Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. He also referred WBEZ to Tim LeCroy, a pastor who chaired the PCAs committee that wrote the domestic and sexual abuse report. Unfortunately, GRACE has been informed by CFC that they are terminating the assessment, an update linked on GRACEs website stated. We acknowledge that this was wrong., Kim said the woman had forgiven Chung long ago.. 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). Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado. I have really chosen to not respond to many of these issues but when I was a young man right before I went to college to study for the ministry one of the men who was a brother to a popular board member of the church attempted to molest me at my parents home while I was recovering from a severe pneumonia. UIUC officials told WBEZ that CFC has chosen not to renew its status as a registered student organization for the coming year, meaning it cannot recruit new students at a back-to-school event or reserve space on the campus for meetings. He said, Your parents are well-respected members of their church, your fathers an elder [at their church], Rhee recalled. More than a dozen former CFC members, leaders, and volunteers came forward to TRR. Join our weekly TGIF newsletter and receive recent articles and fresh resources from the web. Korean Church Stops Independent Investigation into Sexual 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. But Chung is subject to the PCAs Book of Church Order because of his PCA ordination, KJ Kim told TRR. 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. CFC also hired The Center Consulting Group to conduct surveys and evaluate the health of the church. Pastoral leadership is an immense privilege, not a right. And I say that as someone who believes the Bible clearly uses language from both spectra, not just one or the other. top: 19px; The investigation, which began last summer, came after multiple allegations that CFC had silenced and intimidated those who reported sexual misconduct by the churchs former well-known pastor, Min Joshua Chung. There was never a feeling that this should be reported.. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-horizontal-volume-total, Whistleblowers say theyre disappointed, but not surprised, with the ruling. 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. 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. As outlined in WBEZs initial report, in April 2021, the KCP a regional presbytery of the PCA to which Kim, Chung and other former CFC pastors belong had found Chung guilty of his admitted sexual harassment for inappropriately touching a female congregant in 2001 (instead of a more serious form of misconduct). He received disciplinary measures that included temporary leave from the pulpit and acknowledgment of previous personal acts of piety as self-imposed discipline. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story or making a contribution. 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. Its time that we simply say enough is enough and no -longer co-sign this terrible plight that impacts people generationally. Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. 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. Access to MinistryWatch content is free. We prefer to style these with the main accent color of our theme */ For us, Pastor Min is more than just a gifted pastor and teacher. Chung founded the church in 1990 on the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana (UICU) campus and welcomed students to join. WebMonths ago, we worked it out for Pastor Min Chung to be with us this weekend. The church consists of predominantly a Korean American congregation. She bangs on his door all hours of the night until he finally comes and gives her justice, LeCroy explained. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. 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. But TRR disclosed that CCG's senior consultant, Charles Zimmerman, has ties with Chung. They were also concerned that other victims may exist, she said. Follow her on Twitter @estheryjkang. According to the report, Kim was initially more interested in stopping the spread of gossip and keeping Chungs sexual misconduct private than holding Chung accountable or protecting victims. There are 300+ professionals named "Min Chung", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Brea, CA 92821 | 562.694.2100 2022 Living Hope Community Church. /* Progress and audio bar background */ Yet whistleblowers, who knew about the alleged assault, pressured Chung for a decade to confess to the church. SOLA Network, a digital platform and conference including Asian American pastors from all over the country, recently broke ties with Chung. Anne Stych is a writer in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although banned from preaching at CFC by the Korean Central Presbytery in which he was We judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider the grace of God. Im tired, said Tim Ma, who previously served on the CFC worship team. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. CFC would not be given much specific information prior to the release of the final executive summary, CFC reported in September. It is because we believe in the power and sanctity of the gospel that we are publishing this statement. Coverstone confirmed in a separate email to WBEZ that Kim, who had been accused by former church members of failing to respond properly to Chungs sexual misconduct, had been accepted into the Presbytery of Northern Illinois in January. Despite the procedural errors, the SJC also declared the case would effectively be terminated and not sent back to the KCP to be retried. Nothing was put in place, to my knowledge, to keep me safe from him. The friend urged the victim to tell Chung she hadnt consented to his touch. To donate, click here. background: #db4e88; CFC, located in Champaign-Urbana, hired GRACE to evaluate the churchs practices, policies and culture for risks relating to emotional and spiritual abuse, after many in the Asian American community called for reform. In our previous meetings, they had acknowledged that [Chungs case was] within the scope, so Im not certain why that changed.. We are sobered and shudder at the human propensity for sin; we seek Gods grace so that we can be committed to keeping the church protected and honored as the Bride of Christ. Web1215 W. Lambert Rd. Web[130609] On the knowledge of God. 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. 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). Heartland Greenway LLC refiled its application with the Illinois. This years conference theme is Witness, and we hope to equip the local church to be a compelling witness despite our divisive and divided society and culture. The report accuses Chung of orchestrating a cover-up of sexual abuse allegations against another Korean-American pastor of a church with close ties to CFC. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-float-corner, Opinion: What is Revivaland is it Happening at Asbury? WebLearning to Groan in the Holy Spirit | Romans 8:13-16, 26-27 (Pastor Min Chung) /* Player controls */ However, nine elders objected to the decision and asked for Chung's suspension. AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. 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. 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. The decision to return Chung to ministry may be appealed to the Standing Judicial Commission of the PCAs General Assembly. The Austin-area congregation declared itself open to LGBTQ persons on staff and that the church building would be available to host same-sex wedding ceremonies. 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. Websigns of too much calcium in tomato plants. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-horizontal-volume-total { /* Reduce height of the progress and audio bars */ And women are taught to protect men, even when the men are doing something wrong or hurting the women, said former member June Pinyo. Members didnt feel safe talking to leaders and sometimes felt ostracized, the report said. This story has been updated to clarify CFCs relationship with regional and national presbytery associations. That is the message of Esther Lius book Shame: Being Known and Loved. Amid rumors of sexual misconduct, Chung announced in the summer of 2019 that he would transition out of the head pastor role and that a team of associate pastors would take over. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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