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Immigrant Churches: Korean Methodism in Eastern Pennsylvania, Rev. Dr. K. Kale Yu

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Immigrant Churches: Korean Methodism in Eastern Pennsylvania, Rev. Dr. K. Kale Yu A February 2008 photograph of members of the New Covenant A February 2008 photograph of members of the New Covenant United Methodist Church of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, one of United Methodist Church of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, one of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Korean congregations. Eastern Pennsylvania’s Korean congregations. Immigrant Churches: Korean Immigrant Churches: Korean Methodism in Eastern Pennsylvania Methodism in Eastern Pennsylvania by Rev. Dr. K. Kale Yu (2010) by Rev. Dr. K. Kale Yu (2010) Editor’s Note: KeyOne Kale Yu is an ordained elder in the Eastern Editor’s Note: KeyOne Kale Yu is an ordained elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, who grew up in Philadelphia attending a Korean Pennsylvania Conference, who grew up in Philadelphia attending a Korean immigrant congregation. He received his M. Div from Princeton Theological immigrant congregation. He received his M. Div from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1999, and earned his Ph. D from Columbia University in 2009. Seminary in 1999, and earned his Ph. D from Columbia University in 2009. On Sunday, September 27, 2009, a large assembly of 330 persons On Sunday, September 27, 2009, a large assembly of 330 persons came together at Lighthouse Fellowship UMC in Glenside, Pennsylvania came together at Lighthouse Fellowship UMC in Glenside, Pennsylvania to celebrate the start of Lighthouse Korean UMC, which had begun to celebrate the start of Lighthouse Korean UMC, which had begun Korean-language worship services at Lighthouse Fellowship UMC on Korean-language worship services at Lighthouse Fellowship UMC on July 26, 2009.1 With Rev. Dr. Byung Woo Cho and his wife, Eunmi Cho, July 26, 2009.1 With Rev. Dr. Byung Woo Cho and his wife, Eunmi Cho, as the church planters, the new church celebration on September 27 was as the church planters, the new church celebration on September 27 was a grand event, attended by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson of the Eastern a grand event, attended by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and a group of conference officials, including Pennsylvania Conference and a group of conference officials, including Rev. Lillian Smith, Director of Connectional Ministries, Rev. Irving Rev. Lillian Smith, Director of Connectional Ministries, Rev. Irving Cotto, Director of Congregational Development, and Rev. Dorothy Cotto, Director of Congregational Development, and Rev. Dorothy Watson Tatum, District Superintendent of the East District, to which Watson Tatum, District Superintendent of the East District, to which Lighthouse Korean UMC belongs. Representing the national Korean Lighthouse Korean UMC belongs. Representing the national Korean caucus, Rev. Dr. Paul Chang, Executive Director of the UMC Council on caucus, Rev. Dr. Paul Chang, Executive Director of the UMC Council on Korean American Ministries gave congratulatory remarks. Representing Korean American Ministries gave congratulatory remarks. Representing the jurisdictional leadership of Korean UM churches, Revs. Hye Kyung the jurisdictional leadership of Korean UM churches, Revs. Hye Kyung Kang and Rev. Chongil Kim read Scripture and gave congratulatory Kang and Rev. Chongil Kim read Scripture and gave congratulatory remarks, respectively. remarks, respectively. 1Suzy Keenan, “New Korean Church Celebrates Beginning,” Newspirit 9:8 1Suzy Keenan, “New Korean Church Celebrates Beginning,” Newspirit 9:8 (October 2009), 1. Rev. Cynthia Brubaker, the senior pastor at Lighthouse Fellowship (October 2009), 1. Rev. Cynthia Brubaker, the senior pastor at Lighthouse Fellowship UMC said, “Partnership is what we are working toward. We are stepping across comfort UMC said, “Partnership is what we are working toward. We are stepping across comfort and language lines to help and be present praying for one another. Often there is a feeling and language lines to help and be present praying for one another. Often there is a feeling of ‘us and them’ in this kind of arrangement – we’re working toward being ‘we’ –that we of ‘us and them’ in this kind of arrangement – we’re working toward being ‘we’ –that we really are only one body. We’ve been intentional about that all along.” Ibid. really are only one body. We’ve been intentional about that all along.” Ibid. 3 3 4 Journal of the Historical Society of the EPA Conference 4 Journal of the Historical Society of the EPA Conference Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, who wore for the event a beautiful Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, who wore for the event a beautiful pink hanbok, a traditional Korean formal wear, delivered the sermon pink hanbok, a traditional Korean formal wear, delivered the sermon entitled “Think About These Things,” based on Philippians 4:8-9. entitled “Think About These Things,” based on Philippians 4:8-9. Reflecting on the multicultural context of the new church, Bishop Reflecting on the multicultural context of the new church, Bishop Johnson said, “We still struggle and draw lines of race, gender and class. Johnson said, “We still struggle and draw lines of race, gender and class. I hope that everyone will be welcomed in your new church: people of all I hope that everyone will be welcomed in your new church: people of all races, all languages, the rich ones, the poor ones, the ones you like, and races, all languages, the rich ones, the poor ones, the ones you like, and the ones you don’t like, and people with disabilities.”2 She added, “In all the ones you don’t like, and people with disabilities.”2 She added, “In all things trust in God to provide, be content in the things God will be things trust in God to provide, be content in the things God will be giving you, and you know God will see you through. I thank God for giving you, and you know God will see you through. I thank God for your ministry to the Lord and for this wonderful new beginning!”3 your ministry to the Lord and for this wonderful new beginning!”3 Filling most of the pews in the celebration event were Korean Filling most of the pews in the celebration event were Korean Methodists from the greater Philadelphia area. Over two dozen Korean Methodists from the greater Philadelphia area. Over two dozen Korean Methodist pastors and officials attended the celebration. As a tribute, Methodist pastors and officials attended the celebration. As a tribute, the worship included music from the women’s ensemble of Delaware the worship included music from the women’s ensemble of Delaware First UMC, the choir of First Korean UMC of Cherry Hill, a men’s First UMC, the choir of First Korean UMC of Cherry Hill, a men’s ensemble, and soloists Jang Gi Baek and Joseph Park. After the event, all ensemble, and soloists Jang Gi Baek and Joseph Park. After the event, all were welcomed to a Korean dinner, and members of Lighthouse were welcomed to a Korean dinner, and members of Lighthouse Fellowship played an integral role in the hospitality. Fellowship played an integral role in the hospitality. The development of Lighthouse Korean UMC was an example of The development of Lighthouse Korean UMC was an example of the connectional system of the United Methodist Church. The new the connectional system of the United Methodist Church. The new church start was a collaborative effort undertaken among various church start was a collaborative effort undertaken among various agencies, episcopal leaders, and conference offices. In his congratulatory agencies, episcopal leaders, and conference offices. In his congratulatory remark, Rev. Paul Chang of the National Korean Caucus said, remark, Rev. Paul Chang of the National Korean Caucus said, “Connectional means we are not alone. The annual conference, the “Connectional means we are not alone. The annual conference, the [Korean] National Plan, and the whole Korean community are with you, [Korean] National Plan, and the whole Korean community are with you, and more important, God is with you.”4 Rev. Cotto echoed the and more important, God is with you.”4 Rev. Cotto echoed the sentiment. Cotto said, “It is encouraging to know that our annual sentiment. Cotto said, “It is encouraging to know that our annual conference and the National Plan for Korean American Ministries are conference and the National Plan for Korean American Ministries are committed to a ministry with and for the Korean community in the committed to a ministry with and for the Korean community in the 5 5 Philadelphia area.” Philadelphia area.” 2Keenan, 1. 2Keenan, 1. 3Ibid. 3Ibid. 4Ibid. 4Ibid. 5Ibid. Cotto continued, “We are all called to do our part in living out God’s 5Ibid. Cotto continued, “We are all called to do our part in living out God’s vision of unity, mutuality, inclusivity, and reconciliation that there is an urgent need to vision of unity, mutuality, inclusivity, and reconciliation that there is an urgent need to provide along the journey, places and spaces where people with language needs, provide along the journey, places and spaces where people with language needs, immigration needs, and particular cultural needs are given special attention.” immigration needs, and particular cultural needs are given special attention.” Korean Methodism in Eastern Pennsylvania 5 Korean Methodism in Eastern Pennsylvania 5 A photograph taken at the opening worship services for Lighthouse A photograph taken at the opening worship services for Lighthouse Korean United Methodist Church in September 2009. Left to right: Korean United Methodist Church in September 2009. Left to right: EunMi Cho, Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, and Rev. Byung Woo Cho. EunMi Cho, Bishop Peggy A. Johnson, and Rev. Byung Woo Cho. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- As the Korean National Plan, led by the UMC Council on As the Korean National Plan, led by the UMC Council on Korean American Ministries, looked to expand the number of Korean Korean American Ministries, looked to expand the number of Korean American churches in the Northeast Jurisdiction, a church in the American churches in the Northeast Jurisdiction, a church in the Philadelphia area was identified.
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