Release # 044 {2908} April 24, 1996
DENVER (UMNS) -- General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted here April 24 by an overwhelming margin to authorize creation of a task force to study the concerns and ministry needs of Korean Americans.
The adopted resolution took the place of a petition requesting the creation of three Korean-American missionary conferences submitted by the National Caucus of Korean-American United Methodist Churches.
The original petition resulted from a study by the National Committee on Korean-American Mission, working under the National Division of the church's Board of Global Ministries. When the board's division voted not to forward the study to General Conference, the Korean caucus submitted the petition.
Controversy had surrounded the original proposal as some individuals and groups, including the Korean-American clergywomen's organization, opposed the plan.
The original petition requested formation of Korean-language conferences in the Northeastern, North Central and Western jurisdictions of The United Methodist Church.
Instead, an "inclusive task force representing the five jurisdictions" was created, pending approval of the financia lprovision for the study.
The task force will be composed of three clergymen, three clergywomen, three Korean-American laymen, three Korean-American laywomen, three transgeneration clergy, a representative of the Commission on the Status and Role of Women, a representative of the Commission on Religion and Race and three bishops.
The measure passed by a vote of 839 to 35.
The task force is to report the result of its study including recommendations to the 2000 General Conference, but, through anamendment from the floor, the theological schools and general agencies of the church could implement findings that did no trequire financial support from the whole church.
-- Joretta Purdue
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New York, and Washington.
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