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BWC renews covenant with Korean conference

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By Melissa Lauber

DAEJEON, South Korea - One hundred and thirty years ago, the Rev. John Goucher, pastor of what is now Lovely Lane UMC in Baltimore, had a vision of taking Christ to the people of Korea. On July 15, 2014, 22 of his spiritual descendants from the Baltimore-Washington Conference built upon Goucher's legacy by renewing a partnership with the people of the NamBoo (South) Conference of the Korean Methodist Church.

"Because of one man's willingness to risk and take a leap of faith on behalf of God, we're here today in South Korea continuing the tradition of our great denomination,” said Bishop Marcus Matthews, resident Bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference. "It's often been said our legacy is how we live at this very moment. We are here celebrating this partnership this morning only by the grace of God. Let us go forward, creating a legacy that gives glory to God."



Bishop Matthews, along with his Cabinet and other staff, visited the South Conference Center in Daejeon, to build upon a partnership that was started by the two faith communities in 2002.

“It's often been said that our legacy is how we live at this very present moment and so because of our presence here and because of this partnership, this is our legacy,” Bishop Matthews said, urging those in attendance to give glory to God for the celebration and the partnership that will focus on building up young adult clergy through cultural exchanges and nurturing global understanding of mission and ministry.

The covenant calls on both conferences to:

  • Grow in understanding of and appreciation for one another’s uniqueness- culture, history, and spirituality- in making disciples.

  • Build on the common Wesleyan traditions to spread scriptural holiness (personal and social) through evangelism and ministries of justice and mercy.

  • Strengthen the ability to make disciples of Jesus Christ around the world by learning from each other and developing common discipleship and mission strategies within our conferences and around the world.


Both conferences will endeavor to:

  1. Foster youth, young adult, laity, and clergy leadership exchanges to develop deeper understanding of and appreciation for one another’s culture and ministry within our own conferences and around the world.

  2. Exchange visits and participation at annual conference sessions held in Korea and USA to deepen each other's learning of the church today in our respective cultures.

  3. Identify specific areas of ministry and mission for each conference to focus on for the benefit of the other conference.

  4. Discuss the possibility of partnering in a ministry and/or mission in one or both countries or in a third country.

  5. Discuss the possibility of disciple training, teaching, and equipping together in a third location (China, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Russia, etc.)

  6. Co-sponsor seminars, workshops, and/or retreats in both countries to focus on best learning practices for growing and strengthening disciples and building the church in our respective cultures.

  7. Attend a church growth or mission education event together and discuss learnings and implications.


The partnership builds on Bishop Matthew's vision of a global United Methodist Church, made richer by relationships among people from a variety of cultures.



The Baltimore-Washington Conference also has partnerships with the Zimbabwe Area and the Black Soil District in Russia, and is planning a fourth partnership with churches in Puerto Rico.

In the covenant service, Bishop Ryang Soo Han, episcopal leader of the South Conference, evoked the time when "the United States and Korea bled together in the war. When we were invaded by the north and our freedom and liberty were threatened, the U.S. along with the United Nations rescued us from that threat."

Bishop Han thanked the members of the Baltimore-Washington Conference who had hosted a delegation of pastors from the South Conference in May, and said he looks forward to the future as people of both churches seek to be a light to the world. "How good and pleasant it is," said the bishop quoting Psalm 33, "when brothers come together in unity."

The South Conference (or NamBoo Conference as it is called in Korean) is made up of 23 districts, 581 churches, 987 clergy and 120,400 members. It's motto is "Saving Lives through Right Faith."

"But numbers aren't what make us," said the Rev. Nack Hwan Kim, director of international relations for the South Conference. "Being more sincere, more Christ-like is a more important thing to us. Korea is strong with the Holy Spirit."



As part of the trip to Korea, the Baltimore-Washington Conference team toured churches, museums, colleges, universities and cultural sites. The trip was led by the Rev. J.W. Park, superintendent of the Central Maryland District and dean of the Cabinet, and the Rev. HiRho Park, a director with of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. She is also a clergy member of BWC.

"I'm looking, listening and learning," said the Rev. Rebecca Iannicelli, superintendent of the Washington East District. "I'm gaining a whole new understanding of our partnership and its possibilities."

On Wednesday, July 16, the delegation visited the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, where Assistant to the Bishop Rev. Maidstone Mulenga presented a check of $10,000 to the seminary on behalf of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.
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