NR #1995-069 (Revised): Synod Withholds Action on Korean-Language Classis Rejecting a plea from a classis which has so many Korean churches that it must provide simultaneous translation for its meetings, the Christian Reformed synod withheld action on a proposal from Classis Greater Los Angeles that the CRC establish a Korean-language classis with a term limit of 15 years. However, synod asked the classis and other concerned parties to come back to synod with a more detailed proposal that answers a number of synodical concerns. NR #1995-069 (Revised): For Immediate Release Synod Withholds Action on Proposed Korean-Language Classis GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (June 21, 1995) URNS - Synod withheld action today on an overture from Classis Greater Los Angeles asking the CRC to establish a Korean-language classis in southern California, Nevada, and Hawaii. Koreans are by far the largest ethnic group in the CRC, currently accounting for approximately fifty churches - one of which omitted its statistics from the 1995 CRC Yearbook but is among the ten largest churches in the CRC. At one point, the numbers were even larger: Calvin Seminary graduate Dr. John E. Kim had returned to the United States in 1975, planted the CRC's second Korean church, and built his congregation to the point that it would have become the CRC's largest congregation if it had not seceded after Synod 1993's decision to open all the offices of the church to women subject to ratification by Synod 1994. Many of the Korean congregations are strongly conservative for both theological and cultural reasons, and Kim's secession led to the departure of over forty percent of the total Korean CRC membership. Prior to the secession, Classis California South received an overture from one of its Korean churches asking for the establishment of a Korean classis. The overture, which cited the existence of Korean presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church in America and several historical precedents in the CRC, was referred to a committee to which Classis Greater Los Angeles later appointed additional members. The committee continued to meet following the secession and recommended to both classes that they overture synod to appoint a Korean-language classis with a fifteen-year term limit. Classis Greater Los Angeles adopted the overture unanimously; Classis California South voted it down by a narrow margin. Classis Greater Los Angeles then forwarded the request for what would be the CRC's 47th classis on to synod. The synodical advisory committee dealing with the overture, while recommending against its adoption, expressed "strong encouragement to Classis California South and Greater Los Angeles to form a task force that includes the participation of Home Missions to study these issues in greater detail and prepare a more in-depth report for synod's consideration in the future." Synod originally addressed the overture on June 17. Since it was originally scheduled to come up on Tuesday, Rev. Randy Lankheet from Classis California South told synod that CRC Korean Ethnic Ministry Coordinator Rev. John Choi had planned to fly to synod from California to speak on the matter. Lankheet told synod that the report of the advisory committee was not correct: while the Korean churches are not in full agreement about the Korean classis, the disagreement was not over whether to have the classis but over whether to join it. Some of the Korean congregations have more second generation members who are more fluent in English and prefer to remain in their English-speaking classis, Lankheet said. Synod president Rev. Cal Bolt denied Lankheet's request to postpone the matter, noting that synod receives many such requests and cannot arrange its schedule to meet that of people who wish to address synod. Rev. John Van Schepen from Classis Greater Los Angeles then addressed synod on why the Koreans in his classis wanted a separate classis. "Rev. Choi anticipates ten to fifteen new Korean churches in our area within five years," said Van Schepen, noting that his classis was organized only six years ago, is already ready to divide, and would become a "humungous" classis if all of the new churches Choi anticipates were to join. At 42 churches and mission works, Classis Greater Los Angeles has more congregations than any other classis of the CRC despite being - along with Classis Yellowstone - one of the CRC's two youngest classes. "We believe the Koreans need the opportunity to sit there as a classis," said Van Schepen, noting that his classis currently has to have simultaneous translation to conduct its business and a number of Korean churches lack a sense of ownership of Christian Reformed ministries. However, committee faculty advisor Dr. Roger Greenway said the proposed Korean classis needed more study. "The committee very much wants to meet the needs of the Korean-speaking congregations, but we've got to see this against the background of the multiethnic situation in North America," said Greenway. "The precedent we're setting is going to come back to us when we see other ethnic groups coming to us and asking for their own classis." "Maybe that's the direction we want to go, but let's study this first," said Greenway. Following discussion, synod tabled the Korean classis proposal. By the time synod addressed it again, Choi had met with the advisory committee which revised its report recommending that synod withhold action rather than rejecting the overture. "In your committee's discussions with Rev. John Choi, the Korean Council coordinator, and others, the matter of the fifteen-year term length was brought up," noted the advisory committee. "It has been confirmed to the committee that the intention of the limit and its implementation is not clear, and likely not workable, especially given the possibility of rapid growth within this new classis." While withholding action on the Korean classis overture, synod adopted a committee recommendation to "request and encourage Classis Greater Los Angeles, together with the Korean-speaking churches of Classes Greater Los Angeles and California South, and in consultation with the Ministries Coordinating Council and the Korean Council, to present to Synod 1996 a recommendation for a Korean-speaking classis with details as to the monitoring and growth of a Korean-speaking classis, including addressing the questions and concerns raised in the above observations." Synod adopted the recommendations of its advisory committee with little debate, thus postponing the question of a Korean classis until at least next year. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1993-033: Koreans Call it Quits from Christian Reformed Denomination; John E. Kim Leads 15 Churches, CRC's Second-Largest Church to Secession; First General Synod of Korean Reformed Presbyterian Church in America to Meet in October, Expected to Have at Least 9 Classes, 55 Congregations #1993-043: Christian Presbyterian Church Takes Form as Many Koreans Depart Systematically from Christian Reformed Denomination #1993-044: First General Assembly of Christian Presbyterian Church Enrolls 41.4% of Christian Reformed Koreans Contact List: Mr. Tim Penning or Mrs. Bonny Wynia, Christian Reformed Synodical News Office Calvin College, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 * O: (616) 957-8652 * FAX: (616) 957-8551 To Reach Delegates During Synod: (616) 957-6000 Pre-Recorded CRC Synod Hotline: (616) 957-8654 Rev. John Choi, Korean Ministries Coordinator, Christian Reformed Home Missions 12023 Ringwood Ave., Norwalk, CA 90650 * O: (310) 804-2424 * H: (310) 868-9347 * FAX: (310) 920-8187 Dr. Roger S. Greenway, Professor of World Missions, Calvin Theological Seminary 7090 Eldred NE, Rockford, MI 49341 * O: (616) 957-6933 * H: (616) 874-7039 * FAX: (616) 874-7039 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-069.txt .