What do you think?
Rate this book
Here I Am: Faith Stories of Korean American Clergywomen
This project is a unique compilation of theological reflections and stories of faith from Korean American women in various forms of ministry in the church. The main goal is to share their stories to provide a window of understanding into the trials of Korean American women in ministry—a window that may serve as a mirror for other women who know what it is to be marginalized, overlooked, or prejudged based on their gender, ethnicity, culture, or appearance. The book’s uniqueness is found in its various genres of writing—from sermons and theological reflections, to poetry and stories of personal journey—from women of various generations. Readers will be encouraged, inspired, and affirmation for other Asian American women called to Christian ministry. Their stories and voices add clarity, wisdom, and hope, enriching the overall landscape of writings in this field.
160 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2015
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Grace Ji-Sun Kim
43 books34 followersGrace Ji-Sun Kim (PhD, St. Michael's College, University of Toronto) is associate professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion. She is author or editor of thirteen books, including Embracing the Other,Christian Doctrines for Global Gender Justice, and Intercultural Ministry. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 17, 2016
Our stories are contextual. What is true for me as a white male Protestant minister is going to be different from what is true for Korean American clergywomen. When people think of clergy they envision a white man. To be Korean and a woman is to flout expectations.
I recently read and reviewed Grace Ji-Sun Kim's book Embracing the Other: The Transformative Spirit of Love, which I found to be a powerful call to expand our horizons and embrace those who are different. Grace asked if I might be willing to review a book she had edited. I agreed and the publisher (Judson Press) sent me "Here I Am." This is a most poignant collection of stories, reflections, and sermons written by Korean American Presbyterian clergywomen. They tell stories about the challenges and the obstacles and the joys of ministry. Korean American women clergy face two different two hurdles -- one is being women and being Korean.
Being a woman called to to ministry is difficult in a Korean Christian context. Korean culture remains very patriarchal. Ministry is not something women are expected to pursue. It is proper to be a pastor's wife, but not a pastor. Something I didn't realize until reading these essays is how Korean culture is influenced by Confucianism. Even as European American Christians find it difficult to separate Christianity from American culture, Korean Christians struggle with the tendency to confuse Confucianism with Christianity. It's not Confucianism as a religion, but Confucianism as a social order that is very conservative and very patriarchal.
On the other hand, Korean American Christians struggle with American cultural dynamics and expectations. There is the sense of being the other, of being an eternal foreigner. The expectation that you might not speak English or speak it well. Grace Kim's chapter explores this challenge in some detail. She writes that "minorities are always asked to define themselves or are identified with some form of adjective, while white, European Americans are never asked to define themselves" (p. 52).
The book falls into three parts: Theological Reflections, Korean American Theology, and Korean American Sermons. This is introduced by Grace Ji-Sun Kim, who sets the stage for the conversation and Unzu Lee who tells the story of the "Korean American Presbyterian Clergywomen." This is an organization of support for the ninety or so Korean American Presbyterian Clergywomen. The writers of the chapters are all part of this organization. They tell a variety of stories, from parenting to marriage; from the challenges of the Christian community to ministry among the homeless. There are powerful stories of miracles -- of overcoming tremendous barriers. There is deep theological reflection and calls to pursue justice.
There is a sermon in part three that is quite intriguing. Yena K. Hwang preaches from Ecclesiastes titled "Discerning Kairos." I appreciated how she contrasted kairos and chronos, the two Greek words for time. Kairos is God's time. In a series of contrasts between the two, I appreciated this one, because it speaks to our time: "In chronos, the Roman Empire overpowered the people of God, but in kairos, God sent a servant leader who could not be overthrown by any human authority" (p. 149). In this thee is hope.
Memoir, theological reflection, prophetic preaching. All are to found in this collection of essays. I may be Korean or a woman, but I found these essays to be a call to embrace the other, that I might be transformed by the encounter.
I recently read and reviewed Grace Ji-Sun Kim's book Embracing the Other: The Transformative Spirit of Love, which I found to be a powerful call to expand our horizons and embrace those who are different. Grace asked if I might be willing to review a book she had edited. I agreed and the publisher (Judson Press) sent me "Here I Am." This is a most poignant collection of stories, reflections, and sermons written by Korean American Presbyterian clergywomen. They tell stories about the challenges and the obstacles and the joys of ministry. Korean American women clergy face two different two hurdles -- one is being women and being Korean.
Being a woman called to to ministry is difficult in a Korean Christian context. Korean culture remains very patriarchal. Ministry is not something women are expected to pursue. It is proper to be a pastor's wife, but not a pastor. Something I didn't realize until reading these essays is how Korean culture is influenced by Confucianism. Even as European American Christians find it difficult to separate Christianity from American culture, Korean Christians struggle with the tendency to confuse Confucianism with Christianity. It's not Confucianism as a religion, but Confucianism as a social order that is very conservative and very patriarchal.
On the other hand, Korean American Christians struggle with American cultural dynamics and expectations. There is the sense of being the other, of being an eternal foreigner. The expectation that you might not speak English or speak it well. Grace Kim's chapter explores this challenge in some detail. She writes that "minorities are always asked to define themselves or are identified with some form of adjective, while white, European Americans are never asked to define themselves" (p. 52).
The book falls into three parts: Theological Reflections, Korean American Theology, and Korean American Sermons. This is introduced by Grace Ji-Sun Kim, who sets the stage for the conversation and Unzu Lee who tells the story of the "Korean American Presbyterian Clergywomen." This is an organization of support for the ninety or so Korean American Presbyterian Clergywomen. The writers of the chapters are all part of this organization. They tell a variety of stories, from parenting to marriage; from the challenges of the Christian community to ministry among the homeless. There are powerful stories of miracles -- of overcoming tremendous barriers. There is deep theological reflection and calls to pursue justice.
There is a sermon in part three that is quite intriguing. Yena K. Hwang preaches from Ecclesiastes titled "Discerning Kairos." I appreciated how she contrasted kairos and chronos, the two Greek words for time. Kairos is God's time. In a series of contrasts between the two, I appreciated this one, because it speaks to our time: "In chronos, the Roman Empire overpowered the people of God, but in kairos, God sent a servant leader who could not be overthrown by any human authority" (p. 149). In this thee is hope.
Memoir, theological reflection, prophetic preaching. All are to found in this collection of essays. I may be Korean or a woman, but I found these essays to be a call to embrace the other, that I might be transformed by the encounter.
Displaying 1 of 1 review