Title: First ELCA Korean Congregation Organized
ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 13, 1998
FIRST ELCA KOREAN CONGREGATION ORGANIZED
98-29-167-MR
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Korean Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.,
this year became the first organized Korean congregation of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
"Korean Lutheran Church began as a non-denominational fellowship
called the Korean Church of Jesus Christ in 1991," said the Rev. Pongsak
Limthongviratn, ELCA director for Asian Ministries. Led by the Rev. Hong
Sik Lee, the congregation requested use of worship space at Mount Calvary
Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs.
"Pastor Lee and the people of the church became familiar with the
Lutheran church through it's relationship with Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church," said Limthongviratn. In 1992 Lee was sponsored for ordination in
the ELCA. After working with the ELCA's Rocky Mountain Synod candidacy
committee, Pastor Lee was ordained in April 1994.
"As a congregation under development, Korean Lutheran Church received
strong support from the bishop and staff of the Rocky Mountain Synod, the
synod's mission outreach board and Mission Partners," said Limthongviratn.
In 1996 the congregation moved to its own rented facility where it
gathered for two worship services, one in English and the other in Korean.
The congregation held Sunday school classes for youth and adults, weekday
Bible studies and a choir.
"At the organizing service with the Rev. Allen C. Bjornberg, bishop
of the Rocky Mountain Synod, presiding, Lee and members of the congregation
were received as a congregation of the ELCA on Sunday, Jan. 18, 1998," said
Limthongviratn. Eight members of the congregation were installed as their
first Church Council. The organizing service followed the 1998 Korean
Lutheran Ministry Conference in Colorado Springs.
"There are 58 Asian ministries in the ELCA, the largest being
Chinese," said Limthongviratn. "About 40 to 50 percent of Asians in this
country belong to first generation immigrants. Southeast Asians came to
the United States as refugees in the mid 1970s," he said.
"We try to encourage Asian people to think about stewardship," said
Limthongviratn. "If we do not foster the idea about stewardship,
congregations will not become self-sufficient. The concept of receiving
can create a sense of dependency." More than half of the Asian
ministries are in "good shape, meaning they are becoming self-supporting
and relying less on financial support from the ELCA's Division for
Outreach," said Limthongviratn. "Four more Korean ministries are expected
to organize in the next year or two."
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director 1-773-380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
