Korean-speaking pastors gather for a second round of training for transitional ministry

LOUISVILLE — Following last year’s successful inaugural cohort, in late July the Coordinating Committee of Korean American Presbyteries in partnership with the PC(USA)’s Office of Korean Speaking Councils Support offered the Second Annual Korean Transitional Ministry Education. 

This program is one of the sites of Transitional Ministry Education Consortium of the PC(USA).

The Rev. Joshua Heejoon Park, Manager for Korean-Speaking Councils Support in Presbyterian Life & Witness, described the specialized training program as one that equips Korean-speaking pastors for transitional and interim ministry leadership within the PC(USA). 

“Based on the success of last year’s inaugural cohort (held in June 2025 in Louisville), this recurring program continues to address the unique ministry needs of Korean-speaking congregations during leadership transitions,” Park said. 

The Rev. Jihyun Oh, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Executive Director of Presbyterian Life & Witness, offered words of encouragement to members of the cohort and prayed for them.

Eight Korean-speaking PC(USA) pastors, church leaders and transitional candidates active in geographic and non-geographic presbyteries participated in this year’s cohort: 

• The Rev. Chungjeon Kim of San Franciso, California
• The Rev. Kil Woon Kim of Portland, Oregon
• The Rev. Seung Yong Lee of Lanham, Maryland
• The Rev. Jun Young Lee of Roswell, Georgia
• The Rev. Dong J. Shin of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• The Rev. Hyunseok Kim of Whitestone, New York
• The Rev. Sung Phil Yang of Bethpage, New York
• The Rev. Sang K. Kwon of Bethpage, New York

Keynote speakers and instructors included: 

The Rev. Dr. AHyun Lee, a pastor in the United Methodist Church and a professor at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois 

The Rev. Dr. Eunil David Cho, a PC(USA) pastor and a professor at the Boston University School of Theology

The Rev. Hyon Chun Kim, a PC(USA) pastor and the Executive Presbyter of Eastern Korean American Presbytery 

The Rev. Dr. Beunghoon Choi, a PC(USA) pastor and the Executive Presbyter of Midwest Korean American Presbytery. 

In addition, Park and the Rev. Luke Choi, a PC(USA) pastor and a church consultant for the Board of Pensions, served as workshop leaders and additional instructors. 

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Park said the time together, which occurred July 27-31 at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky, “provided specialized training to support Korean-speaking PC(USA) congregations during critical seasons of leadership change, addressing the unique cultural and language-specific contexts of transitional ministry.” 

According to Park, the focus was on practical transitional skills and relied on the integration of family systems theory, cultural dynamics, group dynamics and adaptive change, “intentionally grounding these frameworks within the nuances of Korean American ministry contexts,” Park said. 

Key activities during the week included: 

• Lectures and workshops with what Park called “a packed curriculum” that explored leadership theories including family systems, adaptive change, Appreciative Inquiry and conflict transformation contextualized for Korean American churches. Sessions included PC(USA) polity (the call process, mission study and “Robert’s Rules of Order”), insights from Choi of the Board of Pensions, and hands-on group projects designing transitional sermons and Bible studies, Park said.
• Peer networking and mentorship, including small-group discussions for pastors to share their challenges, support one another and build long-term peer networks.
• Worship and devotions featuring daily Korean-language worship and prayer sessions focused on spiritual renewal.