wfn.org | Korean-American Task Force

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (426
notes).

Note 422 by UMNS on Oct. 31, 1997 at 16:02 Eastern (2773 characters).

CONTACT:	Linda Bloom					    610(10-71B){422}
		New York (212) 870-3803				  Oct. 31, 1997

Korean-American ministries
task force sets priorities

	A task force charged with studying the ministry needs of Korean Americans is
setting priorities for its data gathering and research.
	Established by the 1996 United Methodist General Conference, the
denomination's top legislative body, the 24-member task force is to submit its
study and recommendations to the 2000 General Conference.
	The members represent clergy and lay, men and women, younger or
"transgeneration" clergy and the Council of Bishops.
	During an Oct. 23-25 meeting in New York, areas of concern regarding
Korean-American ministries were prioritized, according to The Rev. Jong Sung
Kim, a Board of Global Ministries executive who serves as staff for the task
force.
	Those concerns include:
	* clergy appointments, including positions for clergy couples and positions
in cross-cultural or non-Korean settings; 
	* cultural challenges within the United Methodist Church;
	* leadership training and empowerment of women;
	* connectional leadership at annual conference and general church levels;
	* language barriers;
	* partnerships in ministry;
	* theological frameworks for ministry.
	Kim pointed out that many of the nearly 300 local Korean-American United
Methodist churches are congregations that remain Korean both in language and
culture.
	The congregations and clergy face challenges both in integrating into the
denomination and bridging the gap with second-generation children "whose
experiences are different from the first generation," according to Kim.
	The General Conference Task Force on Korean-American Ministries will have its
next meeting Jan. 22-24 in Los Angeles.
	Task force members are:
	Laity: Esther Cho of Cambridge, Mass.; Song Ja Park, Pasadena, Calif.; Sarah
K. Rhee, Savannah, Ga.; Agnes Kim, Orange, N.J.; Gary Lee, Woodbury, N.Y.; Wha
Young Chung, Aurora, Colo.; Yong Lee, Ames, Ia.; and Seong K. Rhee,
Northville, Mich.
	Clergy: The Rev. Ok Nam Kim of Ogden, Utah; the Rev. Young Ok Park, Evanston,
Ill.; the Rev. Kyung Lim Shin-Lee, Washington, D.C.; the Rev. In Sook Hwang,
Vergennes, Ill.; the Rev. Chulwoo Paul Chang, Plainview, N.Y.; the Rev. Sang
Eui Chun, Nashville, Tenn.; the Rev. Young Ho Chun, Kansas City, Mo.; and the
Rev. Amos Rhee, Flushing, N.Y.
	"Transgeneration" Clergy: the Rev. Brandon Cho, Northridge, Calif.; the Rev.
Chongho Kim, Dunwoody, Ga.; the Rev. Rachel Chung Sook Ye, Hartsdale, N.Y.;
and the Rev. K. Samuel Lee, Washington, D.C.
	Bishops: Bishop R. Sheldon Duecker, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Bishop Roy Sano,
Pasadena, Calif.; Bishop Ann Sherer, Chesterfield, Mo.; and Bishop Hae-Jong
Kim, Rochester, N.Y.

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