TITLE: Korean conference petition considered
Release # 005 {2868} April 17, 1996
General Conference '96
DENVER (UMNS) -- Reports of a gender war over a United Methodist General Conference proposal to create three Korean- American missionary conferences have been "blown out of proportion," according to Korean caucus representatives.
The Rev. Chongho Kim told United Methodist News Service that while some Korean churches and leaders have discriminated against women in the past, he believes the proposal will "better empower" both women and younger Korean leaders.
The caucus -- officially known as the National Association of Korean American United Methodist Churches -- submitted the petition being considered by the Conferences Legislative Committee.
It requests that missionary conferences be established in the Northeastern, North Central and Western jurisdictions as a way to help Korean-American congregations fully participate in the church. As of 1994, there were 295 such congregations.
Kim said an amendment to reduce the number of missionary conferences from three to one is expected to be introduced in committee, with caucus support.
That amendment is in response to concerns by other Asian United Methodist groups that the Koreans will be over-represented by three conferences, he added.
The Korean American Clergywomen's Association has continued to oppose the missionary conference proposal. Among its objections are issues of isolation and separation, future leadership opportunities and lack of involvement of women and laity.
"Realities based on past experiences do not provide women a basis for trust of male-dominant Korean-American churches ... " the association has stated.
The clergywomen are asking General Conference to turn down the proposal and instead request the National Committee on Korean-American Ministries to conduct a "need-resource analysis" among the "grassroots."
The Board of Global Ministries' National Division also has declined to endorse the missionary conference proposal, although it has adopted an alternate plan for assistance.
Kim and another Korean caucus member, the Rev. Daniel Shin, said they, too, initially opposed the proposal but now consider it the best way to facilitate Korean congregations and pastors struggling with language and cultural differences.
Shin added that the Transgeneration Ministry of Korean- American United Methodists, representing about 100 younger pastors, now endorses the missionary conference concept.
"We decided to support this proposal not because it is perfect but because we can build something meaningful," he explained. "It's about self-determination."
Both men expressed concern that the defection of fledgling mission churches from the United Methodist umbrella to the Overseas Missionary Conference of the Korean Methodist Church or to other denominations will accelerate if a better support system is not adopted.
--Linda Bloom
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