An Open Letter from the Church Council to the Congregation Regarding the Hope Korean Community
The Church Council of Hope United Methodist Church is your representative body whose purpose is to “provide for planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, witness, and resources in the local church.” I have the distinct honor to serve as the Chairperson of the Church Council with many wonderful members of our congregation whom you worship beside. I wanted to take this time to share with you key details of a very important mission that we have been working on for several months. Our work has been informed by and has benefitted from the many inputs of the collective voice of the congregation through numerous meetings held over the past three months. Thank you!District Superintendent John Farley has offered our church the rare opportunity to put our church’s vision statement into practice in a way that is unique and exciting, but does include some uncertainty. This opportunity is to host, worship and grow together with our local Korean community as a true partnership at Hope UMC. It would involve the children and youth of both cultures participating in the Hope UMC Sunday School and Youth programs so that they can grow into members of Hope UMC. Our vision for this opportunity:
“God is calling the United Methodist Church to reach out to a multitude of cultures in our communities. Hope United Methodist Church is already comprised of people from many cultures and countries. Hope UMC now has an opportunity to reach out to Korean people in North San Diego County. We envision creating a place where first generation Koreans can worship in their home language, AND where from the beginning we are working to create a true unity, a blended, integrated community of faith. We are called to create something new, beyond just a “shared facility” – one people in Christ, loving and appreciating one another.”
Please understand that this vision is what we can achieve, but it is not a de facto decision. All of us will take this journey, and all of us will determine where this path leads.
This represents change and an opportunity to open our home to a congregation that wants to learn together with us about God’s never-ending love. As Christ’s Body, we understand change and our faith has equipped us to flourish as we lovingly work through change. This change will be patient and measured to ensure it is a good fit for both cultures. As the first stirring step, we will begin a three-month trial phase on November 6th. The Hope Korean Community will worship in Covenant Hall 6 (and Covenant Hall 5 when it is available) from 10:45 to 11:45 on that and subsequent Sunday mornings. As this initial Sunday is communion Sunday, we will invite them to take communion with us in the sanctuary. Taking communion together heralds unity, closeness and relationship which we seek as a congregation. A strong beginning must be nurtured throughout our trial phase (November through January). At every step, comments and opinions will be solicited to better shape our Christian worship union. As with any relationship, there will be stretching and compromise as we learn each other’s ways. As we prayerfully move forward, please know that nothing is carved in stone. This partnership will hopefully deepen in mutual commitment, but we acknowledge that there are uncertainties we will face. I am confident that each member of this partnership wants to openly address and faithfully resolve each challenge as they arise.
This outreach opportunity is unique and it is complex. We have established a Hope Korean Communication Team with membership from Hope United Methodist Church and the Hope Korean Community. This talented and affirming team will be listening to each of us over the next three months as they work to develop a memorandum of agreement to help define how this partnership works best together. Early steps have already been taken to organize how we will handle finances and conform to safe sanctuary policies. There remains much work to be done, particularly in time/space management. We have spirit-filled volunteers working on this, but your ideas, questions and presence are welcome at any time.
At the end of the three-month trial, we will convene an All Church Conference. The purpose of this will be to vote to approve/not approve moving beyond this smaller trial phase and transitioning to an expanded partnership.
This is an opportunity afforded very few churches – to actively live out our vision in such a real and tangible way. I cannot promise that the vision we aspire to will come to fruition, but we will be strengthened in our faith and fellowship by this unique and exciting journey. Many of you have already shared your insights, prayers and encouragement. Others of you are hearing about this in this detail for perhaps the first time. I ask that all of you join in with your support for this outreach mission. Thank you!
Mike Warriner, Chairperson HUMC Church Council
HUMC Church Council:
Brooke Bystedt
Tom Jones
Morgan Mueller
Pastor Drew Davis
Wendy Kallen
Fred Parks
Lorrie Frost
Pastor Brian Kent
Bob Shuttleworth
Paige Glaze
John McWhinney
John Turk
Teri Hull
Lynne McWhinney
Nancy Turk
Carrie Jaquess
David Millar
Kevin Wall
Claire Jones
Barbara Mueller
Mike Warriner
HUMC Korean Communication Team:
Pastor Drew Davis
Jeewan Sophia Kim-Ka
Susanne Soans
Paige Glaze
J Min Kim
Ric Talloran
Carrie Jaquess
J.P. Kim
John Turk
Pastor Brian Kent
Isguel Lee
Allison Wall
Hannah Ka
Maude Ann Petzoldt
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