wfn.org | Visit to Missionary Gravesites

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3271 notes).

Note 3269 by UMNS on Nov. 4, 1996 at 16:16 Eastern (2708 characters).

SEARCH: Korean Methodist, Appenzeller, missionary, gravesites
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Linda Bloom                            555(10-71B){3269}
          New York (212) 870-3803                     Nov. 4, 1996

Korean journey includes visit
to missionary gravesites

                 by United Methodist News Service

     An unusual visit to the gravesites of about 200 foreign
missionaries and their families highlighted a recent trip to South
Korea by a group from the United Methodist Northeastern
Jurisdiction.
     Flowers were laid at the tombstone of the Rev. Henry G.
Appenzeller, the first American missionary to Korea and the
"father of Korean Methodism," according to the Rev. Jeremiah Park,
council director for the Northern New Jersey Conference.
     The Oct. 1-8 trip was hosted by Methodist churches in Korea,
represented by the Rev. Kwang-Young Chang, senior pastor of First
Methodist Church of Keum Ho in Seoul. Participants were 36 people
from the Northeastern Jurisdictional Convocation on Local Church
Ministry for Laity and Clergy.
     Korean Methodists shared their stories, traditions and
spirituality, as well as insights into the Korean culture and
society, Park said.
     The Rev. Vivian Summerville of Fulton, N.Y., who is pastor of
New Haven and Lycoming United Methodist churches, added that the
group was "overwhelmed with the hospitality, the warmth and love
that generated from our Korean Christian brothers and sisters."
     The Rev. Clayton Miller, council director for the New York
Annual Conference, echoed Summerville's viewpoint and explained
that their group seemed to become a symbol "to which they would
express gratitude" for the missionaries of 100 years ago.
     "It was humbling to experience their recognition," he said.
     Appenzeller, who lived from 1858 to 1902, was a graduate of
Drew Theological Seminary and served local churches in New Jersey
before arriving in Korea on Easter Sunday in 1885. In 1902, he
drowned while journeying to a southern port city there to
translate the Bible into Korean, according to Park.
     His mission work provided the seed for the Korea Methodist
Church, which now numbers 1,350,000 members.
     Methodist churches in Korea have pledged more than $500,000
for construction of a chapel in Appenzeller's memory, Park said.
Groundbreaking for the chapel, in Swartswood, N.J., took place in
June. When finished, it will serve as a worship center and
conference facility for up to 220 people.
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