NEW YORK (GBGM) --A new mission initiative designed to strengthen Korean-American congregations was launched here April 21 when the first Korean-American 'Mission Pastors' are commissioned by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) during its annual spring meeting.

A cooperative effort of GBGM, the official mission agency of the United Methodist Church, the National Committee on Korean American Ministries, and Annual Conferences, the program will undergird the process by which developing Korean American congregations within The United Methodist Church become chartered (fully constituted) as Korean United Methodist Churches.

According to the Rev. John L. McCullough, Associate General Secretary of the Board's Mission Personnel Unit, this program reflects the denomination's emphasis on ministries within the Korean-American community.

"At the 1996 General Conference, it was determined that there should be major program initiatives related to Korean-American ministries. This commissioning represents a major step by the United Methodist Church to support the development of Korean-American ministries and missions in all five jurisdictions," Rev. McCullough said.

A "cooperative effort of the jurisdictions, annual conferences and the General Board of Global Ministries as the official mission agency of the United Methodist Church," the unique partnership is more than financial, Rev. McCullough added.

This is a collaboration which takes shape not only in terms of financial resources, but also in program development, training and collective visioning," he said.

The Mission Pastors will be considered mission personnel of the General Board of Global Ministries during the duration of their terms of service. Like all United Methodist pastors, the Mission Pastors will serve under the authority of the resident bishop within the annual conferences to which they are assigned.

The Service of Commissioning was held at 7 p.m. April 21 at Memorial United Methodist Church in White Plains, NY. Bishop Robert C. Morgan (Kentucky, Louisville and Red Bird Missionary Conferences) was the preacher for the service and Bishop Dan E. Solomon (Louisiana Area), President of the General Board of Global Ministries, presided during the commissioning. In addition, Bishop Elias G. Galvan (Seattle Area) was a celebrant during the service of communion.

Worship leaders included Dr. Randolph Nugent, General Secretary of the Board; Rev. Joseph Agne, pastor of Memorial UMC; Mrs. Sara Shingler, President of the Women's Division of the Board; Dr. Robert J. Harman, Deputy General Secretary of the Board; Joyce D.Sohl, Deputy General Secretary of the Women's Division of the Board; and Rev. McCullough.

Korean-American Mission Pastors who were commissioned are Rev. Dae Hyon Cho of Charlotte, NC (Western North Carolina Annual Conference); Rev. Myung Hwan Cho of Receda, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference); Rev. Byung Chul Choi of Flushing NY (New York Annual Conference); Rev. Hye Jah Choi of Commack, NY (New York Annual Conference); Rev. Yongho Chun of Newburgh, NY (New York Annual Conference); Rev. Do Shig Chung of Wailuku, HI (California-Pacific Annual Conference); and Rev. Kwang Youn Han of Raleigh, NC (North Carolina Annual Conference).

Also, Rev. Jong Soon Hong of Kearny, NJ (Northern New Jersey Annual Conference); Rev. Chee Chul Jang of Enid, OK (Oklahoma Annual Conference); Rev. Jae-Sik Jang of Trumbell, CT (New York Annual Conference); Rev. Chul Jung of Gardena, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference); Rev. Raymond Kahng of Cambridge, MA (New England Annual Conference); Rev. Chong Kil Kim of Macon, GA (South Georgia Annual Conference); Rev. Heung-Gyu Kim of Dallas, TX (North Texas Annual Conference); Rev. Gwi-Deog Kim of Essex Junction, VT (Troy Annual Conference); and Rev. Ji Tai Kim of Riverside, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference).

Also, Rev. Jinwoo Kim of Jacksonville, AR (North Arkansas Annual Conference); Rev. Nam Gon Kim of Flushing, NY (New York Annual Conference); Rev. Sung Nam Kim of Louisville, KY (Kentucky Annual Conference); Rev. Jin Mo Koo of Garden Grove, CA

(California-Pacific Annual Conference); Rev. Do Ung Lee of Austin, TX (Northwest Texas Annual Conference); Rev. Joseph Won-Moon Lee of Burbank, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference); and Rev. Ki Yong Lee of Tuscon, AZ (Desert-Southwest Annual Conference).

Also, Rev. Seon Young Lee of Aurora, CO (Rocky Mountain Annual Conference); Pastor Sinhoon James Lee of Jonesboro, GA (North Georgia Annual Conference); Rev. Bong Won Park of Duluth, GA (North Georgia Annual Conference); Rev. Misook Park of Des Plaines, IL (Northern Illinois Annual Conference); Rev. Peter Chang-Hyung Park of Los Angeles, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference); and Rev. Yong Sam Park of Vista, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference).

Also, Rev. Pan Joo Song of Little Ferry, NJ (Northern New Jersey Annual Conference);Rev. Paul Suk-Yong Yang of Los Angeles, CA (California-Pacific Annual Conference); Rev. Yeo-Am Yoon of Hialeah, FL (Florida Annual Conference); Rev. Bohyun Yu of Madison, NJ (Northern New Jersey Annual Conference); and Pastor Kook Jin Yun of Savoy, IL (Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference).

In addition, four persons will be commissioned as GBGM mission personnel during the service. These include Callie Perry and Rev. Paul Perry, assigned to the English Language Church in Milan, Italy and Dr. Marvin Reimer and Dr. Sylvia Reimer, assigned to the Mutambara Hospital in Mutambara, Zimbabwe.