For investigators at GRACE, CFCs decision to terminate the assessment is a highly unusual move. Sometimes weve lost purpose and direction. WBEZ emailed CFC lead pastor KJ Kim and the churchs Oversight Board with questions about why the church terminated its contract with GRACE, as well as CFCs plan for any long-term changes in the wake of last years events. padding: 1px; This is so disheartening. To Ephesus: Remember To Love Me | Revelation 2:1-7 (Pastor Min Chung) joe 2019.02.19 64. what happened to pastor min chung what happened to pastor min chung - aclmanagement.com But TRR disclosed that CCG's senior consultant, Charles Zimmerman, has ties with Chung. Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premiers mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? I really did not see this coming, she said. We extend an invitation to worship with us if you are ever in the Champaign area.. /*Custom svg icon height fix*/ The report, published in June, is intended to provide resources to handle abuse cases and to offer best practices and guidelines for elders, churches, presbyteries and other entities. what happened to pastor min chung. Chung discouraged her from reporting the incident to police. And calls for reform are spreading through the Korean-American community, even as whistleblowers fear retaliation. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. left: 0; A major area we processed was how I respond to authority and feeling pressured, obligated, attacked, and manipulated. Many people conceive of tweets as analogous to TV or newspaper or radio that there are people who tweet, there are people who read the tweets, as Munger puts it. For Janet Park and other members of the group that filed the initial allegations against Chung and the CFC pastors, the GRACE termination felt like a particularly painful blow. 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. 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 But that system broke down: Oversight entities had limited power and the denominations governing rules proved to be inadequate for addressing the issue of abuse in the church. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-total { Kim also alluded to the KCP investigation. Authors Channel Summit. 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. Christie Clinic Race Weekend: Race results and next years preparations. } According to sources, in the past few months, CFC has terminated the assessment with GRACE and wiped any trace of the leadership updates from last year (as seen on a web page accessed by WBEZ on Sept. 21). He has either founded or served in leadership for several youth and college ministries throughout the country, and was a board member for international missions organization SIM from 2006 to 2019. Web.mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-current { Pastor Mins Encouragement to Thai Christians December 4, 2010 CFC Senior Pastor, Dr. Min Chung, gave a message on book of Judges during Servants retreat in August of 2010. Anew reportfrom the Chicago radio station WBEZ has gone into extensive detail regarding Chung's misogynistic conduct. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-buffering, Per a New York Times opinion piece from June 13, 2016 called South Koreas Misogyny, Women made up 86 percent of all violent crime victims in 2013, according to police data (most violent crime is sexual in nature, and women suffer disproportionately from sexual crimes)., Per a June 23, 2021 article from foreignpolicy.com, sexism has been a long-standing issue in South Korea. Min Joshua Chung founded Covenant Fellowship Church in 1990 as an outreach effort to local college students. Esther Yoon-Ji Kang is a reporter for WBEZs Race, Class and Communities desk. 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. This story originally appeared at MinistryWatch., Religion Unplugged56 BroadwayNew York, NY 10004, Religion Unplugged is a production of The Media Project and a member of the Institute for Nonprofit NewsEIN: 83-0461425site design by Peter Freeby, Clemente Lisi, books, Pope Pius XII, Jews, Zenger, Hamil Harris, Primary Feature, Samuel Rodriguez, National hispanic christian leadership conference, Uvalde, Uvalde school shooting, Zenger, Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment. In one particular case, according to sources, Chung took steps to cover up sexual abuse committed by a fellow pastor, Samuel Lee, who was leading Faith Alliance The decision to return Chung to ministry may be appealed to the Standing Judicial Commission of the PCAs General Assembly. AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. Facebook photo. height: 90px; Bryan Chapell, the PCAs stated clerk, confirmed to WBEZ in a statement that the discipline matter has been concluded by the SJC. We extend an invitation to worship with us if you are ever in the Champaign area.. Several survivors would ask theKorean Central Presbytery(KCP), a denominational oversight group, to investigate Chung's inappropriate touching incident before WBEZ's reporting. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-float-current, /* Progress and audio bars */ .wp-caption img { A few months later, a group of pastors dissatisfied with the presbyterys April 2021 determination filed a complaint in an effort to indefinitely suspend Chung from ministry. (The version of the report released to TRR referenced and summarized the texts instead in the interest of the victims privacy.) A judge sentenced 57-year-old Daryl Vandyke on Wednesday after the Champaign man admitted that he used an ax or other sharp-edged garden tool to kill Steven Butler III, in July 2021. In 2018, Chung preached a sermon addressing the #MeToo movement in which he told victims to repent for your pain and reaction to your sin nature.. A Presbyterian oversight group refused to defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch. Do share this story to encourage others to pray too. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. } CFCs main ministry is to the students at the University of Illinois and the church recruits heavily during new student week, said Tim Ma, former CFC member and 2014 Illinois graduate. 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It was another missed opportunity, Amy Han said. But theres, of course, a lot under the surface as well, he added. margin-top: 9px; Anne Stych is a freelance writer, copy editor, proofreader and content manager covering science, technology, retail, etc. In the aftermath, CFC promised to make changes and to be transparent. We will not notify you again about this until you next restart your browser. A 124-page extended version of the report, containing copies of texts describing one victims assault and subsequent intimidation, was submitted to an investigative team of the Korean Central Presbytery (KCP) in November 2020, following up on a five-page allegation letter the whistleblowers sent in August. Susie An covers education for WBEZ. 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. Covenant Fellowship Church At University Of Illinois Reckons Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. Many CFC members are students there who hail from the Chicago area. } top: 19px; Joshua Generation, commonly called J-Gen, a ministry for high schoolers that Chung founded, also severed ties with Chung. 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. My experience is that more gets done for the perpetrator versus the victim. He experienced his childhood in America and went to James B. Conant High School. 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. WBEZ Chicagoalso uncovered about an Instagram account created last May which grew to become a platform for sexual assault survivors, exposing the abuses that have been happening in the church for almost thirty years. They dont know how to assess it, and so I would think the first response would be one of humility., But instead, she said, churches think they are right, and somebody in that position isnt going to listen to any instructions, no matter how wise or good it is.. As a whistleblower, its traumatic as well, because there are so many places of pain and injustice along the way, Park said. For a monthly gift of $11or more wed also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture. We are accountable to our congregation and the denomination that has charge over its leaders and we believe that this is best for our church and its future. Daughter of Disgraced Megachurch Pastor Jeremy Foster Speaks Out, Christian Rocker Posts Stunning Response to Recent Apostasy of Christian Leaders, Chicago Radio Host & a Former Bodyguard Say James MacDonald Asked Them to Arrange Murders, James MacDonald Took Millions from Harvest & Now Demands Broadcast Ministry, Mancow Airs Shocking Comments By James MacDonald: My Response. /* Track progress bar background (amount of track fully loaded) Webwhat happened to pastor min chung. "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. Esther Yoon-Ji Kang is a reporter for WBEZs Race, Class and Communities desk. CFC separated from Chung on May 27 and has contracted a third-party investigation into his conduct. 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. Chung began private counseling sessions with the victim, using that time to urge her to keep silent about the assault, the report states. what happened to pastor min chung WebDr. Rev. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-total { Korean Church Stops Independent Investigation into Sexual 4 min read. . According to recordings acquired by WBEZ, Chung had admitted to touching a female "over the clothing for a brief moment" but stopped upon request. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-hovered, Min Joshua Chung | video screenshot / Good Fruit Co. / YouTube. Pete Singer, GRACEs executive director, called the cancellation very rare, adding he is aware of just one other organization that has done the same. But after receiving the findings and recommendations from its investigation team, the KCP decided to restore Chung to his post. Zimmerman didnt answer calls or emails to comment on his relationship with Chung. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-handle-content { } Covenant Fellowship Church is nondenominational, has no elders, and is not a PCA member. CFC came under fire last summer for its alleged mishandling of sexual misconduct by church founder and former head pastor Min Joshua Chung. As a whistleblower, its traumatic as well, because there are so many places of pain and injustice along the way, Park said. The commission ruled the KCP had made procedural errors during its initial look at the allegations against Chung, according to Brian Park, one of the pastors in that presbytery who filed the complaint to the SJC. (Illinois defines criminal sexual assault as using force or threat or force, and the defendant knows the victim is unable to give knowing consent.). 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 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. Chung, who founded the church in 1990 on the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana campus, announced in the summer of 2019 that he would transition out of the head pastor role and a team of associate pastors would lead the church. /* .jet-smart-listing__featured-box-link:before { 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. Webwhat happened to pastor min chunguindy football roster. } Rev. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-current, The leader of a Christian cult in Kenya is due to appear in court next week, as the exhumation of bodies found in mass graves on his land continues. As of July 2021, CFC is lead by Reverend KJ Kim and is in the process of becoming part of the Presbyterian Church in America. Check out our new Instagram account. } Minister accused of sexual misconduct remains ordained, Business leader wants AAPI voters to use their money and their vote, Ke Huy Quan responds to rumors about Indiana Jones 5 appearance, Report shows islamophobia and bullying in schools remains high, Naomi Osaka praises Giannis Antetokounmpos answer to question about failure, Indian American founder of tech start-up pleads guilty to fraud, 15,000 signatures submitted opposing Philadelphia 76er arena, Survey: Racism & mental health top concerns of Chinese Am, Vincent Chin Institute Launched to fight hate, Ex-beauty queen double downs on racist video, 2023 resource guide for services to the AAPI Community, A Sweltering Problem Begs For A Cool Solution. Min Chung is the founding and senior pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church. Were an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. On December 4, 2022, CFC became a particular church within the Presbytery of In addition, CFC vowed to be clear and transparent with members by providing regular updates on the probe on its website. 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. WebThe Roys Report is a Christian media outlet, reporting the unvarnished truth about whats happening in the Christian community so the church can be reformed and restored.. The SJC decision stated there can be no reasonable hope of just proceedings with no cooperating victim, although Chung himself had admitted to sexual misconduct. Last summer, amid the outcry that resulted from the revelations by an Instagram account called @letters_from_rahab, CFC said it would cut financial ties to the pastor and hire a third-party group to do a full investigation. It contracted with an organization called Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) to assess the church and its response to allegations of abuse. Many CFC members are students there who hail from the Chicago area. what happened to pastor min chung 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. He also referred WBEZ to Tim LeCroy, a pastor who chaired the PCAs committee that wrote the domestic and sexual abuse report. 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. We are accountable to our congregation and the denomination that has charge over its leaders and we believe that this is best for our church and its future. Webwhat happened to pastor min chung CMI is a proven leader at applying industry knowledge and engineering expertise to solve problems that other fabricators cannot or WBEZ emailed CFC lead pastor KJ Kim and the churchs Oversight Board with questions about why the church terminated its contract with GRACE, as well as CFCs plan for any long-term changes in the wake of last years events. Mark 5:20-34 "Healing Touch" (Pastor Min Chung) But we cant do it without you. PCA Allows High-Profile Pastor Back Despite Alleged Webwhat happened to pastor min chung pickwick lake fishing guides. Charles Zimmerman has been a speaker at One In Love, which Chung founded, and theyve both been main speakers at Global Kingdom Young Adult Missions Festival, where Chung was a board member. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls, The report, published in June, is intended to provide resources to handle abuse cases and to offer best practices and guidelines for elders, churches, presbyteries and other entities. Park is part of a group that last year brought to light allegations of sexual and spiritual abuse at Covenant Fellowship Church (CFC), a predominantly Asian American church near the campus of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Experts say the scandal and subsequent backsliding at CFC illustrates how many churches and their governing bodies are ill-equipped to address allegations of abuse. border: 0 none; People close to the woman said she didnt wish to speak to TRR. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. what happened to pastor min chung - nordicya.com A new report appears to implicate Covenant Fellowship Church's former head pastor, Min Joshua Chung, in fostering and creating a misogynistic church Your monthly support will make a world of difference. SOLA Network, a digital platform and conference including Asian American pastors from all over the country, recently broke ties with Chung. Many of the women harmed while under Chung's leadership would begin to share their stories through an Instagram account, @letters_from-Rahab. Leaders - SOLA Network Copyright 2023 Christianity Daily. 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. Pastor Min Chung admitted some guilt but faced few consequences. A year later, the group of 14 whistleblowers submitted their report to the PCAs Korean Central Presbytery and called for the KCP to investigate Chung, arguing CFC associate pastors had failed to discipline him, said Park.