background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); We remind him to abide by the BCO (Book of Church Order), and we believe that he should return to ministry," Sungwoo Nam of KCP stated. In February of 2019, Park said she reported the matter to Kim and urged him to allow a third-party investigation, but Kim refused. In April 2021, Chungs denomination, the Korean Central Presbytery, an arm of the Presbyterian Church in America, ruled that Chung was guilty of sexual harassment, but allowed Chung to return to ministry. To Pergamum: Do Not Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17 (Pastor Min Chung) .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-marker, /* Track progress bar background (amount of track fully loaded) Bryan Chapell, the PCAs stated clerk, confirmed to WBEZ in a statement that the discipline matter has been concluded by the SJC. We, as a collective voice of Asian American leaders, implore Min Chung to cease all public ministry at least until a new investigation is conducted and proper disciplinary measures are followed. The church brought in a trauma expert to meet with congregants, added elders to its leadership model, and offered congregants ongoing ways to express concerns. Pastor Min Chung admitted some guilt but faced few consequences. A July 13 vote narrowly missed that threshold, with 22 in favor of rescinding the decision, 12 against, and one abstaining. WebPastor Min Chung (@pminchung) Instagram photos and videos pminchung 119 posts 1,287 followers 21 following Pastor Min Chung This Account is Private Already follow Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify when the KCP received the whistleblowers allegations and to more accurately state certain charges. According to the report, Kim was initially more interested in stopping the spread of gossip and keeping Chungs sexual misconduct private than holding Chung accountable or protecting victims. 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Eventually, that group reconsidered and completed the assessment. He added that the Book of Church Order wasnt designed to protect victims of abuse, and that the PCA should consider amendments to the book to help make the judicial process less cumbersome for lay members. Creating space for women to be actively involved and included has been so important and it gives me hope for the institution of the church in general, she said. Pastoral leadership is an immense privilege, not a right. URBANA For Janet Park, the events of last year feel like a waste of time and energy. According to U of I spokeswoman Robin Kaler, Covenant Fellowship is once again a registered student organization with the university this school year giving the 32-year-old congregation access to the schools facilities and a new crop of potential members. In April, the Korean Central Presbytery received an eight-page report summarizing its investigative teams findings and recommendations. He kept this information hidden for nearly 20 years from his wife, his church leaders, and other leaders outside the church. In October, the church board released a nine-page report from the CCG. URBANA A former assistant pastor at a Champaign church has been criminally charged with sexually assaulting a teen who was a member of the congregation. Sexual misconduct and/or harassment in any form is a grievous sin that should never be tolerated. More than a dozen former CFC members, leaders, and volunteers came forward to TRR. On January 17, 1990, the couple welcomed their first child, Tucker Stephenson. Theres such a pressure put on women to be pure going into marriage, but then we create this environment in the church where its kind of ripe for abuse, and for women to stay silent when there is some kind of assault, Pinyo said. Kim would not agree to an interview but wrote back: We at CFC continue to seek the Lord in the work of the church and we are grateful to God for the way He is leading our congregation and this is our focus right now. Leaving the case to be resolved by a higher jurisdiction. 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Chung began private counseling sessions with the victim, using that time to urge her to keep silent about the assault, the report states. Many times, I thought I lost my own understanding in God. Later, the victim called a friend and told her what Chung had done. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Anne Rhee (not her real name) recalled when she began to kiss a male friend from church. Join with thousands of others to keep this important public media-based resource available to all. padding: 1px; We lost our church family and community, she said. 6 min read. But TRR said that the ruling may still be appealed to the Standing Judicial Commission of the PCA's General Assembly. If they found out, they would be devastated and you know how people talk, and I wouldnt want them to have to go through that. . I have to believe that having an an honor/shame cultural background, rather than a right/wrong (or guilt) background, would bring quite a few challenges to conducting an independent leadership investigation. The group said that though the was guilty, what he did was already enough for his reinstatement and that his hiatus from preaching was also enough to discipline him for the sin. fostered a misogynistic environment that included sexual mistreatment and Without its RSO status, the church was not able to reserve campus spaces and recruit attendees on Quad Day, an annual event held at the start of the fall semester where new students are introduced to organizations on campus. CFC has begun posting Leadership Updates on its website. Because of the trust that had been damaged and the pain that had been caused, he said, the church board voted unanimously May 27 to separate from Chung. To Thyatira: Hold Fast What You Have Until I Come | Revelation 2:18-29 (Pastor Min Chung) joe 2019.02.19 43. WebView the profiles of professionals named "Min Chung" on LinkedIn. The congregation also sought to evaluate the health of the church through The Center Consulting Group (CCG). Sorry, the underlying pathology of people who act out this way takes more than a few of your cronies to meet at some hotel resort and call that Restoration. Furthermore, what is actually done to assist the victims and their families through this process? .elementor-widget .elementor-icon-list-icon svg { They were also concerned that other victims may exist, she said. In May, CFC severed ties with Chung and hired Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (G.R.A.C.E.) It Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. I really did not see this coming, she said. The victim did. We are personally reflecting on where we may fall short and how we can be proactive in preventing abuse and cover-up, instead of just reacting to it. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. In the wake of last years scandal, CFC also chose not to renew its status as a registered student organization, or RSO, at U of I last academic year. The churchs website says that as of July 2021, CFC is under the leadership of Reverend KJ Kim and a lay oversight board and is in the process of particularizing or becoming a fully organized church with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Nine teaching elders protested the KCPs ruling, saying they didnt think Chung was truly repentant, and called for indefinite suspension. All videos and transcripts are available on our website. Hi. Our King Jesus, in his incarnation, wept at the suffering of man and in his full glory he will wipe away every tear as he welcomes us into eternity. Since there is no room in the culture for open candor, exchange of perspectives, and helpful permissive dissension, there is only a cycle of abuse that continues at all levels of leadership.. The woman pastor at the center of the Southern Baptist Convention's decision to oust Saddleback Church the California She says he then began to force himself on her and pull his pants down until she pushed him off and ran into the bathroom, locking the door until he left. Many other ministries have removed Chung from their boards and speaking schedules. He also spoke at youth and college-aged events, counseled university students, and preached in several countries. One was a claim from many years ago of inappropriate touch with an adult woman. WBEZ first reported the allegations against Chung and the crisis unfolding at CFC as the victims of sexual and spiritual abuse shared their stories online. We, as a collective voice of Asian American leaders, implore Min Chung to cease all public ministry at least until a new investigation is conducted and proper } color: #888888; margin: 0; The victim was suicidal and traumatized by her initial and continuous interaction with Pastor Min, the friend stated in testimony included in the report. There are 300+ professionals named "Min Chung", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. At the time, the SOLA Council placed trust in the proper processes and authorities of his local church and denomination to conduct an investigation and hold Min Chung accountable. The commission declared the KCP should have disciplined the pastor according to the PCAs Book of Church Order not follow the restorative steps the associate pastors had instituted, according to Brian Park. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? LeCroy said the procedures and laws of the PCAs Book of Church Order by which churches, presbyteries and pastors abide dictates that the lower court, [the presbyterys] decision is to be respected, and that the SJC often does decide things along procedural grounds, and not the merits of the original case. Sometimes weve lost purpose and direction. Why do you think youre staying for so long? . But after receiving the findings and recommendations from its investigation team, the KCP decided to restore Chung to his post. We remind him to abide by the BCO (Book of Church Order), and we believe that he should return to ministry.. Our hope is to provide care and oversight in whatever way is appropriate. He declined to be interviewed in order to respect the privacy of those involved and due to the ongoing nature of allegations.. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-total { Follow her on Twitter @WBEZeducation and @soosieon. This story has been updated to clarify CFCs relationship with regional and national presbytery associations. While the perfect judgment of God awaits us all, human judgments must be made to reflect His. The presbytery is a ruling body of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the denomination that ordained Chung. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! 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Chung showed Minari to his parents around Thanksgiving 2019, a couple of months before its Sundance premiere. Many people were waiting to see what came out of this and then what their response would be to that, Pinyo said. background-color: #fff; Several CFC Survivors came forward to tell their stories on an Instagram account. WILL and the Illinois Newsroom are committed to bringing you in-depth, relevant coverage that keeps you informed and engages you with our community and state. However, the gospel also demonstrates that mercy is not given at the expense of justice and vice versa. Whistleblowers are making their accusations public after several years of attempts to confront the influential pastor within a reportedly tight-knit, shame-based community. WebAs of July 2021, CFC came under the leadership of Reverend KJ Kim and a lay oversight board. Esther Yoon-Ji Kang is a reporter for WBEZs Race, Class and Communities desk. We judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider the grace of God. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-current, The victim was terrified and did whatever she was told, the report states. The KCP which consists of several pastors who were close with Chung had determined that he had been restored to God, as well as the woman. The regional presbytery also determined no additional disciplinary steps were needed for Chung other than what the church had already instituted. Through the Presbyterian Church in America's ruling body, Korean Central Presbytery (KCP), Min Joshua Chung, the founder of the Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC) in Champaign-Urbana, was restored to his post as a minister in April this year. Last summer, Kim, writing on behalf of the Oversight Board, promised that CFC would release a full report at the conclusion of GRACEs investigation.