Hae Jong Kim
Encyclopedia
Hae Jong Kim was a Korean American
Bishop
of the United Methodist Church
, elected in 1992, who resigned as a bishop in 2005.
he became a Christian
. Then, while working for a United States Marine Corps
Chaplain
as an interpreter
, translating sermons before Korean audiences, he decided to enter into ministry. He was 17 years old.
Kim is married to Wha-Sei P. Kim. They have three children: Eugene, Eusun, and Eumi.
to pursue further education. He graduated in 1964 with an M.Div. degree from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio
. He continued graduate study at Drew Theological Seminary.
in 1964, serving various types of churches in the Northern New Jersey
Annual Conference
of the Methodist Church, including a Korean church he founded. Kim was instrumental in developing Korean ministry strategies in the conference and helped develop some 15 Korean American
U.M. church
es in New Jersey.
During the next several years, as Korean immigration
to the U.S. began to swell, Kim worked for the Annual Conference and for U.M.
agencies as a bridge person, helping to bring understanding about the Korean community. He has been an advocate for ethnic minority causes, having strong links to the Korean community and to the Methodist Church of Korea.
Kim went on to serve as the Chairperson of the Conference Council on Ministries and has provided leadership at the annual and general church levels. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, he was a delegate to General Conferences (1980–92), as well as a Director of the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries (1980–99). During these years he had an important role in developing nationa and jurisdictional mission structures to facilitate Korean American ministries and congregations. In the Korean community he was recognized as a leader by his election as President of the National Association of Korean American U.M. Churches, and President of the Council of Korean Churches of Greater New York. e worked with the Northeastern Jurisdiction Multi-Ethnic Center: on the Charter Committee and then as a member of the Board of Directors, serving as President 1988–92.
Kim earned the D.Min. degree from Drew Theological Seminary in 1984. That same year he was appointed a District Superintendent in the Northern New Jersey Conference, the first Korean American to hold this position in the entire United Methodist Church
. Following this, he was appointed Pastor of a church in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
, from which he was elected a Bishop in July 1992. He served the New York West Episcopal Area from 1992 to 2000, and in 2000 became bishop of the Pittsburgh Area. He retired in 2004.
In January 2005, a disciplinary complaint was brought against Bishop Kim. The details of the charges were handled in accordance with confidentiality requirements of the United Methodist Book of Discipline and were not disclosed. However, on August 30, 2005, Bishop Peter D. Weaver, then president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, announced the resignation of Bishop Kim as a part of the resolution process. The resignation was to be effective September 1, 2005. Though he resigned from the United Methodist episcopacy, he retained his clergy credentials.
In July 2008 he became the pastor of a very small United Methodist church.
Bishop Kim likes to write poems. He has translated many Korean hymns into English, two of which are in the United Methdodist Hymnal: Lonely the Boat and "Mountains are All Aglow. He has written other hymns in English.
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
, elected in 1992, who resigned as a bishop in 2005.
Early life
Kim was born in Seoul, Korea in 1935. During the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he became a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. Then, while working for a United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
as an interpreter
Interpreting
Language interpretation is the facilitating of oral or sign-language communication, either simultaneously or consecutively, between users of different languages...
, translating sermons before Korean audiences, he decided to enter into ministry. He was 17 years old.
Kim is married to Wha-Sei P. Kim. They have three children: Eugene, Eusun, and Eumi.
Education
Kim went to the Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul, and upon completing study there came to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to pursue further education. He graduated in 1964 with an M.Div. degree from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Methodist Theological School in Ohio
The Methodist Theological School in Ohio, commonly known as "Methesco", is one of the 13 official seminaries of The United Methodist Church.MTSO is a partner in the Theological Consortium of Greater Columbus, along with Trinity Lutheran Seminary and the Pontifical College Josephinum...
. He continued graduate study at Drew Theological Seminary.
Ordained ministry
He also began pastoral ministryPastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
in 1964, serving various types of churches in the Northern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Annual Conference
Annual Conference
An Annual Conference in the United Methodist Church is a regional body that governs much of the life of the "Connectional Church." Annual conferences are composed primarily of the clergy members and a lay member or members from each charge . Each conference is a geographical division...
of the Methodist Church, including a Korean church he founded. Kim was instrumental in developing Korean ministry strategies in the conference and helped develop some 15 Korean American
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
U.M. church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
es in New Jersey.
During the next several years, as Korean immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to the U.S. began to swell, Kim worked for the Annual Conference and for U.M.
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
agencies as a bridge person, helping to bring understanding about the Korean community. He has been an advocate for ethnic minority causes, having strong links to the Korean community and to the Methodist Church of Korea.
Kim went on to serve as the Chairperson of the Conference Council on Ministries and has provided leadership at the annual and general church levels. Prior to his election to the Episcopacy, he was a delegate to General Conferences (1980–92), as well as a Director of the U.M. General Board of Global Ministries (1980–99). During these years he had an important role in developing nationa and jurisdictional mission structures to facilitate Korean American ministries and congregations. In the Korean community he was recognized as a leader by his election as President of the National Association of Korean American U.M. Churches, and President of the Council of Korean Churches of Greater New York. e worked with the Northeastern Jurisdiction Multi-Ethnic Center: on the Charter Committee and then as a member of the Board of Directors, serving as President 1988–92.
Kim earned the D.Min. degree from Drew Theological Seminary in 1984. That same year he was appointed a District Superintendent in the Northern New Jersey Conference, the first Korean American to hold this position in the entire United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
. Following this, he was appointed Pastor of a church in Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
- Demographics :As Basking Ridge is not an independent municipality, the following demographic data is based on the United States Census Bureau figures for the ZIP Code Tabulation Area for the 07920 ZIP Code...
, from which he was elected a Bishop in July 1992. He served the New York West Episcopal Area from 1992 to 2000, and in 2000 became bishop of the Pittsburgh Area. He retired in 2004.
In January 2005, a disciplinary complaint was brought against Bishop Kim. The details of the charges were handled in accordance with confidentiality requirements of the United Methodist Book of Discipline and were not disclosed. However, on August 30, 2005, Bishop Peter D. Weaver, then president of the United Methodist Council of Bishops, announced the resignation of Bishop Kim as a part of the resolution process. The resignation was to be effective September 1, 2005. Though he resigned from the United Methodist episcopacy, he retained his clergy credentials.
In July 2008 he became the pastor of a very small United Methodist church.
Bishop Kim likes to write poems. He has translated many Korean hymns into English, two of which are in the United Methdodist Hymnal: Lonely the Boat and "Mountains are All Aglow. He has written other hymns in English.
Selected writings
- Ten Ideas for Evangelism and Church Growth
- Korean-American Ministries
- Class Meeting for Church Growth
- Becoming Disciples (in Korean)