LARGEST KOREAN DENOMINATION IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE

The Korean-American Presbyterian Church (KAPC) is a truly Presbyterian church that advocates the "Jerusalem Council" and "That's okay" approaches. What these mean is this. The Jerusalem Council limited its directives to the churches to a minimum. The "That's okay" approach tends to allow latitude in matters that are not violations of biblical principles.

Large numbers of Koreans immigrated to the US in the 1970s. Most of them settled in urban areas: Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and the major metropolitan cities of Canada. The leaders of these churches began to have a burden for a denomination of the Reformed churches. The pastors who shared the same vision began to meet to pray and to plan the formation of a General Assembly. This became a reality by the major effort of the California Presbytery. on February 8, 1978, the Korean-American Presbyterian Church was formed. The pastors met at Van Til Hall at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Today, KAPC is composed of 19 Presbyteries, 376 churches, 470 ordained ministers, and 34,000 communicant members. KAPC is the largest Korean Presbyterian denomination in the Western Hemisphere.

The KAPC continues to grow in its size due to its willingness to be open to the many Korean Presbyteries, churches, and pastors that desire to join. The KAPC insists on Reformed and Presbyterian doctrines although due to the rapid growth the denomination is experiencing the doctrinal stands of individual churches may be "broader than ideal."

Some of the temporary offices in the KAPC include titles that are unique, while the roles themselves may be familiar to other communions. Such a title is that of "Kwonsa," which is a temporary office conferred on women 45-years-old or older. A Kwonsa makes visitations to the members of an individual church, especially to those who are infirm or afflicted.

Uniquely, there are 10 different types of pastor in the KAPC. An "entrusted" pastor is one, who, after receiving a call from a local congregation, may be entrusted by the Presbytery with the full power to rule over a local congregation. A "Pastor in Charge" is a man who has received a call from and ministers to a local congregation, but who has not been entrusted by the Presbytery with the power to rule over the church. When that congregation becomes an organized church, the pastor shall report to the Presbytery, be entrusted by the Presbytery, and become an entrusted pastor. An "Associate Pastor" is a temporary pastor with a term of one year. He assists the entrusted pastor with consent of the Presbytery. This approval must be renewed annually. A minister of the Word receives the title "Pastor Emeritus" when he retires after 20 years or more of active ministry from the year of his ordination. An Emeritus receives a fixed salary if the congregational meeting so votes and if the Presbytery agrees to confer this honor. The "Pastor Meritorious" is a minister that retires because of old age after serving 25 years or more. He is to have served with remarkable merit in the course of his ministry. The Presbytery confers this honour with a two thirds vote in favor. The remaining pastors are "Pastor at large," "Chaplain," "Pastor in Education," "Missionary," and "Pastor in Music."

Elders in the KAPC must be at least 30 years old, having been sound in the faith and blameless for at least 5 years with the qualifications described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

At present, the future of the KAPC is, by their own words, unclear. The KAPC is divided on the matter of teaching Korean as a primary language for the members and their children. This follows the pattern of immigrant churches. there are some - probably in the second generation camp - who believe that "KA" ought to be modified as the immigration history enters the second quarter of a century. A vision for KAPC beyond the year 2025 is needed.