If you think that is bad, consider this; We have a PCA pastor, Kiernan Stringer in Toronto, Canada who admits in writing a letter to us and his congregation to breaking the 7th commandment ( You shall not commit murder) and the 9th commandment ( You shall not bear witness against your neighbour), refuses to repent and everyone in the PCA hierarchy refuses to anything about it. But after receiving the findings and recommendations from its investigation team, the KCP decided to restore Chung to his post. The friend urged the victim to tell Chung she hadnt consented to his touch. Even the friend in whom the victim confided feared she would be cursed by God if she spoke against Chung. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Chung joined the church in 2005 as the minister of missions, taking over a storied tradition of deploying missionaries around the world, said Walter Kim, an But TRR disclosed that CCG's senior consultant, Charles Zimmerman, has ties with Chung. Many CFC members are students there who hail from the Chicago area. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? In May 2021, CFC cut ties with Chung. z-index: 1; CFC added that while the CFC Oversight Board would see the survey ahead of time and GRACE would accept input, GRACE would make final decisions on which survey questions to include. font-size: 10px border: 0 none; 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. 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. Mayor Lori Lightfoot was handed a stunning defeat, the first time in 40 years a sitting mayor was not reelected. We grieve the subtle undertones of misogyny that have been present in our churches and have contributed to unbiblical hierarchies and unhealthy power structures. 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. What Happened To Marco From Next In Fashion? However, theres nothing on CFCs website about CFCs recent decision to terminate GRACE. fostered a misogynistic environment that included sexual mistreatment and Photo: Illustration by Andjela Padejski, Photo by Manuel Martinez/WBEZ News, Move over, Bruce Willis: NASA crashed into an asteroid to test planetary defense, Students protest University of Illinois investments related to fossil fuels. An arm of the Presbyterian Church in America is allowing Min Joshua Chungarguably the nations most prominent Korean-American pastorto return to ministry despite allegations of sexual misconduct and cover-up. Many have called into question the biblical sufficiency of these measures, and the SOLA Network also expresses strong concern regarding the decision of the KCP. Chung had no interest in moving back to the weekend and attempted to get CBS to buy her out of the rest of her contract, valued around $2 million with less than a She bangs on his door all hours of the night until he finally comes and gives her justice, LeCroy explained. A vote by the Presbyterian oversight group on July 13 to remove Chung as a minister failed to get the necessary 2/3 vote. It also alleges that Chung urged a woman not to go to police when she sought his counsel after being sexually assaulted by another church member. A couple of other organizations have also severed their associations with the CFC founder. In 2019, Chung told two associate pastors in a vague and minimized confession that he had sexually touched a woman from his congregation, the whistleblower report states. Sin has real and lasting consequences and should be dealt with appropriately with discipline and repentance, not in spite of the gospel, but precisely because of it. Front-runner for Oscar. Minister accused of sexual misconduct remains ordained, Meet Todd Gloria the first AAPI Mayor for San Diego, Arrest made in vandalism of Philadelphia mosque, Marvel unveils plans for AAPI Heritage Month stories, Woman accused of lying about her ethnicity resigns from diversity position, Govt. Covenant Fellowship Church is nondenominational, has no elders, and is not a PCA member. Gave $3 Million Grant for Reconstruction of Historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg. LeCroy said victims of abuse, who cannot get redress via the means provided by the church or denomination, can take to various means to seek justice. In 2020, the SOLA Council was notified about a past incident involving council member Min Chung, in which he acted inappropriately with a female young adult whom he was pastoring. "Regarding recovery, the pastor reconciled with his victim, and regarding his relationship with God, he recognized his sin before God and relies on the blood of Christ. The political influence of the Senior Pastor in most independent churches is always a problem but in a denomination the hope is that people with oversight can minimize the political influence I guess not. 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. /*Custom svg icon height fix*/ CFC also took steps to join the Presbytery of Northern Illinois and move its pastors credentials from the KCP to the Presbytery of Northern Illinois. (Illinois defines criminal sexual assault as using force or threat or force, and the defendant knows the victim is unable to give knowing consent.). } bottom: 0; Former members of Covenant Fellowship Church say Chungs abuse is part of a larger pattern of abuse and silencing at CFC and affiliated ministries. } Pastor KJ shows no signs of remorse, shows no sign of pastoral care, only concerned with keeping us quiet.. A July 13 vote narrowly missed that threshold, with 22 in favor of rescinding the decision, 12 against, and one abstaining. Toll free: (866) 364-9980, Florida Youth Pastor Arrested for Attempting Sex with Teen Student, Cedarvilles Plan to Save Anthony Moore Abandoned its Students and Moore, Missouri Church Leaves Presbyterian Church in America Over LGBT Issues, Archbishop Resigns from Anglican Church of Canada over Sexual Misconduct, Cedarville Reinstates President White After Misconduct Investigation. According to The Roys Report(TRR), a group of whistleblowers submitted a report to the KCP in November 2020, accusing Chung with various incidents of sexual assaults. Many times, I thought I lost my own understanding in God. Meanwhile, Chung maintains a presence and continues to attend KCP meetings, according to sources. The city of Detroit is suing a pastor and his church over the stalled development of a new mega-church at 7 Mile and Woodward Avenue, saying blight has emerged as a result, according to court documents. WebWorked at Associate Pastor of New People Baptist Church (Sae Kook Min Baptist Church (1978-1987) and PoDowon Baptist Church (2006-2010) Lives in Gimpo Pastor Cyrus Chung Chung Over the course of the past few years, the leadership of Covenant Fellowship Church has sought to investigate claims of abuse regarding our founding pastor, Kim wrote in a statement to TRR. 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. The KCP ruled only on the sexual assault allegation, calling it sexual harassment. They determined that Chung was guilty but has done enough for restoration to ministry. He cited an example in the Bible, in the book of Luke, where Jesus tells the story of a woman and an unjust judge. Park said when she confronted Chung, he said had a dream in which God showed him that he was a lampstand for his generation, and that he should keep preaching as part of his healing. Great! right: 0; Brea, CA 92821 | 562.694.2100 2022 Living Hope Community Church. Frank Barker, whose 4,000-member Briarwood Presbyterian Church grew from a Birmingham, Alabama, storefront before he helped found the conservative Presbyterian. It was very much like, Why do you think you got into this relationship? WebTHE RADIO SHOW WILL BE LIVE! The congregation also sought to evaluate the health of the church through The Center Consulting Group (CCG). And calls for reform are spreading through the Korean-American community, even as whistleblowers fear retaliation. As James 3 warns us, teachers will be judged more strictly. Powered by Church Plant Media 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. margin-top: 18px 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. In September 2019, a member of the new leadership team, Pastor KJ Kim, said Chung had admitted to touching a female over the clothing for a brief moment about 20 years ago but had immediately stopped when she asked him to, per a recording obtained by WBEZ. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-float-current, Attorney Laura Dunn, a contracted institutional response specialist with GRACE, said many of the people with whom she spoke struggled to get through their interviews, some of which took three to four hours. But Chung got upset that the victim had told someone and told her to keep the incident quiet between the two of them, the friend said in the report. Later, the victim called a friend and told her what Chung had done. However, nine elders objected to the decision and asked for Chung's suspension. I really did not see this coming, she said. } Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. During the subsequent year, the SOLA Council learned that: Furthermore, in recent weeks, it has become public knowledge that Min Chung was found guilty by the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP). Posted on: Feb 04, 2023 User login /* Current track progress and active audio volume level bar */ color: #888888; /* .jet-smart-listing__featured-box-link:before { Pastor KJ Kim acknowledged that Chung has been accused of a pattern of abusing his authority. Min Chung is the founding and senior pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church Rev. /* Progress and audio bar background */ I have the privilege of living near a large population of Korean Americans, both Christian and otherwise. } Dr. Min J. Chung is the founding and lead pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church, an 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. to conduct a third-party investigation. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-total { For investigators at GRACE, CFCs decision to terminate the assessment is a highly unusual move. CFCs current senior pastor, KJ Kim, was also accused of aiding in the cover-up of Min Chungs misconduct in a report compiled by a team of whistleblowers. We know this may cause pain for many people, and we deeply regret that CFC has chosen this path.. That same year, the actress retired from acting to start a family with her new husband. 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. CFC had been regularly updating the church on GRACEs investigation. Learn how your comment data is processed. How Can the Church Support Asian American Women? background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); font-size: 13px Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story or making a contribution. Regarding recovery, the pastor reconciled with his victim, and regarding his relationship with God, he recognized his sin before God and relies on the blood of Christ, Rev. CFC has begun posting Leadership Updates on its website. In our previous meetings, they had acknowledged that [Chungs case was] within the scope, so Im not certain why that changed.. .grecaptcha-badge { 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). In a situation like this, we believe real accountability, discipline, and repentance are required. Join with thousands of others to keep this important public media-based resource available to all. However, the KCP determined at an April meeting that looked only at the single incident that Chung had been restored to God, as well as the woman, and that that discipline instituted by CFC pastors was found to be sufficient.. These include the SOLA Network, a group of Asian American pastors, and the Joshua Generation, a high school ministry that the minister also founded. There was never a feeling that this should be reported.. At the same time as former and current members of CFC were being interviewed by GRACE, the case against the figure at the center of the controversy Min Chung made its way through the PCAs judicial system. Park is one of the whistleblowers who submitted the report to the KCP. He also referred WBEZ to Tim LeCroy, a pastor who chaired the PCAs committee that wrote the domestic and sexual abuse report. CFC separated from Chung on May 27 and has contracted a third-party investigation into his conduct. To Pergamum: Do Not Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17 (Pastor Min Chung) The victim was suicidal and traumatized by her initial and continuous interaction with Pastor Min, the friend stated in testimony included in the report. Over the years, Chung rebuked whistleblowers who tried to confront him for causing dissension in the church. They either left or were forced to leave by the leadership they loved, the report states. The Council in particular, as men in pastoral leadership of Asian American churches, want to offer an apology. Ministry Watch 2022 All rights reserved. Heartland Greenway LLC refiled its application with the Illinois. As of May 27, 2021, Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC) has terminated its formal relationship with Min Chung. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time { Diane Langberg, a prominent psychologist and leading voice on abuse within church communities, said CFCs termination of the GRACE assessment is yet another move to silence the individuals the church has hurt. The presbytery is a ruling body of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the denomination that ordained Chung. Langberg helped an ad interim committee of the PCA write a new report on domestic and sexual abuse in churches. 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). Donate today >>, Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Todays headlines: Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers have reached a new tentative six-year agreement, averting a strike. Former church members expressed dismay over CFCs apparent about-face. J-Gen canceled its summer retreats to grieve and reflect.. .jet-smart-listing__post-title:after { While we do not want to minimize the importance of seeking justice on earth, we want to encourage you with the reminder that it is God who has the final say. Marco Morante was eliminated in episode 8, Military, since the judges werent impressed by his outfit with a military motif. On July 9, 1988, Whelchel tied the knot with Steven Cauble, her first husband and associate pastor at The Church on the Way. However, CFC has made some changes. We at the SOLA Network respect and believe in the due processes of member denominations; we encourage the work that our PCA brothers are pursuing to bring the appropriate denominational actions for proper discipline. However, a senior consultant at Center Consulting has ties with Chung. }. So they think that they can have some level of control of the process some access to information before they get to the final product, Singer said. We also introduced two new members of the [], Editors Note: This panel discussion is from SOLA Conference 2021. As the leaders of CFC, we repent and acknowledge our failings and the many ways that we need to change.. The motion failed to pass, allowing Chung to remain an ordained minister in good standing with the PCA. Whistleblowers say theyre disappointed, but not surprised, with the ruling. Though the assessment is nearly complete, the termination by CFC effectively halts our work at this time. She is convinced she would have been raped if he could. The report states that 62 percent of those surveyed consider CFC to have a works-based culture. The church has been legalistic, the CCG reported, and has lacked transparency and accountability. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-horizontal-volume-total { Nothing was put in place, to my knowledge, to keep me safe from him. I am probably going to get myself in trouble making this next statement but the context was always a sense of Hyper-Complimentarianism or some hybrid form of it because the Denomination that I refereed of believed in women Pastors but the culture was steeped with this type of theological thinking. [They] are literally re-traumatizing [themselves] by speaking to us, so the least the other side could do would be to hear those pieces of information, Dunn said, adding that current church leaders, including KJ Kim, were the only remaining people GRACE had left to interview. Eventually, Ashton was removed along with Angel Chen in episode 9 because she didnt live up to the judges expectations. visibility: hidden; .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-handle-content { Web[130609] On the knowledge of God. /* Player background */ } */ He still preaches as a member in good standing. As reported by The Roys Report (TRR) last year, Min Joshua Chungarguably the nations most prominent Korean-American pastorwas accused by multiple witnesses of sexual misconduct and decades of cover-up and intimidation. AsAmNews is a community of users interested in reading, learning and commenting on news, events, people & issues in the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-loaded { Access to MinistryWatch content is free. Anne Rhee (not her real name) recalled when she began to kiss a male friend from church. While the perfect judgment of God awaits us all, human judgments must be made to reflect His. The SOLA Network exists to influence the emerging generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 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. Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado. background-color: #efefef; To donate, click here. There are 300+ professionals named "Min Chung", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. For many years, Chung had been a council member and a writer for their site. Though disappointed, the whistleblowers said that they were not surprised with KCP's ruling, citing the environment at CFC where Chung leads and the congregation's high regard for the minister. Nothing was ever followed up on with me. text-align: left; } WebLearning to Groan in the Holy Spirit | Romans 8:13-16, 26-27 (Pastor Min Chung) Restoration to ministry who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, is. 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