AAWOL Writers' Feedback Gathering - Oct. 26, 2007

Writers’ Feedback Gathering
Friday, October 26, 2007
4:00 – 8:00 pm
Catalyst, Fuller Theological Seminary

Unlike our male counterparts, Asian American Evangelical Women (AAEW) of each generation often find ourselves lacking a safe space and role models, causing us to resort to a perpetual pioneering state. Internalizing extreme belief systems of the East and the West, and integrating them with Christianity, many AAEW leaders face extreme pressure, stress, and alienation leading to burn out and depression. Feeling trapped by the triple pressure of familial, ecclesial, and social expectations, AAEW leaders often experience exhaustion. The challenges from male hierarchy and, due to internalized sexism, even women in our congregations oblige AAEW to function like modern day Bible women.*

As a response to such needs, Asian American Women on Leadership (AAWOL) was organized in 2005 as an initiative of the Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity. The central purposes of AAWOL are to nurture and support AAEW in various ministries (see attached brochure). AAWOL’s main objective is to empower AAEW leaders through a nurturing community, promoting wellness (i.e. spiritual, emotional, and physical health) and holistic development of women leaders. As a way to encourage and empower other AAEW leaders, AAWOL’s core women decided to tell our stories, highlighting the connectedness we have experienced with specific biblical women. We invite your honest and critical feedback as we seek to portray the collective experiences of AAEW leaders. The following is a brief description of each chapter that we hope to share with you on October 26th. We look forward to a wonderful time of connecting and mutual sharing with you.

Yours in Christ,
AAWOL sisters

* Young Lee Hertig, “Without a Face: The Nineteenth Century Bible Woman and Tweintieth-Century Female Jeondosa,” In Gospel Bearers, Gender Barriers. Ed., Dana L.Robert, Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2002, Pp. 185-199.

For more information, contact Young Lee Hertig.


The Yin and Yang of Leadership: Biblical Characters According to Asian American Women

Introduction: Rev. Young Lee Hertig, PhD, The First Presbyterian Church, Altadena

Chapter One: “Subversive Banquets of Vashti and Esther: Bucking and Milking the System” (Rev. Hertig). By examining two Queens, Vashti, and Esther, this chapter will explore how Asian American women’s narratives converge with both Vashti and Esther. Examining one without the other will not do justice in understanding the systems they faced and to which they responded. There is a time to say “no.” and a time to say, “yes,” not one or the other. “Yes,” will not be meaningful when women are forced to be constantly obedient. Similarly, many contemporary AAEW women feel silenced and they need to break the silence for their own well being so that they can serve the community better.

Chapter Two: “Bathsheba: Breaking the Silence” (Chloe Sun, Ph.D.) I see myself on the way to transformation. That’s why the character of Bathsheba appeals to me. Bathsheba is a passive, voiceless figure in 2 Samuel 11, but turns into a more active character in 1 Kings 1. Her character transformation can be traced through these following movements: passive to active, silence to voice, maintaining the status quo to challenging it and from being on the margin to becoming influential. I hope through this in depth look at her process of transformation, it will help other AA women shine.

Chapter Three: "Casting My Lot: Can My Soul Look Back?" (Rev. Kirsten Oh, M.Div.) In Lot’s wife I see loss, compassion, heart, feminine quality, struggle and anger. Recalling my own departure from Korea at age nine, I looked back at my grandmother whom we left behind. I wonder when is looking back not good, or healthy? I will explore why God turned Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt.

Chapter Four: “Hannah: I Will Never Be The Same Again.” (Grace Choi Kim, Ph.D. candidate). Hannah displays patience and strengths through intense prayer as many Korean American women do. Her story resonates with our mothers and grandmothers who carry tremendous “HAN” from societal pressures and burdens, but demonstrates tremendous courage, faith, and devotion to God.

Chapter Five: “Living in the Tension of Mary and Martha” (Beverly Chen, M.S.W.). I identify with both the biblical characters of Mary and Martha. They represent different pulls that I often find myself in personally, professionally and spiritually. These pulls involve the call to serve and perform versus to receive and rest in God, the expectations of meeting cultural and familial roles/demands versus acknowledging my own individual needs and desires and the tendency to focus on outward ministry versus inwards spiritual formation. These tensions can also be in seen in the church context. It is in the midst of living within the tension that I am experiencing more of the grace of God who shows me the spiritual rhythm that allows for a balanced and abundant life.

Chapter Six: “Woman At The Well: Fill My Cup, Lord” (Rev. Tita Valeriano, M.Div.). Jesus’ strength of radically breaking down the walls of racism, sexism, classism, regionalism, and religion was done in a yin-ish manner of vulnerability. His vulnerability comes not from the ego but from the depth of a living well within. The Samaritan woman’s life transformed radically through the dialogical encounter with Jesus at the well who offered living water. She becomes the woman she is created to be when she ran into town and testified. I desire to bring the living water to the many Asian American women leaders whose potential have been buried and yet need to be reclaimed.

Chapter Seven: “Priscilla: Free From Labels or Titles” (Rev. Melanie Mar Chow, M.Div.). I relate to the testimony of the ministry couple Priscilla and, husband, Aquila, who served freely without titles. Both have the affirmation of the Apostle Paul, calling them co-laborers. Their unique testimony recognizes God’s provision in their service as tentmakers that enabled them to do ministry and empowered them to take risks for the sake of the gospel, without the burden of needing provisions.

Chapter Eight: Ruth: “Widening the Margins: A Woman's Passage to Identity" (Deborah Gin, M.Div. M.Mus.). Those who are born and live outside of mainstream culture typically cope with marginalization either by narrowing the margins (i.e., fully adapting to the dominant group's values, norms, and prescribed roles) or by maintaining the margins (i.e., passively interacting only within one's own culture without engaging the dominant group). Another option involves widening the margins, finding one's voice and getting those in the mainstream to make room for new values, norms, and roles and making the space in the margin count for more. Through the Ruth narrative, this chapter describes the journey to identity she experienced as well as a model of leadership she demonstrated for those in the margins.

Chapter Nine: “Elizabeth and Mary: Working In Harmony” (Joy Hwang, M.Div. student) Internalized sexism plagues women’s relationship with each other. Often in church setting, women challenge other women in leadership. Elizabeth and Mary’s beautiful relationship models how women can empower each other. I want to highlight the forging of sisterhood among AAEW church women.

Consultation for Chinese churches (San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin Counties)

You are cordially invited to a

Consultation for Chinese Churches
Covering San Francisco, San Mateo County, and Marin County

on Saturday, October 27. 2007, 9:30- 3:30

at the Sunset Church
3635 Lawton Street, San Francisco

Download:

• Dr. James Chuck's cover letter to pastors
• Consultation flyer
• Registration form

During the Consultation, we will
• Share with you what we have learned in our survey of Chinese churches, and
• We want you to tell the research team the issues and challenges your congregation is currently facing.

Contact your church pastor for registration information.

For individual registrations, send the following information to James Chuck, 33 Linda Ave., Oakland, California, 94611: Name, address (include zip code), telephone number, and e-mail address, and your church affiliation, together with a registration fee of $10.00 per person ($15.00 after October 1, 2007).

We will hold a consultation for churches in the East Bay on January 12, 2008 at the Bay Area Chinese Bible Church and on April 26, 2008 in the San Jose area (location to be determined). More information will be forthcoming.

THE CHINESE CHURCHES RESEARCH PROJECT is a program initiative of ISAAC (Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity), Dr. Timothy Tseng, Executive Director

Asian American Reader resource to be co-published by PAACCE

ISAAC is delighted to announce that the Pacific Asian American and Canadian Christian Education ministry (PAACCE) will be co-publishing ISAAC's Asian American Christian Reader. PAACCE, an inter-denominational network of Asian American Christian education specialists, will provide $5,000 to underwrite part of the expenses for compiling, editing, and publishing the Reader. This resource can be used for courses or classes that introduce issues in Asian American Christianity. ISAAC Board member, Dr. Viji Nakka-Cammauf, is the chief editor of the Reader. More information about the Reader will be posted soon.


Other ISAAC Board members are also involved with developing resources in partnership with PAACCE. Dr. Russell Yee is working on an Asian American worship resource. Dr. Young Lee Hertig is editing an Asian American women in ministry reader. If you'd like to learn more about PAACCE, contact Rev. David Chai.

ISAAC Resource Team Activities - Spring and Summer 2007

Here is an update of ISAAC Resource Team activities:

ISAAC Board member, Ms. Grace Choi-Kim and her husband, Brian, spent much of the Spring developing their international business in Mongolia, China, and South Korea. She hopes to develop a Family and Marriage program for ISAAC. Brian dreams of creating a discipleship and capacity building program for Asian American Christian business leaders.

Dr. James Chuck, Senior Consultant for ISAAC, continues to steadily develop the Bay Area Chinese Churches Research Project (Phase II). He is currently compiling data on Chinese congregations in the San Francisco Peninsula, which will lead to a consultation to be held at Sunset Baptist Church on Oct. 27. Over the summer, he will gather and analyze data from Chinese churches in the South Bay and East Bay. Timothy Tseng, Russell Moy, Russell Yee, and Russell Jeung serve on the Project Planning Team.

Rev. Mark Hearn has been appointed the Director of ISAAC's Summer Immersion Program (July 25-28 in Los Angeles). Resource team members Young Lee Hertig, Andrew Lee, Russell Moy, Tim Tseng, and Russell Yee are scheduled to participate in SIP, a program designed to better equip educational, church, para-church, and professional organizations to understand and work in Asian American Christian settings.

Dr. Young Lee Hertig, ISAAC Vice-President and Southern California Regional Director, also chairs Asian American Women on Leadership (AAWOL), a network affiliate of ISAAC. She participated in the 2007 Luce Conference of Korean Christianity at UCLA on April 27. She taught a course on Asian American Pastoral Care and Theologies at Logos Evangelical Seminary (May 21-25) and will participate in the National Korean Presbyterian Council Annual Meeting in South Korea (June 13-23). She is also involved with The Spirit of Wholeness in Christ: A Racial Ethnic Multicultural Event (Los Angeles, CA, July 10-14). On July 19-23, she will participate in the 50th Anniversary celebration of the National Council of Churches in Christ’s Faith & Order Commission (Oberlin, Ohio).

Dr. Andrew Lee, ISAAC Eastern Regional Director, taught three courses at New Brunswick Theological Seminary this Spring (Biblical Exegesis for Preaching in Lent; 1 Corinthians and Today's Church; Jeremiah and the Call to Ministry). He spoke at Penn State Asian American Christian Fellowship Retreat (College Park, PA ) on March 30-April 1, led a workshop on Asian American ministry at Metropolitan NY (Southern) Baptist Association mid-year meeting (Greenwich, CT) on Apr 14, and spoke at the Atlanta Chinese Christian Church (Atlanta, GA) on May 18-20. He attended the Asian Summer Theological Institute in Philadelphia, PA on May 30. He has preached at the Chinese Conservative Baptist Church Sunrise Service (New York, NY) and Trust in God Baptist Church, NJ Mission (East Brunswick, NJ) on Apr 8. He preached at Oversea Chinese Mission Vision Church (New York, NY, Apr 22), Grace Faith Church Outreach event (New York, NY, Apr 27), the Mid-Hudson Chinese Christian Church (Wappinger Falls, NY, Apr 29), the Brooklyn Chinese Christian Church (Brooklyn, NY, May 6), and the Staten Island Chinese Christian Church (Staten Island, NY, May 27) this spring. Dr. Lee will participate the New York Theological Seminary's Faculty Development Institute (theme: "When Urban is Global" (New York, NY) on June 14-24 and lead a consultation with the Mid-Hudson Chinese Christian Church (Wappinger Falls, NY) on June 5 and 11. He will be the retreat speaker for Oversea Chinese Missions Jireh Church (June 29-July 1) and the Staten Island Chinese Christian Church (July 5-8). Over the summer, Dr. Lee will preach at various Chinese churches in the New York City area.

Dr. Russell Moy, ISAAC Secretary, is chairing the Association of Theological School’s Committee on Race and Ethnicity’s Asian and Asian North American seminary faculty consultation planning team.

ISAAC Board member, Dr. Viji Nakka-Cammauf, also serves on the Board for the William Carey Heritage Foundation, Perspectives Northern California and the World Christian Fellowship. She preached at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Fremont, CA) on May 6 and co-taught with Dr. Russell Yee a course entitled "Asian American Evangelism, Ministry, and Worship" at Logos Evangelical Seminary (Los Angeles, CA) on May 16-18. She will speak at Redwood Chapel’s Children in Crises Lunch (Castro Valley, CA) on June 3 and then lead a mission team to Chennai, India to support the Little Flock Children's Homes (June 29-Aug 20)

ISAAC Board member, Dr. Wing Ning Pang, is the Executive Director of Christian Leadership Exchange. CLE co-sponsored a China Forum on Theological Education at Fuller Seminary (March 7-8) and will co-sponsor a Conference on China (Asilomar, CA) on July 6-8.

Dr. Tim Tseng, ISAAC President, preached at Grace Community Covenant Church (Mountain View, CA) on April 1 and at Immanuel Presbyterian Church (Fremont, CA) on May 13. He participated in the Chinese Entrepreneurial Association forum (Burlingame, CA) on May 5. This July 11-17 he will present a paper entitled “Evangelical Reconstruction of Chinese American Protestantism” at the Symposium on Religion in China at Shanghai University (Shanghai, China).

Dr. Russell Yee, ISAAC's Treasurer, has been developing ISAAC's operations. He is currently writing a resource on Asian American worship for Pacific Asian American and Canadian Christian Education ministry (PAACCE) and has received some attention for his article "The Search for Asian American Worship" on the Next Gener.Asian Church blog. He received a grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship which focuses on Southeast Asian Christian worship, which has resulted in two New Urban Voices conferences (Long Beach and Richmond, CA).

Your support is much needed! Please pray for us and consider giving to ISAAC's mission!

Summer Immersion Program (SIP) 2007

When? July 25-28, 2007
Where? Los Angeles, California
Who? Seminary and college administrators, denominational, parachurch organization, business, and professional network leaders.
Program? A cross-cultural immersion experience into diverse Asian Christian communities in the Los Angeles area (i.e. Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, others)
Why?
1. To develop a curriculum or program that helps your organization become better equipped to teach about and work with Asian American Christians.
2. Observe how the church and Christian social agencies ministers in Asian American communities.
2. Learn about the history and contemporary experiences of Asian Christians in the Southern California and U.S. contexts.

SIP'S GOAL:
We would like your organization to partner with ISAAC to develop innovative curriculum and programs that enhance your organization’s capacity to teach about and work with Asian American Christians

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES:
1. Collaborating with ISAAC to design an experiential course for seminarians interested in understanding and ministering to Asian Americans.
2. Collaborating with ISAAC to design staff training programs and/or resources that provide cultural sensitivity and deepened knowledge of issues that Asian American Christians face.

SCHEDULE:
For site locations contact Mark Hearn

Wednesday, July 25, 2007
11 AM Registration at Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC)
12 Noon Catered Lunch at JACCC
12:45 PM Welcome, Introduction, Overview
1:00 PM The Contemporary Japanese American Christian Community with Cyril Nishimoto (Iwa)
1:30 PM Session 1: Asian American History (Chinatown) with Bob Linthicum (vans transport participants to Union Station)
3:00 PM Session 2: Asian American History (Little Tokyo) with Bill Watanabe (vans from Union Station to JACCC)
4:30 PM Debriefing at JACCC
5:00 PM Break: Hotel Check-in for out-of-town guests
5:45 PM Depart from New Otani for dinner in Chinatown
6:00 PM Dinner at Empress Pavilion
7:00 PM Depart for Session 3
7:30 PM Session 3: The Contemporary Chinese Congregation: First Evangelical Church of San Gabriel Valley; panelists (Dr. Wing Ning Pang, Dr. Chloe Sun; Rev. James Yu; Rev. Wayland Wong)
9:00 PM Return to hotel/home

Thursday, July 26, 2007
8:30 AM Depart for KIWA
9:00 AM Breakfast and overview at KIWA; commuters can park at Immanuel Presbyterian and shuttle over to KIWA
9:30 AM Session 4: KIWA
10:30 AM Take subway to Session 5
10:45 AM Session 5: Contemporary Korean Congregation @ Immanuel Presbyterian
12 Noon Catered lunch at Immanuel Presbyterian Church
1:00 PM Depart for Session 6 in two vehicles
1:30 PM Session 6: The Pilippino Context and Advocacy Organizations
- Group A: Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (1:30-2:30pm)
- Group A: Asian Pacific Health Care Venture (3:00-4:00pm)
- Group B: Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center (1:30-2:30pm)
- Group B: Pilipino Workers’ Center (3:00-4:00pm)
5:00 PM Debriefing at First Baptist Church of LA (Mid-Wilshire)
5:45 PM Depart for K-town Dinner
7:30 PM Return to hotel/home

Friday, July 27, 2007
8:30 AM Depart for Session 6: Little Saigon and Union College of California/sack continental breakfast
9:45 AM Session 7: Vietnamese immersion in Little Saigon
12 Noon Lunch at restaurant in Little Saigon
1:30 PM Depart for session 8
2:00 PM Session 8: Newsong-Irvine
3:30 PM Debrief at Newsong
4:30 PM Depart for Dinner at Caspian in Irvine
6:30 PM Return to hotel/home

Saturday, July 28, 2007
8:30AM Check out of hotel/check bags in with concierge.
9:00 AM Continental breakfast and overview at Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS)
9:45 AM Session 9: Plenary session: Critical, theological and social analysis and reflection
12 Noon Lunch (TBD)
1:30 PM Session 10: Affinity group reflection: Integrating this learning experience with our respective contexts, institutions, and organizations
3:30 PM Feedback and Evaluation
4:00 PM Contextual liturgy and communion
4:45 PM Closing remarks
5:00 PM SIP ends

REGISTRATION FEE: $250 (this fee is waived if you represent a sponsoring organization). Please write your checks to "ISAAC" (memo - SIP) and send it to:
Dr. Russell Yee
Treasurer, ISAAC
4044 La Cresta Avenue
Oakland, CA 94602-1731

Contact Tim Tseng if your seminary, denomination, parachurch organization, professional network, or congregation would like to be a sponsor!

If you need housing, ISAAC has made arrangements with the
New Otani Hotel & Garden in Little Tokyo
120 South Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
800.639.6826 or 213.629.1200
213.622-0980 (fax)
http://www.newotani.com/
$125/night for double queen or single king

Please identify the group name: Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity" [ISAAC]

AIRPORT SHUTTLE to/from LAX to the New Otani

SUPER SHUTTLE (door to door airport service)
(800) BLUE-VAN
Price: LAX to New Otani Hotel ($16.00)
Directions: Wait for dark blue shuttle outside the Luggage Claim area at LAX.
Seats are first come for serve, or individuals can reserve a seat online at: www.supershuttle.com

FLY AWAY (Union Station airport bus)
Price: LAX to Union Station (only $3.00)
Directions: Wait for the big turquoise FlyAway charter bus outside of LAX luggage claim area. Arrives every 30 min and drops passengers off at Union Station.
Upon arrival at Union Station, call the New Otani Hotel and they will send a complementary hotel driver to pick up the pasenger (213.629.1200).

PARKING FOR HOTEL GUESTS:
The New Otani Hotel will give a discounted rate of $8.80 per car per day for hotel parking. (regular parking is $15.00). SIP hotel guests must tell the front desk at check-in that they need parking at a discounted group rate.

COMMUTER PARKING
Joe's Parking on southeast corner of Los Angeles and 2nd Street (please hold on to the parking receipt for reimbursment).

• REGISTER FOR SIP HERE (Note: you must be invited to participate)
• DOWNLOAD SIP BULLETIN INSERT
  

SIP Planning Team
• Mark Hearn, Coordinator, Ph.D. student, Claremont School of Theology
• Kenneth Kho, Pastor, Atwater Baptist Church
• Young Lee Hertig, ISAAC Southern California Regional Director and Azusa Pacific University
• Jonathan Lew, Ph.D. student, Claremont Graduate University
• Russell Moy, ISAAC Board
• Timothy Tseng, ISAAC President
• Karen Yonemoto, Ph.D. candidate, University of Southern California

SIP Co-Sponsors
Logos Evangelical Seminary
Japanese Evangelical Missionary Society (JEMS)
A.W. Tozer Theological Seminary

ISAAC resource team offers courses at Logos Seminary and APU

Logos Evangelical Seminary is offering two courses led by ISAAC Board members:

• "Asian American Evangelism, Ministry, and Worship" (May 14-18, 2007) taught by Viji Nakka-Cammauf and Russell Yee.
• "Asian American Pastoral Care and Theologies" (May 21-25, 2007) taught by Young Lee Hertig

Azusa Pacific University is offering a Seminar in Ministry entitled

• "Asian American Christian Education" (June 19-July 26) taught by Mark Hearn, ISAAC's Summer Immersion Project director.

Mark Hearn to coordinate SIP and teach course on Asian American Christian Education

ISAAC has appointed Mark Chung Hearn, a 2nd generation Korean American to be the local coordinator of ISAAC’s Summer Immersion Project (SIP) to be held in Los Angeles on July 25-28, 2007.

SIP is a pilot project that provides a deeper understanding of Asian Pacific North American Christianity and its contexts by “immersing” leaders in the church, the academy, and the public into APNA Christian communities. This year’s participants will either help ISAAC design a broader SIP program in 2008 or develop their own APNA immersion program. SIP is an “invitation only” event - for more information, contact Tim Tseng.

Pastor Mark Hearn is a Ph.D. student in Practical Theology (Religious Education emphasis) at Claremont School of Theology. His wife, Jeney, is also a Ph.D. student in Pastoral Care and Counseling at CST. They attend a Korean American United Methodist Church in southern California after having served as co-pastors of a 2nd generation English ministry in south suburban Chicago. In addition to the church and academic settings, Mark has coached women's collegiate volleyball for over 7 years. His current interests include 2nd generation Korean Americans, Korean American male identity, Transformative and critical pedagogies, and Sports and religious education. Mark and Jeney are expecting their first child in September

Mark is also teaching a course on Asian American Christian Education at the Haggard School of Theology (Graduate School at Azusa Pacific University). Here is a description:

GMIN 628 Seminar in Ministry: Asian American Christian Education
Summer II: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-1pm: Azusa West Campus (June 19-July 26).
Mark Chung Hearn

Course Description

This seminar addresses Christian education in an Asian American context through several disciplines including history and theology. The class will explore how these disciplines can inform Christian education in current Asian American ministries. Emphasis will be placed upon contextualizing one's learning for the purpose of creating a paradigm of Christian education for his or her context.

IMPORTANT! For non-APU students, you must submit the following:

1. Application for admission as a non-degree seeking student (one page, front and back)

2. Application fee of $45

3. Official or unofficial transcript with proof of cumulative gpa above 2.5, and regionally accredited bachelor's or master's degree, or ABHE accredited bachelor's degree.

4. Class Registration form

For registration information, contact Enrollment Counselor, Andrew Gilbert at (626) 815-4565 (Ph.), (626) 815-4571 (FAX), or agilbert_AT_apu_DOT_edu

ISAAC to implement ATS Asian & Asian N. American faculty consultation

ISAAC has been invited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada to implement the next Asian and Asian North American seminary faculty consultation. This event will take place in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 7-9, 2007. "The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) is a membership organization of more than 250 graduate schools that conduct post-baccalaureate professional and academic degree programs to educate persons for the practice of ministry and for teaching and research in the theological disciplines. The Commission on Accrediting of ATS accredits the schools and approves the degree programs they offer."

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)

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.