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Korean church leaders set vision for next four year

Dec. 5, 2005

NOTE: Photographs are available at http://umns.umc.org.

A UMNS Report
By Keihwan Kevin Ryoo*

A vision based on "Wesleyan tradition and Korean spirituality" will lead
the United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries for the next
four years, said the group's new executive secretary.

"We need to focus on healthy growing of Korean United Methodist Churches
as well as bringing hope to the general church," said the Rev. Paul H.
Chang. "I believe this is why the denomination supported the Korean Plan
for four more years."

Chang began serving July 1 as the council's executive secretary, with
offices in New York City.

"The Korean-American National Plan has worked with Rev. Chang, who
brings new vision and insights for our ministry, to balance
first-generation Korean-speaking congregation with the next generation
of English-speaking congregations," said Bishop Jeremiah Park, leader of
the denomination's New York Area and president of the council.

Meeting in September, council members decided to make their vision for
2005-2008, "Wesleyan tradition and Korean spirituality integrated in a
way that enables and encourages all persons to be involved in
discipleship." Chang outlined that vision, which also includes
identifying Korean United Methodist spiritual formation models that can
be shared with the whole church.

"During the 2005-2008 quadrennium, the United Methodist Council on
Korean-American Ministries will begin to move toward this vision by
developing and testing models and resources that bring together aspects
of Wesleyan tradition and characteristics of Korean spirituality," the
council stated as its goal.

The organization has a $1.8 million program budget for 2005-08, which
includes:
"	Congregation development - 45 percent;
"	Next-generation ministry - 25 percent;
"	Leadership development - 20 percent; and
"	Korean ministry models and resources development - 10 percent.

The council adjusted the plan from the original $3.2 million approved by
the 2004 General Conference due to possible reduction of income from
apportionments and  increasing administrative expenses.

The national plan will challenge Korean United Methodist churches to
match $1 million to focus on church plantings in the United States, to
pay annual conference apportionments in full and to support Board of
Global Ministries mission initiatives.

Chang said the council's Web site would provide funding guidelines,
resources and meeting minutes in order to involve the Korean United
Methodist community more directly. The council will hold its next
regular meeting in September 2006.

*Ryoo is director of Korean Resources and editor of United Methodist in
Service.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470
or  <mailto:newsdesk@umcom.org> newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org

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