Mission:
Engage vibrant Asian/Asian American (A/AA) United Methodists of the North Carolina Conference in effectively addressing the NC Conference priorities: Healthy Congregations, Effective Clergy & Lay Leadership, Anti-Racism, and Congregations for Children
Values:
Cooperation and networking for the common good
Helping one another and sharing the burden
Coming together for fellowship and camaraderie
Solidarity in covenant relationships
Generous hospitality and caring for all people
Team:
The Asian Ministry Team members are:
Sang Seon Park, Chair – Edgecombe Parish, Elder
Joseph (Hyun soak) Park, Secretary – St. James (Newport), Elder
Kong Namkung – First (Laurinburg), Elder
Edgar De Jesus – Bethel & Plank Chapel (Kitrell), Elder
Woo II Paul Lee – Raleigh First Korean, Elder
Yuko Miller – Conference Evangelist
Sunny Limm – DS Fairway District, Elder
Seyun Hwang – Genesis, Elder
(Updated April 2024)
Ministry Priority #1
Develop a comprehensive pathway for developing clergy and lay leadership among Asian/Asian Americans in the North Carolina Conference.
| Specific Goals | Strategy |
| Develop A/AA Young Leadership in NCCUMC | ~Support Asian youth for developing their leadership, sending/funding them to national level Asian and/or UMC youth leadership conferences (Asian Summit in August 2022) ~Encourage /Recruit youth into the Youth Leadership in the Conference |
| Support/Help A/AA clergy to grow as effective leaders | Keep connecting with A/AA seminarians to help them navigate how to join UMC through NCCUMC clergy/leadership |
Ministry Priority #2
Train and equip Asian/Asian American clergy and lay leadership to plant new faith communities, new mission outposts and fresh expressions churches in areas with large Asian populations.
| Specific Goals | Strategy |
| Plant New Faith Community/ies for targeting A/AA population in Triangle | ~Get training or seminar session with Path 1 ~Being part of Committee of New Faith Community ~Encouraging “Culture of Calling” |
| ~Strengthening/ Transforming current NCCUMC churches to become multi-cultural, diverse congregations ~Appointing A/AA clergy in the community where A/AA/Diverse population live or growing so that they can be the outpost to recruit/call A/AA (young) leaders |
Ministry Priority #3
Identify and advocate for Asian/Asian American representation in the Cabinet and various board and agencies within the North Carolina Conference.
| Specific Goals | Strategy |
| Have representation at the “Core Leadership” such as Cabinet, BOM, Connectional Table along with many other boards/agencies | ~We need immediate and urgent A/AA representation in Cabinet. ~In the meantime, we request the cabinet to create a position like a spiritual director/advisor that can bring the Asian American voice and wisdom to the cabinet. |
Ministry Priority #4
Strengthen partnership and collaboration among racial-ethnic minority groups within the North Carolina Conference
| Specific Goals | Strategy |
| Connecting/Fellowship | ~ Regular meeting/retreat among Clergy in Color online/offline |
| ~ We support/advocate any group underrepresented in NC Conference leadership to be more visible and heard. ~ Invite cabinet level liaison at the Asian Com. Mtg. or sponsored events to relay A/AA voice to the Conference leadership, particularly the Cabinet. |