The first Korean, non-geographic presbytery was formed in 1983.
The influx of Korean immigrants into the U.S. was met with enthusiasm by the wider denomination as they found a home and larger network through Korean churches. So, Hanmi was created within the bounds of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii with a 10-year term. But, in 1992, the General Assembly approved an overture to extend the life of the presbytery for another ten years.
In 1998, the presbytery held its first elections and installed its leadership in January 1999. At the same meeting, a vote was taken to declare the previous election null and void.
From that moment the life of the assembly has struggled to work effectively and collaboratively with other mid councils, its congregations and minister members, and its leadership. Shortly after, an administrative commission (AC) was formed in May 1999 to begin what would be a long process of discernment and conversation.
Likewise, when another overture to transfer one Hanmi Presbytery congregation to San Fernando Presbytery came before the committee, discussion quickly heightened as members and commissioners spoke against this transfer despite the congregational vote to approve this move. It continued in this same tenor and tone throughout the rest of the meeting.
From the overture’s explanation:
The congregation of Han Yang Presbyterian Church, at a congregational meeting on January 26, 2014, voted to approve the transfer of Han Yang Presbyterian Church from the Hanmi Presbytery to the Presbytery of San Fernando pending approval by the Presbytery of San Fernando and contingent upon the vote of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii and the General Assembly of the PC(USA).
The Session of Han Yang Presbyterian Church voted on September 15, 2013, and reported to the congregation shortly thereafter to request the transfer of the congregation to the Presbytery of San Fernando. The Hanmi Administrative Commission, acting as the presbytery with jurisdiction over Han Yang Presbyterian Church, voted on January 14, 2014, to approve the transfer of Han Yang Presbyterian Church to San Fernando Presbytery pending approval by the congregation and the Presbytery of San Fernando.
The Presbytery of San Fernando voted on February 11, 2014, to receive this congregation into the membership of the Presbytery of San Fernando, pending an action by the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii and the General Assembly of the PC(USA).
And so, much of the impetus behind this transfer echoes the rationale to dissolve Hanmi Presbytery which is a critique of the presbytery’s ability to work cooperatively with congregations and pastors, disparity between the presbytery’s decision-making process from the wider denomination, and numerous remedial complaints.
According to the Hanmi AC, the synod recognizes the contributions and the potential that Korean American congregations bring to the PC(USA) and values the missional work in which these congregations are involved. However, the Hanmi AC has waited 15 years to see Hanmi Presbytery live up to its full potential, but now admits that there is no realistic expectation that this will happen in the current conflicted situation.
“We believe it’s time for the congregations to join with their geographical presbyteries,” says Mark Hong, teaching elder from Los Ranchos Presbytery.
At the decision to dissolve Hanmi Presbytery, a number of Korean pastors expressed their discouragement. “We have lost the space for our voice, space to have equitable power and agency,” says Sun Bai Kim, the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s associate for Korean Congregational Support.
According to the synod administration commission report: “The members of Hanmi Presbytery suffer from a fundamental handicap of lacking denominational experiences outside of Hanmi Presbytery. We have found that years of training have had little effect. Presbytery and congregational leaders would be better served by being exposed to the life of a geographic presbytery. After fifteen years of working with Hanmi Presbytery, the Hanmi AC believes that the Hanmi Presbytery cannot function within the polity and practices of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).”
At the same time, there is hope that the denomination will take this as an opportunity to continue in their commitment to Korean and Korean American churches through an overture from Midwest Hanmi Presbytery to form a task force to study the health and needs of Korean congregations was passed which calls for the moderator to appoint eight members in consultation with Korean American church leaders. The hope is that this will move not only the churches to better health but the denomination to become more and more aware of issues of race and culture that need to be addressed in every mid council.
“As a member of Mid-Councils Issues, I express great sadness and grief for the honorable retirement of Hanmi Presbytery. When someone retires, we as a community give thanks for the work that they have done, note that they depart a member in good standing, and bless their future,” says Drew Harrison, teaching elder commissioner from Mission Presbytery.
“I have hopes and prayers for the churches of Hanmi Presbytery. I give thanks to their historic and bold witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, especially with first generation immigrants. I express that Hanmi Presbytery retires as a full and valued member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). God bless them as they continue their important ministry in new contexts. I look forward to hearing about how their important ministries continue to change lives and bear witness to Jesus Christ.”
Mihee Kim-Kort is a teaching elder and staff for campus ministry UKIRK @ IU in Bloomington, Indiana.
