president of the association. 'Now we have 100 ordained women.' The clergywomen wore rainbow-colored stoles, a gift from the Association of Korean Clergywomen in Korea. They have accepted an invitation to attend that group's 50th reunion of the ordination of the first clergywoman in Korea next year, Shin Lee said. Three Korean-American United Methodist bishops, one who is retiring and two newly elected, attended the event. 'I am proud of the leadership of you who were able to self-start this movement to bring advocacy to Korean women in The United Methodist Church and also awareness and education to the rest of the church, including Korean males,' said Bishop Hae-Jong Kim, newly retired. 'Our church is better for it.' Newly elected Bishop Jeremiah J. Park, who will preside over the New York Area, said that transformation in the life of the church happens when the culture of the church changes. 'We must have a partnership culture (with the women),' he added. Bishop Hee Soo Jung, newly elected and assigned to the Northern Illinois Area, apologized to his wife, the Rev. Im Jung, pastor of Oneida UMC, a Native American congregation in DePere, Wis. She waited 10 years to begin seminary while he got his doctorate, he explained, and he said he failed to support her when she was appointed 12 years ago. Im Jung, from her seat in the audience, shouted to him, 'I forgive you.' The clergywomen in chorus echoed her, 'We forgive you.' Clergywomen spoke briefly of the history of the association and Korean womens struggles, as well as their accomplishments. The Rev. Sung Hee Park, a pastor in South Amboy, N.J., was one of two Korean-American clergy delegates to the 2004 General Conference, a big step forward, she said. 'There are no Korean women district superintendents or bishops — yet,' she added. The Rev. HiRho Park was a delegate to General Conference from Baltimore-Washington Conference, but was unable to attend the celebration because she was in Korea. The Rev. Lena Kim, director for church development for the Russian United Methodist Church, was one of two pastors who came from Russia. Speaking in English, she thanked her Korean clergy sisters for all the help the Korean United Methodist Church gives to support the Russian churches. A uniqueness of the Russian church, she said, is that 80 percent of the ordained pastors are women. Also attending the gathering was the Rev. Millie Kim, from the North Georgia Conference, who will leave for Mongolia in September, where she will be a missionary for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. Many Korean men also were present at the celebration. Twenty-two members of the mens choir from the National Korean UMC in Rockville, asked to sing in support of the women. | 
Login/Register to leave comment