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 NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
