Some people are just too far gone and need a wake-up call.. Over the years, Chung rebuked whistleblowers who tried to confront him for causing dissension in the church. They either left or were forced to leave by the leadership they loved, the report states. background-color: #efefef; Donate today >>, Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Todays headlines: Caterpillar and the United Auto Workers have reached a new tentative six-year agreement, averting a strike. } Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. We continue to seek the Lord for His leading in this season of ministry.. There are Walmart runs. It serves as a digital platform for evangelical leaders, writers, speakers, and bloggers who share the same values of faith to provide Gospel-centered resources.View all posts by SOLA Network, This week we continued sharing our content from SOLA Conference 2021. Anne Rhee (not her real name) recalled when she began to kiss a male friend from church. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-horizontal-volume-total, One was a claim from many years ago of inappropriate touch with an adult woman. There are 300+ professionals named "Min Chung", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. And in August, CFC hired GRACE. Though disappointed, the whistleblowers said that they were not surprised with KCP's ruling, citing the environment at CFC where Chung leads and the congregation's high regard for the minister. A total of 19 people signed on to the report or are cited as witnesses. Follow her on Twitter @estheryjkang. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. CFC has begun posting Leadership Updates on its website. 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. } I talked to him about it. } In the aftermath, CFC promised to make changes and to be transparent. He also spoke at youth and college-aged events, counseled university students, and preached in several countries. transform: translateY(445%); We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. 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. 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. Chung reportedly abused a number of congregants at CFC. 2nd Peter 1 : 2 ~ 3, by pastor Minho Chung Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. He kept this information hidden for nearly 20 years from his wife, his church leaders, and other leaders outside the church. Even the pastors, I would say, do a good job at that. Sexual misconduct and/or harassment in any form is a grievous sin that should never be tolerated. If they found out, they would be devastated and you know how people talk, and I wouldnt want them to have to go through that. . But after receiving the findings and recommendations from its investigation team, the KCP decided to restore Chung to his post. } Especially in the Korean community, to call out a pastor, youre going against God-given authority.. background-color: #fff; However, theres nothing on CFCs website about CFCs recent decision to terminate GRACE. She is convinced she would have been raped if he could. .wp-caption img { } In addition, hundreds of accounts surfaced online criticizing the church for mishandling alleged incidents of sexual abuse committed by church members, highlighting how Chung and other church leaders downplayed that abuse. /* Player controls */ Susie An covers education for WBEZ. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-buffering, 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. However, nine elders objected to the decision and asked for Chung's suspension. The Council in particular, as men in pastoral leadership of Asian American churches, want to offer an apology. The group said that though the was guilty, what he did was already enough for his reinstatement and that his hiatus from preaching was also enough to discipline him for the sin. 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. 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. Harold Kim (Christ Central of Southern California), Steve Chang (Living Hope Community Church), Owen Lee (Christ Central Presbyterian Church), Hanley Liu (First Chinese Baptist Church Walnut), Will Chang (New Life Presbyterian Church), Michael Lee (All Nations Community Church), Hannah Chao (All Nations Community Church), Soojin Park (Christ Central Presbyterian Church), Tim St. John (Lighthouse Community Church), Moses Y. Lee (Rosebook Presbyterian Church). They also ruled that the period when Chung wasnt preaching at CFC was enough discipline for his sin. An Asian American pastor in Illinois was reinstated to ministry in spite of doubts on his character due to sexual abuse accusations. SEOUL, South Korea A prominent church pastor whose behavior came under scrutiny when the #MeToo movement took hold in South Korea was Some former CFC members told TRR they believe CFC leaders have lost their way. He added: Theyre banging on the door, looking for justice, and I dont think leaders of the church should look down upon that because that is exactly what they should be doing if they havent found it where they should find it.. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. 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, Rev. 6 min read. He added that the Book of Church Order wasnt designed to protect victims of abuse, and that the PCA should consider amendments to the book to help make the judicial process less cumbersome for lay members. The friend urged the victim to tell Chung she hadnt consented to his touch. .elementor-widget .elementor-icon-list-icon svg { 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. 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. We judge that his relationship with God is restored as we consider the grace of God. The CCG called the allegations against Min Chung an inappropriate moral failure between Min Chung and a woman. right: 0; Rebecca Hopkins is a journalist based in Colorado. Weve lost our reputations. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-horizontal-volume-slider .mejs-horizontal-volume-current, Pastor Kim also promised that church leadership would add more layers of accountability and would humbly listen, learn, and grow so we can be a healthier church moving forward.. SOLA Network, a digital platform and conference including Asian American pastors from all over the country, recently broke ties with 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. A new report appears to implicate Covenant Fellowship Church's former head pastor, Min Joshua Chung, in fostering and creating a misogynistic church environment. Chung discouraged her from reporting the incident to police. Another day, theres basketball. On December 4, 2022, CFC became a particular church within the Presbytery of CFC made the difficult decision to terminate its agreement with GRACE and this decision was made with much prayer and deliberation, Kim wrote in an email last week. The motion to rescind the KCP decision needed a two-thirds vote in favor. However, CFC has made some changes. (The version of the report released to TRR referenced and summarized the texts instead in the interest of the victims privacy.) Editors note: This story has been updated to clarify when the KCP received the whistleblowers allegations and to more accurately state certain charges. To Pergamum: Do Not Compromise | Revelation 2:12-17 (Pastor Min Chung) 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. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-controls .mejs-time-rail .mejs-time-total { However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. We recognize that some have suffered, often silently, because of our church, states CFCs letter. We are personally reflecting on where we may fall short and how we can be proactive in preventing abuse and cover-up, instead of just reacting to it. The church also hired The Center Consulting Group (CCG) to assess problems at CFC and offer solutions. In contrast, a team of whistleblowers have alleged that the incident was sexual assault. The Korean Central Presbytery called it sexual harassment.. But theres, of course, a lot under the surface as well, he added. But the way to combat shame isnt to fix yourself or cover your misdeedsit is to be truly known and loved. But Chung is subject to the PCAs Book of Church Order because of his PCA ordination, KJ Kim told TRR. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Our hope is to provide care and oversight in whatever way is appropriate. He declined to be interviewed in order to respect the privacy of those involved and due to the ongoing nature of allegations.. Chung founded the church in 1990 on the University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana (UICU) campus and welcomed students to join. The report also recommended that the church hire a third-party auditor to address some members financial concerns, though the Center didnt think there were financial irregularities.. Photo: Illustration by Andjela Padejski, Photo by Manuel Martinez/WBEZ News, Move over, Bruce Willis: NASA crashed into an asteroid to test planetary defense, Students protest University of Illinois investments related to fossil fuels. I would be interested to know how much of the loss of members comes from the PCA and how much comes from the-once much larger-PCUSA(not PSUSA). A sexual assault victim who wished to remain anonymous, but whose identity TRR confirmed, said that CFCs culture discouraged reporting sexual assault to police. Since there is no room in the culture for open candor, exchange of perspectives, and helpful permissive dissension, there is only a cycle of abuse that continues at all levels of leadership.. Pastor Min is the founding and lead pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church, a large church in Champaign. Singer said any organizations that back out do so because they dont understand the nature of an independent assessment or investigation. WebWorked at Associate Pastor of New People Baptist Church (Sae Kook Min Baptist Church (1978-1987) and PoDowon Baptist Church (2006-2010) Lives in Gimpo Pastor Cyrus Chung Chung .wp-caption p.wp-caption-text { Were an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. This is so disheartening. Nine teaching elders protested the KCPs ruling, saying they didnt think Chung was truly repentant, and called for indefinite suspension. Many have called into question the biblical sufficiency of these measures, and the SOLA Network also expresses strong concern regarding the decision of the KCP. Attorney Laura Dunn, a contracted institutional response specialist with GRACE, said many of the people with whom she spoke struggled to get through their interviews, some of which took three to four hours. Former members of Covenant Fellowship Church say Chungs abuse is part of a larger pattern of abuse and silencing at CFC and affiliated ministries. The SOLA Network exists to influence the emerging generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The cost has been high for the whistleblowers, said Amy Han, one of the whistleblowers who submitted the report. height: auto; These include the SOLA Network, a group of Asian American pastors, and the Joshua Generation, a high school ministry that the minister also founded. And he bullied . Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. They may get along with that for a long time but somewhere along the way, the rot will show, and it will end up destroying them.. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. URBANA A former assistant pastor at a Champaign church has been criminally charged with sexually assaulting a teen who was a member of the congregation. The lawsuit alleges that the property at 19150 Woodward Ave. is dilapidated and a public nuisance, and orders Pastor Marvin As James 3 warns us, teachers will be judged more strictly. Chung also was accused of covering up sexual abuse committed by a fellow local pastor. 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. 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. Many other ministries have removed Chung from their boards and speaking schedules. The victim did. Chung was also an adjunct professor at Urbana Theological Seminary from 2005 to 2018. /* Track progress bar background (amount of track fully loaded) Yet whistleblowers, who knew about the alleged assault, pressured Chung for a decade to confess to the church. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Chung continued to speak elsewhere during this time. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? In April, the Korean Central Presbytery received an eight-page report summarizing its investigative teams findings and recommendations. Our King Jesus, in his incarnation, wept at the suffering of man and in his full glory he will wipe away every tear as he welcomes us into eternity. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-horizontal-volume-total { Bryan Chapell, the PCAs stated clerk, confirmed to WBEZ in a statement that the discipline matter has been concluded by the SJC. /* Progress and audio bars */ Its time to move on.. While we do not want to minimize the importance of seeking justice on earth, we want to encourage you with the reminder that it is God who has the final say. Pinyo told TRR that shes advising her current church leadership on how to be a safe and healthy church that doesnt turn a blind eye to problems. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. Another woman reported to Chung that she had been raped repeatedly. Almost every day of the week, they try to recruit people, Ma said. In April 2021, Chungs denomination, the Korean Central Presbytery, an arm of the Presbyterian Church in America, ruled that Chung was guilty of sexual harassment, but allowed Chung to return to ministry. 217 Today: 217 Today host looks back on time at Illinois Public Media, Plans are back on the table for a carbon pipeline in Illinois, Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson head to Chicago mayoral runoff. Chung preached messages urging congregants to submit to leaders and forgive them and calling victims to forgive their abusers. TRR reached out to Min Chung for comment, but he did not respond. We grieve that this incident will cause many to experience confusion and lose trust in their pastors and elders. I really did not see this coming, she said. A couple of other organizations have also severed their associations with the CFC founder. Those who looked deeper discovered sexual misconduct and abuse of power by Chung, former long-term church members, pastors, and leaders state in a 67-page report released to The Roys Report (TRR). The decision to return Chung to ministry may be appealed to the Standing Judicial Commission of the PCAs General Assembly. Its a moment of reckoning for the Korean American church, former CFC member June Pinyo said. Former church members expressed dismay over CFCs apparent about-face. A Presbyterian oversight group refused to defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch. Min Chung is the founding and senior pastor of Covenant Fellowship Church Rev. For many years, Chung had been a council member and a writer for their site. Chung turned over leadership of the church he founded in 2019 to a team of associate pastors, according to Ministry Watch. However, a senior consultant at Center Consulting has ties with Chung. 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. Pastoral leadership is an immense privilege, not a right. Chung showed Minari to his parents around Thanksgiving 2019, a couple of months before its Sundance premiere. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Ultimately my hope is to discover who God truly is, beyond the God that CFC represented.. To donate, click here. Many people were waiting to see what came out of this and then what their response would be to that, Pinyo said. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive a copy of Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. 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. At the same time as former and current members of CFC were being interviewed by GRACE, the case against the figure at the center of the controversy Min Chung made its way through the PCAs judicial system. WebDr. Influencing the emerging generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said in a statement to WBEZ that the presbytery is currently working with CFC and is discussing whether to receive the congregation into our jurisdiction. He cited an example in the Bible, in the book of Luke, where Jesus tells the story of a woman and an unjust judge. For almost 20 years, Chung kept the alleged sexual assault from church leaders and his wife, Park said. Even the friend in whom the victim confided feared she would be cursed by God if she spoke against Chung. Whistleblowers say theyre disappointed, but not surprised, with the ruling. .mytheme-mejs-container .mejs-time-float-corner, Minister accused of sexual misconduct remains ordained, Meet Todd Gloria the first AAPI Mayor for San Diego, Arrest made in vandalism of Philadelphia mosque, Marvel unveils plans for AAPI Heritage Month stories, Woman accused of lying about her ethnicity resigns from diversity position, Govt. Sources at GRACE told WBEZ that the group had conducted interviews with more than 40 former and present CFC members, many of whom spent hours talking about their experiences. He said, Your parents are well-respected members of their church, your fathers an elder [at their church], Rhee recalled. (Illinois defines criminal sexual assault as using force or threat or force, and the defendant knows the victim is unable to give knowing consent.). 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