First Gathering of English-Speaking Korean Pastors

Over the past three years, the CRCNA Korean Council (a gathering primarily for senior pastors of Korean CRC congregations) has undergone a significant transformation to embrace the diverse ministries of Korean ministers within the denomination. This shift led to the renaming of the organization as the Korean Ministers Association (KMA), reflecting the evolving landscape of Korean pastoral ministry within the CRC. 

Currently, out of the 1,135 ordained ministers of the Word in the denomination, 215 are ethnic-Korean, including 53 that prefer the English language. These English-speaking pastors serve not only in Korean-language congregations but also in Anglo and multiethnic churches, as well as in a variety of ministry settings in hospitals, prisons, schools, and the military.

Recognizing that these English-speaking, ethnically Korean pastors did not have a lot of interaction with each other, the KMA Steering Committee made a conscious effort to invite them to their April 2024 Chicago Gathering. 

Rev. James Lee (Christ Community Church of East Islip, N.Y.) and Rev. Young-Kwang Kim (Brookfield [Wis.] Christian Reformed Church), who both serve English-speaking churches, said they appreciated the invitation and the opportunity to connect with Korean ministry leaders. At the same time, though, the Chicago gathering revealed to them the distinct needs that English-speaking Korean pastors have – and the differences they experience in their ministry contexts.

“The KMA gathering in Chicago was undoubtedly a meaningful time of encouragement and connection for many attendees. However, to be honest, it just wasn’t for me,” said Kim.

Though the KMA can offer shared Korean ethnicity, English-speaking ministers desperately need a distinct and safe space for affinity and mutual support as well. This realization led Kim and Lee to begin brainstorming what a new group might look like.

To assist them in answering that question, they held a consultation with English-speaking Korean ministers from across the United States and Canada in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 24–27.

This gathering included 10 English-speaking ethnic-Korean ministers, two leaders from the KMA, and Lesli van Milligen, Reggie Smith, and Catheryn Jo Kim from Thrive. 

Day 1: Opening Worship and Purpose

On the first evening, participants gathered at Sunlight Orlando Grace Korean Church (Orlando, Fla.), where they were treated to a traditional Korean dinner. And Rev. Gil Suh of San Jose (Calif.) CRC delivered a devotional message based on Psalm 11, emphasizing the importance of trusting God in times of transition and challenges in pastoral ministry. He also challenged the participants to consider what role they might play in the denomination.

After the opening worship time, reflecting on the purpose of the consultation, Rev. Young-Kwang Kim shared, “Over the next few days, we do not want to dictate the direction of this gathering, but, rather, we want to shape it together. The core framework of this gathering is to create a space for people like us.”

He outlined three key goals for the gathering:

• A space for fellowship – A place where we don’t have to explain what Shin Ramen is or answer basic cultural questions. We want a space where we can fully embrace our identity as Korean American, Korean Canadian, and Korean ethnic pastors without the burden of constant cultural interpretation.
• A space for pastoral support – The support that KMA pastors need is not the same as what English-speaking Korean pastors need. The denomination is doing its best to support our first-generation Korean-speaking pastors. But with that support, the denomination then misses the other ethnic-Korean ministers who may not speak Korean or are not as comfortable with the Korean culture. Hearing of colleagues who have left the ministry should burden our hearts to provide a life-giving space of healing, reconciliation, support, and encouragement to rekindle their passion for kingdom work.
• A space for giving back – The CRC has supported Korean-speaking churches for decades. However, due to the realities of immigrant ministry, first-generation Korean-speaking pastors have had little capacity to contribute back to the denomination. How would a group like ours with the experience and energy at hand help to give back to the church and better edify the denomination? 

• To align with the gathering’s purpose, the organizers chose not to stay in a hotel but instead rented a home with a large living room, allowing for more organic and meaningful fellowship. This small but intentional choice played a significant role in creating a deeper and more enriching experience, they said.

Day 2: Discipleship Training Workshop

On the second day, participants traveled to Sunlight Community Church in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to attend a workshop led by Rev. Scott Vander Ploeg.

Vander Ploeg began by addressing the decline of Christianity in North America, noting that CRC membership has dropped from 310,000 to 189,000 over the past 20 years.

He then explained the Great Commission, emphasizing that the goal is not just to build larger crowds or gather more committed followers but to make true disciples.

Vander Ploeg shared how, in the early days of his church plant, he focused on rapid evangelism, only to realize later that there is a distinct difference between the crowd, the committed, and true disciples.

This realization led him to focus on deep, intentional discipleship with a few trusted individuals, who in turn disciple others.

Day 3: Discussions on the Future of English-Speaking Korean Pastors in the CRC

The third day focused on discussing the future direction of the gathering and its relationship with the KMA.

A key question emerged: “Is a separate gathering for English-speaking Korean pastors necessary?”

Some attendees argued that as pastors of Christ’s church, grouping based on ethnicity could be divisive. Others pointed out that there are shared experiences among Korean immigrants that create a unique sense of belonging, making such a space vital.

One pastor serving in an Anglo church shared, “Before coming here, I never thought I needed a gathering like this. But in being here, I realized how lonely I had been. This space is essential for pastors like me.”

After much discussion, and some abstentions, the group agreed to hold regular gatherings.

Another key discussion centered on whether to integrate the English-speaking gathering with the KMA. Some pastors spoke openly about past trauma and tensions in their interactions with first-generation Korean-speaking pastors, emphasizing the need for a separate space.

In response, Rev. Moon Bae Kim, representing first-generation Korean-speaking pastors, offered an apology, saying, “On behalf of the first-generation Korean-speaking pastors, I give you my apology for the generational pain and trauma that have occurred.”

Despite their differences, participants recognized the importance of unity. However, some emphasized the need to consider cultural and generational differences while avoiding the imposition of uniformity in the group’s structure and operations.

Testimony of Rev. Victor Ko

On the evening of the third day, Rev. Victor Ko shared about his ministry journey. In 1999, he became one of the first ethnic-Korean ministers to lead an Anglo congregation at Third CRC in Kalamazoo, Mich.

In 2013, he then followed God’s calling to Edmonton, Alberta, where he planted MosaicHouse Community Church, a multiethnic congregation. His testimony deeply moved the participants, reigniting their passion for faithfully responding to God’s call.

Day 4: Final Reflections and Closing Worship

On the last day of the gathering, participants regrouped at Sunlight Orlando Grace Korean Church to conclude their discussions and hold a closing worship service with communion.

Rev. Lesli van Milligen, director of Thrive, shared insights that she had gained from the gathering.

“One key takeaway,” she said, “is that second-generation pastors don’t share the same experience as 1.5-generation pastors. For those in the 1.5, there’s often an added burden—they’re expected to bridge the gap between the first and second generations, not just linguistically but culturally. We can’t generalize these experiences. Instead of assuming we know people’s needs based on age or background, we need to listen to their stories.”

Another takeaway, van Milligen explained, is that the denomination’s support needs to be adaptable. There is no “one-size-fits-all” model. 

She added that there are gaps in the leadership that was provided in the past, and that not everyone requires the same kind of support. Some pastors have strong networks, while others feel isolated. 

“The problem is that ethnic groups are often seen as ‘needy’ rather than as contributors. We need to shift that mindset and recognize the unique strengths these pastors bring,” she said.

Van Milligen said she hopes that this gathering will spark similar conversations in other ethnic groups, such as the South East Asian and Pacific Islander group. 

“You all are ahead of the curve by coming together, and I’d love to see this model replicated for our diaspora communities,” she added. “But we also can’t stay in ethnic lanes. Yes, we need spaces to connect with those who understand us, but ultimately God is calling us to something bigger. The vision of Revelation 7, of a church where every nation, tribe, and tongue worship together, won't happen overnight, but we can start by listening well and setting the stage for true unity."

Rev. Reggie Smith, a diversity ministry consultant at Thrive, also shared his key takeaways:

“Convening official meetings and classis gatherings is relatively easy, but this gathering reminded me of how essential it is to meet in more personal and meaningful ways. I was deeply moved simply by witnessing Korean pastors from diverse backgrounds connect with one another. I hadn't realized there were so many Korean pastors serving in such different contexts. They are pioneers paving new paths, and I wholeheartedly respect and support their journey.”

Rev. Ahnna Cho Park, associate director for the Korean Global Campus at Denver Seminary, shared her reflections on the three-day gathering by saying, “Initially, I thought the goal of this gathering was to clearly define its direction and establish concrete plans for the future. However, we didn't quite achieve that—and yet I found that to be completely okay. I believe it was a meaningful outcome. We realized that we are far too diverse to be confined to a single approach – and that realization itself signifies that we truly listened to one another."

Moving forward, the group hopes to continue meeting regularly via Zoom to provide a meaningful, edifying space for English-speaking Korean pastors and to explore ways they can contribute to the growth of the denomination.