ISAAC response to Virginia Tech tragedy

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.
- Psalm 31:9-10 (NRSV)

April 19, 2007

Dear friends,

Like many of you, those of us at the Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity have been overwhelmed by the shocking and horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech University. The pain and loss has touched the entire international community. We can barely express our grief. Our utmost desire is to embrace those who have suffered such unimaginable loss. We pray that God will be an abiding source of comfort for all.

As we learn more about Seung Hui Cho’s mental history and his social alienation, we realize that more attention must be given to the mental health needs of all Americans. Likewise, more thoughtful discussion about gun control and the socio-cultural impact of violence in the media may help prevent a repeat of this tragedy.

But we are particularly concerned about the growing fear of backlash in Asian American communities. We therefore urge our nation’s leaders to speak out against and seek to prevent racial profiling and acts of bigotry that target Korean and other Asian Americans. It is our hope that the Cho family and other Asian Americans will be treated fairly and allowed to live without fear.

Finally, we encourage the Christian community to be a healing presence during these difficult times. May our proclamation, in word and deed, of Christ’s gospel of love, peace, and righteousness contribute to the restoration of hope.

Timothy Tseng

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
- Psalm 31:14 (NRSV)

Horrific Tragedy at Virginia Tech - NKPC response

No words are adequate to respond to the tragedy at Virginia Tech last Monday (April 16). I'll try to share some thoughts in a day or two. At the moment, I want to simply grieve with the victims' families and pray that there will be no backlash against Korean and Asian Americans.

Here is a letter to President Steger of Virginia Tech from Rev. Myong Bae Choi, the Moderator of the National Korean Presbyterian Council of the Presbyterian Church, USA. It was given to me by ISAAC Board member, Dr. Young Lee Hertig. - Tim Tseng

April 17, 2007

Dr. Charles W. Steger
President
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA

Dear Dr. Steger,

We, the believing Korean American community lost words how to express our deep sorrow for the tragic shootings and sufferings that had occurred in your university community. As we are moaning with heavy hearts, we wish to extend our sincere condolence to grieving families that have lost their loving sons and daughters and the grieving VT student body that has lost dear friends and clasmates.

In the midst of wailing in broken heart we cry out to our merciful God to stretch out God’s caring hand to comfort and heal all those who are afflicted by the unfathomable tragedy. We are calling all of our Korean American congregations to have a vigil service to remember the victims and their families and to pray for the deliverance of the VT community and the nation from anguish of heart and brokenness of spirit. We also pray with all our heart and soul that God may strengthen your loving VT community with faith and hope so that it can soar out of the tragedy to become a great learning institution that helps people live with caring and loving hearts more than ever.

We hope to join in your effort to recover from the tragedy through memorial fund or other means as much as we can.

Sincerely,
Myong Bae Choi, pastor
Moderator
National Korean Presbyterian Council
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Dr. Andrew Lee appointed ISAAC Eastern Regional Director

ISAAC is delighted to announce that the Reverend Dr. Andrew Y. Lee, Ph.D., has been appointed to be ISAAC’s Eastern Regional Director. A resident of New York City, Dr. Lee will form an Eastern Region resource team and develop regional programs for ISAAC. Furthermore, he will develop an ISAAC D.Min curriculum with an Asian American Ministry emphasis.

Dr. Lee received his B.A. in history at Nyack College, his M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Baylor University with emphasis in Old Testament studies. Andrew has served as the Director of Theological Education at Northeastern Baptist School of Ministry and was Associate Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in Bible at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey. Rev. Lee also served as English Pastor of Trust in God Baptist Church (NYC) and lead pastor of English Ministries at Oversea Chinese Mission (the largest Chinese church in New York City), combining for more than 21 years of pastoral ministry. He recently contributed a chapter, “Reading the Bible as an Asian American: Issues in Asian American Biblical Interpretation” to Ways of Being, Ways of Reading, edited by Mary Foskett and Jeffrey Kah-Jin Kuan (Chalice Press, 2006). His articles will also appear in forthcoming volumes of The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible (Abingdon Press, 2006). He is married to Penny and has 3 children, ages 26, 23 and 19.

Dr. Young Lee Hertig appointed ISAAC So Cal Regional Director

ISAAC is delighted to announce that the Reverend Young Lee Hertig, Ph.D., Vice President of ISAAC’s Board of Directors, has been appointed Southern California Regional Director. Dr. Hertig will form a Southern California Region resource team, develop regional programs, and oversee the growth of Asian American Women on Leadership for ISAAC.

Dr. Hertig teaches in the Global Studies and Sociology Department at Azusa Pacific University. She was formerly a Vera B. Blinn Associate Professor of World Christianity at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio (1998-2002), and has mentored United Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry Group, “Spirituality, Sustainability, and Interfaith Dialogue” (2004-2006). She was an Assistant Professor of Cross Cultural Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary (1992-1995) where she also earned a Ph.D. in intercultural studies. She is an ordained Presbyterian clergy and author of Cultural Tug of War: Korean Immigrant Family and Church in Transition (Abingdon Press, 2002). She has contributed chapters to Realizing the America of our Hearts: Theological Voices of Asian Americans, Resistance and Theological Ethics, Mission In Acts: Ancient Narratives for a Postmodern Context, Gospel Bearers, Gender Barriers: Missionary Women in the Twentieth Century, and People On The Way: Asian North Americans Discovering Christ, Culture, and Community. She also served on the study team that published "Asian American Religious Leadership Today: A Preliminary Inquiry" on behalf of the Pulpit and Pew Project at Duke Divinity School. Dr. Hertig is Presbyterian Commission Member to the Faith and Order, National Council of Churches USA. She is married to Dr. Paul Hertig and has one daughter.