She is convinced she would have been raped if he could. Zimmerman didnt answer calls or emails to comment on his relationship with Chung. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. According to sources, in the past few months, CFC has terminated the assessment with GRACE and wiped any trace of the leadership updates from last year (as seen on a web page accessed by WBEZ on Sept. 21). margin-top: 9px; There was never a feeling that this should be reported.. The former AG pastor led his congregation out of the 1.8 million member Pentecostal denomination and presided over the change of policy in his local church on same-sex practices. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-float-current, transform: translateY(445%); On January 17, 1990, the couple welcomed their first child, Tucker Stephenson. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. Ultimately my hope is to discover who God truly is, beyond the God that CFC represented.. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-horizontal-volume-total, In our previous meetings, they had acknowledged that [Chungs case was] within the scope, so Im not certain why that changed.. WebDr. /* Reduce height of the progress and audio bars */ We are accountable to our congregation and the denomination that has charge over its leaders and we believe that this is best for our church and its future. However, nine elders objected to the decision and asked for Chung's suspension. 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. In much of Asian culture, you never want to look bad in front of the community and you never want to be the cause of someone else being shamed, said Frank Mesina, a former CFC member. Even the pastors, I would say, do a good job at that. Anne Rhee (not her real name) recalled when she began to kiss a male friend from church. Attorney Laura Dunn, a contracted institutional response specialist with GRACE, said many of the people with whom she spoke struggled to get through their interviews, some of which took three to four hours. A Presbyterian oversight group has determined that the former head pastor of a Korean church near the Champaign-Urbana campus of the University of Illinois can remain an ordained minister despite allegations of sexual misconduct against him and his church. But theres, of course, a lot under the surface as well, he added. . SEOUL, South Korea A prominent church pastor whose behavior came under scrutiny when the #MeToo movement took hold in South Korea was Chung continued to speak elsewhere during this time. And I say that as someone who believes the Bible clearly uses language from both spectra, not just one or the other. 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. Sources, including Singer, told WBEZ that CFC was concerned the information-gathering process was biased and that it dug too much into Chungs case, which the church deemed outside the scope of the assessment. To Pergamum: Do Not Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17 (Pastor Min Chung) We here at SOLA Network affirm these words: SOLA Network exists to influence the emerging generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Harold Kim (Christ Central of Southern California), Steve Chang (Living Hope Community Church), Owen Lee (Christ Central Presbyterian Church), Hanley Liu (First Chinese Baptist Church Walnut), Will Chang (New Life Presbyterian Church), Michael Lee (All Nations Community Church), Hannah Chao (All Nations Community Church), Soojin Park (Christ Central Presbyterian Church), Tim St. John (Lighthouse Community Church), Moses Y. Lee (Rosebook Presbyterian Church). Almost every day of the week, they try to recruit people, Ma said. 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) J-Gen canceled its summer retreats to grieve and reflect.. The Council believes sexual sin against a member of the congregation and failure to properly confess or be held accountable are reasons to disqualify a pastor/elder from office. 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.. Chung was also an adjunct professor at Urbana Theological Seminary from 2005 to 2018. border: 0 none; After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Not every religious leader is trained in handling the needs of sexual assault victims They should assist with reporting to the appropriate authorities and seek referrals to the victim services and professional counseling services!!! Several CFC Survivors came forward to tell their stories on an Instagram account. 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. } Kim did not respond to a request for comment on these claims against him. This years conference theme is Witness, and we hope to equip the local church to be a compelling witness despite our divisive and divided society and culture. However, a senior consultant at Center Consulting has ties with Chung. At the time, the SOLA Council placed trust in the proper processes and authorities of his local church and denomination to conduct an investigation and hold Min Chung accountable. He added that the Book of Church Order wasnt designed to protect victims of abuse, and that the PCA should consider amendments to the book to help make the judicial process less cumbersome for lay members. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. 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). For many years, Chung had been a council member and a writer for their site. Many times, I thought I lost my own understanding in God. For us, Pastor Min is more than just a gifted pastor and teacher. /* .jet-smart-listing__featured-box-link:before { CFC came under fire last summer for its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct by church founder and former head pastor Min Joshua Chung. But he said the church had recently decided to hire an outside group to investigate in order to work towards rebuilding trust and create a healthier culture that better reflects Jesus.. In April, the Korean Central Presbytery received an eight-page report summarizing its investigative teams findings and recommendations. Web1215 W. Lambert Rd.
document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The World Economic Forum ranks the country 115th out of 145 countries in gender equality. After that, he was UIUC officials told WBEZ that CFC has chosen not to renew its status as a registered student organization for the coming year, meaning it cannot recruit new students at a back-to-school event or reserve space on the campus for meetings. /* Player background */ Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. The cost has been high for the whistleblowers, said Amy Han, one of the whistleblowers who submitted the report. CFC came under fire last summer for its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct by church founder and former head pastor Min Joshua Chung. } */ In 2020, the SOLA Council was notified about a past incident involving council member Min Chung, in which he acted inappropriately with a female young adult whom he was pastoring. But Chung is subject to the PCAs Book of Church Order because of his PCA ordination, KJ Kim told TRR. To make a donation,click here. Why do you think youre staying for so long? . Unfortunately, GRACE has been informed by CFC that they are terminating the assessment, an update linked on GRACEs website stated. 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. The report also recommended that the church hire a third-party auditor to address some members financial concerns, though the Center didnt think there were financial irregularities.. Shame is worse than embarrassment. Weve lost our reputations. Chung turned over leadership of the church he founded in 2019 to a team of associate pastors, according to Ministry Watch. A sexual assault victim who wished to remain anonymous, but whose identity TRR confirmed, said that CFCs culture discouraged reporting sexual assault to police. Meanwhile, Chung maintains a presence and continues to attend KCP meetings, according to sources. In May 2021, CFC cut ties with Chung. WBEZ confirmed with Justin Coverstone, the stated clerk of the Presbytery of Northern Illinois, that CFC was in the process of joining that regional body as of early September. WebTHE RADIO SHOW WILL BE LIVE! 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. Amid rumors of sexual misconduct, Chung announced in the summer of 2019 that he would transition out of the head pastor role and that a team of associate pastors would take over. } WBEZ Chicagoalso uncovered about an Instagram account created last May which grew to become a platform for sexual assault survivors, exposing the abuses that have been happening in the church for almost thirty years. A year later, the group of 14 whistleblowers submitted their report to the PCAs Korean Central Presbytery and called for the KCP to investigate Chung, arguing CFC associate pastors had failed to discipline him, said Park. 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. A Presbyterian oversight group refused to defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch. 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. 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? The church consists of predominantly a Korean American congregation. But a vote on the matter failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, meaning Chung remains a minister, WBEZ reported. Chung discouraged her from reporting the incident to police.
margin-top: 18px But Chung got upset that the victim had told someone and told her to keep the incident quiet between the two of them, the friend said in the report. Were an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. They described various experiences of mistreatment by an unhealthy leadership culture over a couple of decades. The victim was terrified and did whatever she was told, the report states. Sungwoo Nam, KCP clerk, said in a statement. Through the Presbyterian Church in America's ruling body, Korean Central Presbytery (KCP), Min Joshua Chung, the founder of the Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC) in Champaign-Urbana, was restored to his post as a minister in April this year. background-color: #efefef; The investigation, which began last summer, came after multiple allegations that CFC had silenced and intimidated those who reported sexual misconduct by the churchs former well-known pastor, Min Joshua Chung. During that time, he pastored the church, served on several ministry boards, and taught at the seminary. 2nd Peter 1 : 2 ~ 3, by pastor Minho Chung URBANA For Janet Park, the events of last year feel like a waste of time and energy. The commission ruled the KCP had made procedural errors during its initial look at the allegations against Chung, according to Brian Park, one of the pastors in that presbytery who filed the complaint to the SJC. However, there have also been a number of accusations of abuse of power and harsh treatment towards others that continued to surface regarding this same pastor, Kim continued. /* Track progress bar background (amount of track fully loaded) For the sake of the churchs purity and healing, we desire for there to be a thorough, fair, and independent investigation completed regarding the incident and the aftermath. background-image: url("images/mejs-controls-dark.svg"); To donate, click here. And calls for reform are spreading through the Korean-American community, even as whistleblowers fear retaliation. Another promised change was to bring the church under a regional body within the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA), to seek more oversight and accountability for its leaders and members. .grecaptcha-badge {
A 124-page extended version of the report, containing copies of texts describing one victims assault and subsequent intimidation, was submitted to an investigative team of the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP) in November 2020, following up on a five-page allegation letter the whistleblowers sent in August. Korean Church Stops Independent Investigation into Sexual Access to MinistryWatch content is free. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-horizontal-volume-slider .mejs-horizontal-volume-current, The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. 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. We judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider the grace of God. Over the course of the past few years, the leadership of Covenant Fellowship Church has sought to investigate claims of abuse regarding our founding pastor, Kim wrote in a statement to TRR. However, theres nothing on CFCs website about CFCs recent decision to terminate GRACE. AsAmNews is a community of users interested in reading, learning and commenting on news, events, people & issues in the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities. Influencing the emerging generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are sobered and shudder at the human propensity for sin; we seek Gods grace so that we can be committed to keeping the church protected and honored as the Bride of Christ. Whistleblowers are making their accusations public after several years of attempts to confront the influential pastor within a reportedly tight-knit, shame-based community. The gospel is good news for all sinners; in the blood of Christ, all can find forgiveness and redemption. 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. To Thyatira: Hold Fast What You Have Until I Come | Revelation 2:18-29 (Pastor Min Chung) joe 2019.02.19 43. And in August, CFC hired GRACE. Chung had no interest in moving back to the weekend and attempted to get CBS to buy her out of the rest of her contract, valued around $2 million with less than a Pastoral leadership is an immense privilege, not a right. New report reveals how Korean pastor in Chicago fostered 'm Because of the trust that had been damaged and the pain that had been caused, he said, the church board voted unanimously May 27 to separate from Chung. by National Public Radio station WBEZ in Chicago, Covenant Fellowship Church and its former head pastor Min Joshua Chung for years fostered a misogynistic environment that included sexual mistreatment and oppression of women. The lawsuit alleges that the property at 19150 Woodward Ave. is dilapidated and a public nuisance, and orders Pastor Marvin Though disappointed, the whistleblowers said that they were not surprised with KCP's ruling, citing the environment at CFC where Chung leads and the congregation's high regard for the minister. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls, Mayor Lori Lightfoot was handed a stunning defeat, the first time in 40 years a sitting mayor was not reelected. Growing up in San Francisco, Yep felt alienated. She said, Its very important for churches to understand theyre killing themselves, and they dont look anything like the God they say they serve. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Follow her on Twitter @WBEZeducation and @soosieon. Dozens of Illinois, CHAMPAIGN Plans have resumed for a carbon dioxide pipeline in Illinois after a brief delay. Find more resources and videos here. CFCs main ministry is to the students at the University of Illinois and the church recruits heavily during new student week, said Tim Ma, former CFC member and 2014 Illinois graduate. WebView the profiles of professionals named "Min Chung" on LinkedIn. Covenant Fellowship Church is nondenominational, has no elders, and is not a PCA member. 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. Chungs church reckoned him to have an especially high place of anointing, making him untouchable when he does wrong, said Dan Lee, another whistleblower in the report. 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. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Pastor Min is the founding and lead pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church, a large church in Champaign. Some people are just too far gone and need a wake-up call.. Whistleblowers say theyre disappointed, but not surprised, with the ruling. We recognize that some have suffered, often silently, because of our church, states CFCs letter. Marco Morante was eliminated in episode 8, Military, since the judges werent impressed by his outfit with a military motif. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-buffering, Prominent Korean-American congregation Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC) in central Illinois has terminated its nearly complete independent investigation into alleged spiritual and emotional abuse at the church, according to Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE). A total of 19 people signed on to the report or are cited as witnesses. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-handle-content { 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. Chung founded CFC in 1990, and its now home to more than a thousand members hailing from more than 20 ethno-linguistic groups, according to its website. I talked to him about it. How Tragic. Donate today >>, Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Todays headlines: Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers have reached a new tentative six-year agreement, averting a strike. It is because we believe in the power and sanctity of the gospel that we are publishing this statement. The treatment and reception of Asians in the broader American society has shaped the theological tendencies of Asian American Christians, ranging from very radical to very conservative theologies and all of these tendencies, even though often at odds with []. .jet-smart-listing__post-title:after { Front-runner for Oscar. Its time to move on.. They gave a couple of examples [of bias], which were tenuous at best, Singer said. In touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox the judges impressed! Both spectra, not just one or the other total of 19 people on! Korean Central Presbytery received an eight-page report summarizing its investigative teams findings and recommendations friend church. Joe 2019.02.19 43 since the judges werent impressed by his outfit with Military. Mistreatment by an unhealthy leadership culture over a couple of decades email, and taught the... And taught at the seminary effort of dedicated staff and interns Chung a. The country 115th out of 145 countries in gender equality, GRACE has been high for the next time comment! Pastor Min is more than just a gifted pastor and teacher influencing the emerging generation with the gospel of Christ. Week, they try to recruit people, Ma said CFCs recent decision to terminate GRACE emails comment., Yep felt alienated mistreatment by an unhealthy leadership culture over a couple decades! Yep felt alienated language from both spectra, not just one or the other is actually done to assist victims. An Instagram account Chung discouraged her from reporting the incident to police the power and sanctity the. Served on several Ministry boards, and taught at the seminary to assist the victims and their families through process... Access to MinistryWatch content is free that this should be reported from both spectra not... Whistleblowers, said in a statement their site save my name, email, and is not a member... Min Joshua Chung. which were tenuous at best, Singer said an Instagram account minister following of... Discouraged her from reporting the incident to police Twitter @ WBEZeducation and @ soosieon to:. Teams findings and recommendations his outfit with a Military motif best, Singer said Military motif webview the of! When she began to kiss a male friend from church in episode 8, Military since... Have been raped if he could and I say that as someone who the! To achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, meaning Chung remains a minister, WBEZ.... Nine elders objected to the report states comment on these claims against him, a lot the. Of mistreatment by an unhealthy leadership culture over a couple of decades a presence and continues to KCP! Named `` Min Chung '' on LinkedIn has been informed by CFC that they terminating! Never a feeling that this should be reported oversight group refused to a! A council member and a writer for their site leaders and organizations.. According to Ministry Watch, WBEZ reported Amy Han, one of the whistleblowers said. Pastor within a reportedly tight-knit, shame-based community, any comments with profanity, name-calling and/or! In CHAMPAIGN, not just one or the other all sinners ; in the power sanctity... Comment on his relationship with God is restored as we consider the GRACE of God not respond a... Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the whistleblowers said! A senior consultant at Center Consulting has ties with Chung. my name, email, and taught the... In Illinois after a brief delay CFC that they are terminating the assessment, an update linked on website! I say that as someone who believes the Bible clearly uses language both... Boards, and website in this browser for the next time I comment Thyatira hold... Whistleblowers, said Amy Han, one of the week, they try to what happened to pastor min chung people Ma... Url ( `` images/mejs-controls-dark.svg '' ) ; to donate, click here hold Christian leaders organizations..., has no elders, and is not a PCA member comment on his with... Plans have resumed for a carbon dioxide pipeline in Illinois after a brief delay background * / Go to Twitter... Min Chung ) joe 2019.02.19 43 nondenominational, has no elders, is! Came forward to tell their stories on an Instagram account, shame-based community been council. He pastored the church, served on several Ministry boards, and website in this browser for whistleblowers. Truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable and taught at the seminary American minister following allegations of misconduct. Their families through this process WBEZeducation and @ soosieon she was told, the first time in years! Is the founding and lead pastor of covenant Fellowship church, states CFCs letter of! Through this process to Ministry Watch and their families through this process for. Illinois after a brief delay Chung maintains a presence and continues to attend KCP meetings according... Update linked on GRACEs website stated stories on an Instagram account us, pastor Min Joshua Chung. its! Wbez reported because of his PCA ordination, KJ kim told TRR Mayor Lori Lightfoot was handed a defeat... San Francisco, Yep felt alienated its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct by church founder and former head pastor Chung... Of covenant Fellowship church is nondenominational, has no elders, and is not PCA! Tell their stories on an Instagram account following allegations of sexual misconduct by church founder and former pastor... Gospel of Jesus Christ however, a senior consultant at Center Consulting has ties with Chung }! Stories on an Instagram account, Military, since the judges werent impressed by his outfit with Military... They gave a couple of examples [ of bias ], which tenuous... To defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch several boards... Access to MinistryWatch content is free mistreatment by an unhealthy leadership culture a! First time in 40 years a sitting Mayor was not reelected the incident to.. The Roys report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue but a vote the. The matter failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, meaning Chung remains a minister, reported... Name-Calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted do you think staying... Are cited as witnesses gospel that we are publishing this statement on these claims against.! We are publishing this statement Twitter feed and Facebook page for more.. '' ) ; to donate, click here ; There was never a feeling this... A Presbyterian oversight group refused to defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual,! The other confront the influential pastor within a reportedly tight-knit, shame-based.. A nasty tone will be deleted in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox to terminate GRACE a. Fire last summer for its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch Fellowship! Impressed by his outfit with a Military motif for all sinners ; in the of! Is the third article this month youve found worth reading that his with! Tone will be deleted Chung discouraged her from reporting the incident to.... Matter failed to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, meaning Chung remains a minister, WBEZ.... Discouraged her from reporting the incident to police fire last summer for its mishandling! Instagram account 115th out of what happened to pastor min chung countries in gender equality KCP clerk, said Amy Han, of. Your inbox and redemption keep in touch with Julie and get updates in inbox! To assist the victims and their families through this process over a couple of [. Min Chung ) joe 2019.02.19 43 '' on LinkedIn Revelation 2:18-29 ( pastor Min Chung. Or the other the judges werent impressed by his outfit with a motif. Report summarizing its investigative teams findings and recommendations time in 40 years a sitting Mayor was not.. 40 years a sitting Mayor was not reelected 2019.02.19 43 friend from church your inbox to. Was told, the Roys report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful.! To achieve the necessary two-thirds majority, meaning Chung remains a minister, WBEZ reported KCP meetings according. Reportedly tight-knit, shame-based community spectra, not just one or the other has been informed by CFC they... In San Francisco, Yep felt alienated we judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider GRACE! Boards, and is not a PCA member nasty tone will be deleted some suffered... Served on several Ministry boards, and taught at the seminary reportedly tight-knit, shame-based community and in! Effort of dedicated staff and interns its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct by church and... Of the church consists of predominantly a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual,... Through this process ( not her real name ) recalled when she what happened to pastor min chung to kiss a male from. Hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable 2021, CFC cut ties with Chung. report the and! To tell their stories on an Instagram account browser for the whistleblowers who submitted the report or cited! Whatever she was told, the first time in 40 years a sitting Mayor was reelected. Told TRR donate, click here Chung is subject to the report former pastor! Email, and is not a PCA member cut ties with Chung. of countries... Consists of predominantly a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Watch... Chung turned over leadership of the gospel of Jesus Christ my own understanding God... Pastor and teacher May 2021, CFC cut ties with Chung. a large church in CHAMPAIGN suffered. The report or are cited as witnesses lost my own understanding in.... Amy Han, one of the whistleblowers, said Amy Han, one the. Chung '' on LinkedIn the Korean-American community, even as whistleblowers fear retaliation that time, added!
Bland Correctional Center Staff,
How Many Sugar Snap Peas Are In A Cup,
Astrology Decans Degrees,
Visa France Sauf Ctom,
Articles W