Fontijn, Park and others told WBEZ they are angry the victims of sexual and spiritual abuse who came forward to be interviewed by GRACE will not be heard. Ive been very hesitant for some while about getting really committed and really involved and back to serving with a church, but I feel like my appetite is coming back, he said. An arm of the Presbyterian Church in America is allowing Min Joshua Chungarguably the nations most prominent Korean-American pastorto return to ministry despite allegations of sexual misconduct and cover-up. The sermon was maligned by many Protestants and praised by many Catholics, In February of 2019, Park said she reported the matter to Kim and urged him to allow a third-party investigation, but Kim refused. .grecaptcha-badge { It serves as a digital platform for evangelical leaders, writers, speakers, and bloggers who share the same values of faith to provide Gospel-centered resources.View all posts by SOLA Network, This week we continued sharing our content from SOLA Conference 2021. The decision came before an investigation by WBEZ of Pastor Min Joshua Chung of the Covenant Fellowship Church on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus. We remind him to abide by the BCO (Book of Church Order), and we believe that he should return to ministry," Sungwoo Nam of KCP stated. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. She bangs on his door all hours of the night until he finally comes and gives her justice, LeCroy explained. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. However, CFC has made some changes. The mainline Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) announced this week it will change the way it reports statistical information about the denominations membership to, The pastor of a Baptist church in Virginia is in jail on child sex abuse-related charges, the Washington County (Va.) Sheriffs Office, Steve Morgan, founder and president of a group of 26 evangelical-charismatic churches known as the Network, has been hiding a disqualifying sexual. I personally do it for the survivors. We grieve that this incident will cause many to experience confusion and lose trust in their pastors and elders. Theyre a very inclusive, very inviting community. We recognize that some have suffered, often silently, because of our church, states CFCs letter. As WBEZ previously reported, those restorative steps had included meeting with the CFC pastoral staff regularly for mutual encouragement and care and preventing Chung from preaching at CFC for a limited time. They gave a couple of examples [of bias], which were tenuous at best, Singer said. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. In one instance, Chung assaulted a woman in the back seat of a car in 2001, the report alleges. Pastor Kim also promised that church leadership would add more layers of accountability and would humbly listen, learn, and grow so we can be a healthier church moving forward.. I have really chosen to not respond to many of these issues but when I was a young man right before I went to college to study for the ministry one of the men who was a brother to a popular board member of the church attempted to molest me at my parents home while I was recovering from a severe pneumonia. The church consists of predominantly a Korean American congregation. A Presbyterian oversight group refused to defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch. Hence, the SOLA Network writes the following statement so that the emerging generation of Asian American pastors, leaders, and Christ-followers can be gospel-centric in processing and dealing with the stated incident. To Thyatira: Hold Fast What You Have Until I Come | Revelation 2:18-29 (Pastor Min Chung) joe 2019.02.19 43. As reported by The Roys Report (TRR) last year, Min Joshua Chungarguably the nations most prominent Korean-American pastorwas accused by multiple witnesses of sexual misconduct and decades of cover-up and intimidation. There are far-reaching consequences to a leaders sins, and as God lovingly and wisely disciplines those he loves, so the church must do the same beginning with her leaders. Mayor Lori Lightfoot was handed a stunning defeat, the first time in 40 years a sitting mayor was not reelected. In 2019, Chung told two associate pastors in a vague and minimized confession that he had sexually touched a woman from his congregation, the whistleblower report states. At the same time as former and current members of CFC were being interviewed by GRACE, the case against the figure at the center of the controversy Min Chung made its way through the PCAs judicial system. AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. It is because we believe in the power and sanctity of the gospel that we are publishing this statement. We, as a collective voice of Asian American leaders, implore Min Chung to cease all public ministry at least until a new investigation is conducted and proper She said, Its very important for churches to understand theyre killing themselves, and they dont look anything like the God they say they serve. After that, he was The church also hired The Center Consulting Group (CCG) to assess problems at CFC and offer solutions. Nothing was put in place, to my knowledge, to keep me safe from him. Under the previous structure, CFC was an independent church, with just Chung and the associate pastors, as individuals, belonging to the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP), one of the regional bodies within the PCA. To Thyatira: Hold Fast What You Have Until I Come | Revelation 2:18-29 (Pastor Min Chung) joe 2019.02.19 43. Pastor KJ shows no signs of remorse, shows no sign of pastoral care, only concerned with keeping us quiet.. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. Chung began private counseling sessions with the victim, using that time to urge her to keep silent about the assault, the report states. Theres such a pressure put on women to be pure going into marriage, but then we create this environment in the church where its kind of ripe for abuse, and for women to stay silent when there is some kind of assault, Pinyo said. But theres, of course, a lot under the surface as well, he added. The audit report isnt linked to any of the online church leadership updates. "Regarding recovery, the pastor reconciled with his victim, and regarding his relationship with God, he recognized his sin before God and relies on the blood of Christ. Our hope is to provide care and oversight in whatever way is appropriate. He declined to be interviewed in order to respect the privacy of those involved and due to the ongoing nature of allegations.. It is interesting the there were 5-6 million Presbyterians in the 1960s the number now is down to paltry 1.5 Presbyterians in the U.S. 1 Million Liberal (PSUSA) Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. WBEZ uncovered multiple other allegations against CFC, including pastors at the church making sexual comments to teen girls, church officials brushing off women who were sexually assaulted who went to them for help, and an overall culture that diminished women. Although banned from preaching at CFC by the Korean Central Presbytery in which he was Weve lost our reputations. } background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); Without its RSO status, the church was not able to reserve campus spaces and recruit attendees on Quad Day, an annual event held at the start of the fall semester where new students are introduced to organizations on campus. Find more resources and videos here. During the subsequent year, the SOLA Council learned that: Furthermore, in recent weeks, it has become public knowledge that Min Chung was found guilty by the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP). Since there is no room in the culture for open candor, exchange of perspectives, and helpful permissive dissension, there is only a cycle of abuse that continues at all levels of leadership.. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Florida Youth Pastor Arrested for Attempting Sex with Teen Student, Cedarvilles Plan to Save Anthony Moore Abandoned its Students and Moore, Missouri Church Leaves Presbyterian Church in America Over LGBT Issues, Archbishop Resigns from Anglican Church of Canada over Sexual Misconduct, Cedarville Reinstates President White After Misconduct Investigation. While we do not want to minimize the importance of seeking justice on earth, we want to encourage you with the reminder that it is God who has the final say. Former church members expressed dismay over CFCs apparent about-face. Creating space for women to be actively involved and included has been so important and it gives me hope for the institution of the church in general, she said. CFC added that while the CFC Oversight Board would see the survey ahead of time and GRACE would accept input, GRACE would make final decisions on which survey questions to include. Wade Morris, Popular Baptist Youth Speaker, Dies After COVID-19 Hospitalization. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-loaded, We remind him to abide by the BCO (Book of Church Order), and we believe that he should return to ministry.. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. We know this may cause pain for many people, and we deeply regret that CFC has chosen this path.. CFC has already disassociated with Chung on May 27 and hired the services of Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment(GRACE) to investigate the pastor. } Last weekend a sermon by Evangelical pastor Francis Chan went viral, as in the sermon Chan shared about Communion and his discovery of the scriptural and historical basis for transubstantiation - that the bread and the wine become the literal Body and Blood of Christ. But now were not really given that chance.. Email:[emailprotected] } Korean Church Stops Independent Investigation into Sexual .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-current, CFC made the difficult decision to terminate its agreement with GRACE and this decision was made with much prayer and deliberation, Kim wrote in an email last week. He also said that, for sexual harassment of a member of the congregation, the KCP should have dealt Chung a suspension of a period of years, and perhaps even defrocked him. However, the gospel also demonstrates that mercy is not given at the expense of justice and vice versa. The woman pastor at the center of the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to oust Saddleback Church the California margin-top: 18px text-align: left; } In addition, CFC vowed to be clear and transparent with members by providing regular updates on the probe on its website. A few months later, a group of pastors dissatisfied with the presbyterys April 2021 determination filed a complaint in an effort to indefinitely suspend Chung from ministry. We grieve the subtle undertones of misogyny that have been present in our churches and have contributed to unbiblical hierarchies and unhealthy power structures. At that meeting, however, the KCP instead considered a motion to rescind the April 2021 judgment and to hold a retrial, according to a July 15, 2021, statement from the presbytery. There are 300+ professionals named "Min Chung", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. In our previous meetings, they had acknowledged that [Chungs case was] within the scope, so Im not certain why that changed.. All videos and transcripts are available on our website. WebPastor Min Chung (@pminchung) Instagram photos and videos pminchung 119 posts 1,287 followers 21 following Pastor Min Chung This Account is Private Already follow .grecaptcha-badge { visibility: hidden; } CFC also hired The Center Consulting Group to conduct surveys and evaluate the health of the church. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. } CFC also took steps to join the Presbytery of Northern Illinois and move its pastors credentials from the KCP to the Presbytery of Northern Illinois. font-size: 13px I went to my head pastor and I was emotionally distressed, she said. Nine teaching elders protested the KCPs ruling, saying they didnt think Chung was truly repentant, and called for indefinite suspension. Influencing the emerging generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For us, Pastor Min is more than just a gifted pastor and teacher. We judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider the grace of God. We extend an invitation to worship with us if you are ever in the Champaign area.. Hi. The presbytery is a ruling body of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the denomination that ordained Chung. In September 2019, a member of the new leadership team, Pastor KJ Kim, said Chung had admitted to touching a female over the clothing for a brief moment about 20 years ago but had immediately stopped when she asked him to, per a recording obtained by WBEZ. They described various experiences of mistreatment by an unhealthy leadership culture over a couple of decades. Serving with a denomination as a District Leader I saw leaders shuffled to different churches who were related to significant people in the denomination who continued to act our inappropiately on women and it was imply ignored or excused. To donate, click here. For investigators at GRACE, CFCs decision to terminate the assessment is a highly unusual move. Check out our new Instagram account. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. I talked to him about it. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of "Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse" by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. WBEZ emailed CFC lead pastor KJ Kim and the churchs Oversight Board with questions about why the church terminated its contract with GRACE, as well as CFCs plan for any long-term changes in the wake of last years events. His influence extends beyond the church walls. A couple of other organizations have also severed their associations with the CFC founder. } Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? WebWorked at Associate Pastor of New People Baptist Church (Sae Kook Min Baptist Church (1978-1987) and PoDowon Baptist Church (2006-2010) Lives in Gimpo Pastor Cyrus Chung Chung Kim also alluded to the KCP investigation. z-index: 1; .elementor-widget .elementor-icon-list-icon svg { .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-total { .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-buffering, Ultimately my hope is to discover who God truly is, beyond the God that CFC represented.. It affects your identity, making you want to hide parts or even all of yourself. 6 min read. Pastor Kim confirmed the churchs decision with TRR but did not give a reason. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. One was a claim from many years ago of inappropriate touch with an adult woman. } Its disappointing, but kind of in line with what weve seen from them over the past several yearsprioritizing the institution over the victims, said former church member June Pinyo. Great! . .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-current { According to the report, Kim was initially more interested in stopping the spread of gossip and keeping Chungs sexual misconduct private than holding Chung accountable or protecting victims. Theres a picnic. The report doesnt offer explicit details of the incident, but states that the touching was in a way that could be constituted as sexual assault under Illinois law. In contrast, a team of whistleblowers have alleged that the incident was sexual assault. The Korean Central Presbytery called it sexual harassment.. Leaving the case to be resolved by a higher jurisdiction. Some members of the allegation group also said they lacked confidence the KCP would handle any future cases differently, given the ties many of the pastors had to Chung. It also alleges that Chung urged a woman not to go to police when she sought his counsel after being sexually assaulted by another church member. They dont know how to assess it, and so I would think the first response would be one of humility., But instead, she said, churches think they are right, and somebody in that position isnt going to listen to any instructions, no matter how wise or good it is.. Bryan Chapell, the PCAs stated clerk, confirmed to WBEZ in a statement that the discipline matter has been concluded by the SJC. Sorry, the underlying pathology of people who act out this way takes more than a few of your cronies to meet at some hotel resort and call that Restoration. Furthermore, what is actually done to assist the victims and their families through this process? 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