The Least of These Church (Korean Progressive Church)

Introduction

The Least of These Church was established in June 20th 2010 at Judson as a daughtering Church. They have a regular service on every Sunday at 3pm in Garden Room. Followed in 2011 multi-faith Christmas Service, The Least of These Church (The Korean Progressive Church) had a multi-faith Christmas Service with Korean Neighbor Religions - Buddhism, Won Buddhism (Korean Indigenous Buddhism), and Catholic – as a Protestant on Sunday, Dec. 16th 2012 at 4pm in Assembly Hall. This church sincerely respect neighbor (not other) religions and faith, believe in learning from each other so that they can enrich their own faiths, and ultimately strive to work in solidarity with neighbor religions to help people who are suffering and realize peace and justice in our society. This ‘multi-faith Christmas Service' is based on this meaning and purpose.

According to the Rev. Kim (Tong-Kyun Kim), he believes that this multi-faith service will be a stepping-stone to positive change amid Korean conservative Protestant Churches. There are over 500 Korean immigrant churches in the New York/ New Jersey area, however most of them (99%) are fundamentalist, especially as exclusivists to ‘Other Religions’. Even they believe Catholic as ‘other’ religion. Through this multi-faith Christmas service, they may realize that new winds of change start blowing in the Korean Churches and Community. The wind of change has been blown already. Most Korean local media had reported about this sensational religious event. 4 religions' ministers (Buddhist monks, Won Buddhist monks, Catholic priest and me) have already visited each other to celebrate the Special Day of each Religions (Buddha’s Birthday, the Day of Won Buddhism, Christmas, etc.). This multi-faith Christmas service will continue

The Purpose of Building the Korean Progressive Church

There is no progressive Korean Church in the area of New York and New Jersey, even though there are about 550 Korean Immigrant Churches. Theologically, politically and culturally, Korean progressive church needs to be built for progressive Korean (progressive Christian) who seek to engage in social justice and liberation movement.

Meaning of the Name

We, as one of the laborers, the poor, the middle class, youth, students, and the intellectuals, believe that ‘the least of these’ are the people who are suffering and marginalized, exploited and oppressed in this capitalistic society and imperialistic world, the racial or sexual minorities, and the little people who seek to live for justice and truth. We believe that ‘the least of these’ can be the subjective people to build the kingdom of God. We seek to participate in building of God’s kingdom as a Christian and as a community. Therefore, we call ourselves ‘The Least of These Church.’ (Matt. 25,34-40)

Mission Statement

The Least of These Church seeks to build a just and liberated society and world by speaking and acting prophetically through community mobilization, training, education, and public participation.

We call on our congregation to express this vision in action and carry out our mission to struggles for justice and liberation throughout society and the world, to transform the unjust structures that perpetuate poverty, oppression and exploitation, and to collaborate with other congregations and organizations for participating in solidarity actions with those who share our mission. This mission is grounded in biblical, theological and historical understanding of God’s deed of liberation.

"The Dance of the Weaved - Uniqueness & Inter-Connectedness”

This performance piece is intended to show the interconnectedness of the four faith traditions as they have been formed throughout human existence. As we untie each belief system from its source and try to make sense of its meaning to us, we start to find out that each faith manifests through a unique path of formation. Each path brings a different way of finding meaning and value, reminding us that there is no absolute, however, we do recognize the truth of intersection or crossing paths. Throughout this unfolding journey, each string of this inter-faith web must encounter one another, further revealing to us the power of this connected, as well as potentially collective, existence. As the dance of unweaving continues, we reach for a co-existence that is even more harmonious, loving, understanding, and nurturing for the sake of this earth and all of its inhabitants.

<���공�체 신앙고백문> 초안
Confession of the Least of These Church

1. 우리 ���공�체는, 세계와 사�� 만든 분으로서, � 세계� 진보를 위해 우리와 함께 역사 ��서 해방활�� 하는 분으로서, 그리고 늘 우리� 삶 가운�서 우리가 사�다운 삶� 살아가�� 함께 하는 분으로서, 우리� 구�과 세계 해방� 위해 역사 ��서 여러 모습으로 행하는 분으로서� 야훼 하�님� 믿습니다.

^{We believe in the Yahweh-God, who created the universe and humankind, has been with us throughout history in liberation movements for world progress, is always with us in our lives to encourage us to live our full human potential, and acts in who works for our salvation and world liberation in diverse appearances throughout the history.}

2. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, 야훼 하ëŠ�님께서 파ë�¼ì˜¤ì�˜ ì••ì œ ì•„ë�˜ ì‹ ì�Œí•˜ë�˜ ì�´ë¯¼ë…¸ì˜ˆ í�ˆë¸Œë¦¬ 민중과 함께 ì�¼ìœ¼í‚¨ 출애굽 해방사건, í�ˆë¸Œë¦¬ë¯¼ì¤‘ì�´ 가나안 토착민중과 연합하여 í•´ë°©ê³µë�™ì²´ë¥¼ 세운 사건, 예수께서 갈릴리 민중과 하나가 ë�˜ì–´ ì�¼ìœ¼í‚¨ 예수사건ì�´ ‘하ëŠ�님나ë�¼ ìš´ë�™’ì�´ë©° 우리 민족ì�˜ ë�™í•™í˜�명과 광주민중항ìŸ�, 미국ì�˜ í�‘ì�¸í•´ë°©ìš´ë�™ 등 세계 곳곳ì�˜ ‘민중해방 ìš´ë�™’ì�´ ‘하ëŠ�님나ë�¼ ìš´ë�™’ì�˜ ê°� 시대ì � 실천 ìš´ë�™ì�„ì�„ 고백합니다.

^{We confess Yahweh-God’s liberation of the immigrant slaves, Hebrew people, from Pharaoh’s oppressive rule, the construction of a liberated community by the Hebrew people in collaboration with the Canaan indigenous people, and Jesus’ work among the people of Galilee are “the Movement of Kingdom of God,” and that our nation’s Dong-Hak Farmers Revolution and the Gwang-ju People’s Uprising against military dictatorship, as well as the U.S. Black Liberation Movement and people’s liberation movements around the world are ‘the Movement of Kingdom of God’ in different phases of the history.}

3. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, ì�´ 세계ì�˜ 억압과 착취와 소외와 차별ì�´ ì�ˆëŠ” ì–´ëŠ� ê³³ì—�서나, 비ì�¸ê°„í™”ì�˜ 현실ì�„ ë³€í˜�하려는 민중ì�˜ ì—´ë§�ê³¼ 야훼 하ëŠ�님ì�˜ 해방하는 뜻ì�´ 어우러져 ‘하ëŠ�님나ë�¼ ìš´ë�™’ì�˜ ì›�천ì � í�˜ì�´ ë�˜ê³  ì�ˆì�Œì�„ 믿습니다.

^{We believe the desire of the people who strive to change the conditions of dehumanization wherever we face oppression, exploitation, marginalization, and discrimination around the world, together with Yahweh-God’s will of liberation, is the source of strength for ‘the Movement of Kingdom of God.’}

4. 우리 ���공�체는, 지난날 우리 �웃과 세계가 겪는 갖가지 비�간화� 현실� 대해 무관심했거나 방관해 온 죄, 그 현실� 극복하려는 노력� 소극��었� 죄, 그러한 현실구조 �� 안주하거나 �승하여 ��� 취해 왔� �신� 죄를 고백하며, � 순간부터 그러한 죄를 회개 하며 하�님나� 운�� 참여하는 결�를 다�합니다.

^{We confess and repent our apathy and inaction in the face of dehumanization of people around the world, our passivity in trying to overcome injustice, and our complacency and opportunistic tendencies in an unjust system, and pledge our active participation in ‘the Movement of Kingdom of God.’}

5. 우리 ���공�체는, 회개는 구체�으로, 고난 중� �는 우리 �웃� 삶� 구�� 위한 ��, 우리 조국� 민주화, �주화, �화통�운��, 그리고 �곳 미국과 세계 곳곳� 민중 해방운��, �접�으로 혹� 간접�으로 �참하는 실천으로 표현�어야 한다고 믿습니다.

^{We firmly believe that our repentance must specifically be expressed through direct action in or support of work for the salvation of oppressed people, our nation’s movement for democracy, self-reliance, peaceful reunification, as well as people’s liberation movements here in the United States and around the world.}

6. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, ë…¸ë�™ì��, 빈민, 중산층, ì²­ë…„, í•™ìƒ�, 지ì‹�ì�¸ 중ì�˜ í•œ 사ë�Œìœ¼ë¡œì„œ ê³ ë‚œ 중ì—� ì�ˆëŠ” 사ë�Œ, 소외ë�œì‚¬ë�Œ, ì��본주ì�˜ì™€ 제국주ì�˜ ì²´ì œì—� ì�˜í•´ 수탈당하고 억압받는 사ë�Œ, ì�´ë¯¼ë…¸ë�™ì��, 성ì � 소수ì��, 소수ì�¼ ë§�ì • 옳ì�€ 뜻ì�„ 견지하고 실천하는 사ë�Œ 등ì�´ ‘ì�‘ì�€ì��’ ì�´ë©°, ì�‘ì�€ ì–‘ì�˜ 누룩ì�´ 온 ë¹µì�„ 부풀리게
할 수 �고, �� 겨�씨가 나무로 �� 새들� 깃들�게 할 수 �고, �� 불씨가 온 숲� 태울 수 �다는 믿�으로 ���들� 주체가 �어 ��어가는 하�님나� 운�� 때론 개�으로서, 때론 공�체로서 참여하고� 합니다. 따�서 �러한 우리� 공�체� �지를 담아 우리 �회를 '���공�체'� �름 합니다.

^{As workers, the urban poor, middle class, youth, students, and scholars, we believe that oppressed people, marginalized people, people exploited and oppressed in a capitalist and Imperialist system, migrant workers, sexual minorities, and social minorities who nonetheless uphold and practice virtuous principles are the “the Least of These,” and that a small amount of leaven can make an entire bread rise, tiny mustard seeds can grow into a tree that houses an entire flock of birds, and a little spark can become a raging fire that can burn down an entire forest. In the same spirit, though we be small and common, we aim to participate, whether as individuals or as a collective, in the Movement of Kingdom of God, where small and common people are the driving force. In this
collective spirit, we name our church “the Least of These Church.”}

7. 우리 ���공�체는, 우리 �웃종�들� 신앙� 진심으로 존중하며, 서로� 신앙� �요롭게 할 수 �는 가르침� 서로 배우기를 �하며, �극�으로 고난 중� �는 �웃� �고 � 사회와 세계� 정�와 �화를 실현하는 �� �웃종�들과 연대 하기를 �합니다.

^{We sincerely respect neighbor (other) religions and faiths, believe in learning from each other so that we may enrich our faiths, and ultimately strive to work in solidarity with neighbor (other) religions to help people who are suffering and realize peace and justice in our society and throughout the world.}

8. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, ê³µë�™ì²´ 안ì—�ì„œ '나눔과 친êµ�'를 방해하는 ì�´ê¸°ì‹¬ê³¼ 소유욕ì�„ 경계하며, 그리스ë�„ì�˜ 사ë�‘ 안ì—�ì„œ 우리ì�˜ 소중한 것들ì�„ 나누고 친êµ�하며 나아가 ì�´ 세계ì—�ì„œ 나눔ì�˜ 실현ì�„ 저해하는 온갖 구조ì �, ì œë�„ì � ì�¥ë²½ë“¤ê³¼ ë§�ì„œ 싸우는 ‘나눔ì�˜ ê³µë�™ì²´’ì�´ê¸°ë¥¼ ì›�합니다.

^{We guard against selfishness and possessiveness that interfere with sharing and friendship within the our church, and strive to become a collective where we share our valued treasures in the love of Christ and fight against all structural and systemic barriers that hinder the realization of sharing in our world.}

9. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, ê³µë�™ì²´ 안ì—�ì„œ ‘섬김과 ì�¼ì¹˜’를 방해하는 지배와 권력ì—� 대한 ìš•ë§�ì�„ 경계하며, 섬김과 ì�¼ì¹˜ë¥¼ 저해하는 온갖 ì�¥ì• ë¥¼ 극복하기 위하여 우리 ê³µë�™ì²´ë¥¼ ìš´ì˜�하는 모든 ì�¼ì—� ì�ˆì–´ì„œ 구성ì›� í•œ 사ë�Œ í•œ 사ë�Œì�´ 주체가 ë�˜ì–´ ê³µë�™ìœ¼ë¡œ 토ì�˜, í�‰ê°€, 실행 하는 민주ì � ì�˜ì‚¬ê²°ì •ì�˜ 전통ì�„ 세워 나가고 나아가 ì�´ 사회와 세계ì�˜ 구성ì›� 모ë‘�ê°€ ë�™ë“±í•œ 주ì�¸ìœ¼ë¡œ 살아가는 정치ì �, 경제ì �, 문화ì �으로 민주화ë�œ 사회와 세계ì�˜ 실현ì�„ 위해 ì�¼í•˜ëŠ” ‘섬김ì�˜ ê³µë�™ì²´’ì�´ê¸°ë¥¼ ì›�합니다.

^{We guard against the temptation for power and domination that interferes with the principle of service and unity in the church, and to overcome all obstacles that impede service and unity, strive to build a democratic decision-making tradition that includes each and every one of the collective in discussion, evaluation, and action in every aspect of the collective’s work. Further, we strive to be a church of service that works to build a politically, economically, and culturally democratic world in which everyone lives as equals.}

10. 우리 ���공�체는, 야훼 하�님� �명� 기운과 해방하시는 능력� 내 �신과 우리 공�체 가운� 살아 숨쉬어 �씀과 깨달�, 기�와 명�, 춤과 노�, 학습과 실천으로 우리� 삶� 근��으로 변화시켜가고 �명� �� 넘치게 하는, 살아�는 '예배공�체' �기를 �합니다.

^{We strive to be a collective of worship where Yahweh-God’s spirit, energy, and power of
liberation live and breathe within us and in our collective, fundamentally change our lives through scripture and awakening, prayer and meditation, dance and song, study and practice, and make our life force overflow.}

11. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, 하ëŠ�님께서 우리들ì�„ 사ë�‘ì—� 기초한, 서로 나누고 서로 섬기고 서로 살리는, 나눔ì�˜ ê³µë�™ì²´, 섬김ì�˜ ê³µë�™ì²´, 예배ì�˜ ê³µë�™ì²´ì�¸ ‘ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´’ì—� 불러주시고 í•œ 신앙공ë�™ì²´ì�˜ 지체가 ë�˜ê²Œ í•´ 주셨ì�Œì�„ 믿습니다.

^{We believe it was God’s calling that brought us to “the Least of These Church.”, a collective of sharing, service, and worship where we share with, serve, and support each other based on God’s love for us, and made us become limbs and the body of the faith community.}

12. 우리 ì�‘ì�€ì��ê³µë�™ì²´ëŠ”, 온 성ì›�ì�´ í•œ 마ì�Œ í•œ 뜻으로 드리는 ì�´ 신앙고백ì�´, 우리 ì��ì‹ ê³¼ 사회와 세계ì�˜ 변화하는 역사ì � 현실 안ì—�ì„œ, 우리 ì��ì‹  ë°� ê³µë�™ì²´ì�˜ 삶과 ì‹ ì•™ì�´ 성숙해ê°�ì—� ë”°ë�¼ì„œ, 수정ë�˜ê³  보완ë�˜ì–´ ì �ì � í’�부하게 ë�  ‘열려진(opened-end) ‘신앙고백ì�„ì�„ 하ëŠ�님 ì•�ì—�ì„œ 서로ì—�게 약ì†�합니다.

^{We pledge to each other before God that this confession of faith, which we declare with one mind, shall be an ‘opened-end’ confession that will be revised, supplemented, and further enriched as our lives and society change and our faiths mature with history.}

분단 65년, 광주민중항�30주년, 6.15공�선언10주년� �는
2010년 6월 20� ���공�체 첫 예배�서 ���공�체 가족��

^{On the sixty-fifth Anniversary of Division of the Korean Peninsula, Thirtieth Anniversary of the Kwangju People’s Uprising against military dictatorship, and the Tenth Anniversary of the 6.15 Joint Declaration for Korean Reunification. June 20, 2010 Members of the Least of These Church at its Opening Service}

Multi-faith Christmas Service with Korean Neighbor Religions

On Sunday, December 18, 2011, a multi-faith gathering of Korean Neighbors celebrated special days from each of the religions: Buddha’s Birthday, the Day of Won
Buddhism, Christmas, etc.

Schedule

Service Place: Garden Room in Judson Memorial Church

Service Time: Every Sunday 3:00 pm-5:00 pm

Church Begins: Sunday, June 20, 2010

Contact Person: Rev. Kim, Tong-Kyun

Phone: 917-622-2471

Email: tongkyun@gmail.com

2015 Summer Inter-Religious Retreat Video