KCB 70th Symposium (4/24-26) : Session Information

The Korean Church of Boston 70^th Anniversary Symposium 4.24-26, 2023

” Two Tales of a City upon a Hill: “-Unlocking the Past for a Better Future Together: Stories of Native Americans & Korean American Churches –

4/26 (Wednesday, 9am) Group Discussion

Group 1: EM Pastors- ECC Chapel(2nd Floor)

Group 2: Korean Presbyterian Churches- Room #16(Downstairs)

Group 3: Korean Church of Boston members – Room #101 (First Floor)

Group 4: New England/Boston commuters – Parlor( First Floor)

*Keynote Speakers will join discussion groups.

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Abstracts of the Symposium Sessions:

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session 1: 4/24, 7pm.

Title: Uncovering Truths of Christian Contact with Native Americans

Presenter: Elder Elona Street-Stewart

In this symposium we will reflect on the history of Protestant mission from various Indigenous perspectives, starting with the period of contact between Pilgrims, separatists, fleeing England and the Indigenous people already here. Elona’s presentation is designed to uncover grossly neglected or erroneous Indigenous stories so that we can illuminate historical accuracy, spiritual truths, and restorative justice. It is important to understand how we decide what is truth and what is an illusion. Native Americans are commonly portrayed in the national consciousness, popular media, and church records in images and stories full of stereotypes or as a vanished and conquered element of the past. As we hear stories about the struggles of Indigenous people, we also want to hear stories of wisdom, resiliency, and healing that bear witness to faith and survival.

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Session 2: 4/24, 8 pm.

Title: To Start a New Life: American Missionaries In Chosŏn Korea.

Presenter: Dr.Paul Cha

This presentation poses the following question: how should we understand the American Protestant missionaries’ early presence in Korea? I argue that instead of viewing them as simply “missionaries” pioneering the spread of the gospel in Korea, we must also view them as “migrants” pioneering a new life. Accounting for the challenges in starting a new life in Korea sheds light on (as well as an appreciation for) the early conflicts between Horace Allen, Horace G. Underwood, and John Heron during the first decade of the Northern Presbyterian missionaries’ work in Korea. These three fiercely fought over the administration of Chejungwŏn and mission policy. Chejungwŏn was Korea’s first Western-style hospital, jointly administered by the Northern Presbyterians and the Korean government.

For this reason, the Northern Presbyterians originally viewed the hospital in a positive light, as a sign of God’s good favor. However, it soon became apparent that the hospital hindered the Northern Presbyterians’ ability to engage in open evangelization. Those who wished to maintain good relations with the Korean government argued for the necessity of observing established anti-Christians edicts. In contrast, others argued for the need to evangelize regardless of any political repercussions. These debates became heated in part because at the very heart of the conflict was the question of what was the point of going to Korea as a missionary if not to evangelize. The missionaries left behind friends, families, and comfort to start a life in a country with no substantial Western communities. Life in Korea was hard. And one question on the minds of many early missionaries was whether their sacrifices were worth it.

Youtube Link of Session 1 & 2

Session 3:4/25, 9AM

Title: Histories of US Empire and Exclusion

Presenter: Dr. Jane Hong

This talk overviews the imperial roots of anti-Asian racism and violence in the United States. Tracing the relationship between US empire in Asia and America’s histories of Asian exclusion, it argues that the violence we continue to see today against Asian peoples has to be understood in the context of a longer history of US empire in Asia. Like other nations in the world, the US has historically prioritized its own self-interest. Unlike other nations in the world, the US was able to actualize and execute its imperial visions to a startling degree beginning in the post-WWII period, with consequences for Koreans and the wider world.

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Youtube Link of Session 3:

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Session 4: 4/25, 7pm

Title: Korean American History

Presenter: Dr. Jane Hong

This presentation addresses both the racism and oppression Koreans have experienced in the United States, and the resilience, humanity, and solidarity they have shown in the face of others’ efforts to dehumanize and exclude them. It traces how, from the first wave of Korean immigration to the United States at the dawn of the twentieth century through the present, Koreans in the United States have organized and mobilized for a cause.

Session 5:4/25, 8pm.

Title: Practicing Korean American Theology: Telling Our Stories from Generation to Generation

Presenter: Rev. Eunil David Cho, Ph.D.

Abstract:

Based on the symposium’s theme on storytelling, the presentation begins with the importance of storytelling in identity development, faith formation, theological imagination, church renewal, and social justice for the Korean American Christian communities. Then the presentation provides a comparative look at how Jewish communities in diaspora engage in the practice of storytelling through Haggadah during Passover to strengthen intergenerational ties and to empower their future generations to enrich their Jewish identity in diaspora. In the end, the presentation invites all of us to imagine creatively how Korean immigrant churches can continue telling their stories of God, Korean American identity, immigration experience, pain and loss, and hope and redemption faithfully.

YouTube link -Session 4 & 5 :

FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.eventcreate.com/e/kcboston

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