Pacific/Asian Disciples plan for ‘fruitful’ meeting in August

From DisciplesWorld:


By Ian Bowman-Henderson, DisciplesWorld contributing writer

INDIANAPOLIS (7/12/08) —The 2008 North American Pacific/Asian Disciples (NAPAD) Convocation is being held August 6-8 in Stony Port, N.Y. This year marks the group’s fifteenth biennial convocation.

“The purpose of the convocation,” says NAPAD Executive Pastor Geunhee Yu, “is number one, to gather together as Asian-Pacific Disciples, number two educating the community of Asian-Pacific Disciples, and the third purpose is getting to know each other and enhancing our heritage.”

Moderator Cindy Kim also believes that the convocation helps connect Asian and Pacific Island Disciples to the larger church.

The theme of this year’s convocation is “Bear Fruit,” a title drawn from Matthew 7:20: "Thus you will know them by their fruits."

“The first day emphasizes a personal perspective, bearing fruit individually,” says Yu. “The second day is a community perspective. As a community of faith we have to bear fruit; and the third day is an ecological perspective.”

The week’s message is of personal significance to Kim. “For me something important is that you leave convocation with a sense of stewardship, like ‘What can I do now?’” says Kim, “and with “Bear Fruit’ there is this responsibility to community, ecology…and your own life.”

Kim said she is excited to increase the level of ecological awareness of her fellow NAPAD members. “…for many Asian immigrants ecological awareness is not big, or is not even on their radar,” says Kim.

The convocation will feature three keynote speakers; Rita Nakashima Brock, one of NAPAD’s earliest supporters and a prominent feminist theologian; Chung Hyun Kyung, a leader in eco-feminist theologies working to promote interfaith dialogue between Christianity and traditional Eastern religions; and Cassandra Carmichael, director of the National Council of Churches’ eco-justice program. This is the first time that NAPAD has held a convocation with all female keynoters.

“Part of that is a response to the Asian community,” says Kim, “but this year we have these amazing women who are all forefront in what they do.”

NAPAD includes over 90 congregations representing many different cultures, which can sometimes pose a problem for convocation organizers. “The difficult part is language,” says Kim. “There are 13 different languages that NAPAD members speak.”

Kim does not feel that this hurts the convocation. “There is really a sense of community,” she says. “Many Asian people struggle with the same things.”

Each day of convocation will begin with a worship session and then move on through the keynote speakers, business sessions, and breakout sessions for additional education. Also scheduled are several after-sessions as well as a pre-convocation event for youth, which will be held at the YMCA in Flushing, N.Y. The final day of convocation will end with the installation of NAPAD’s new officers, who will be selected by the NAPAD’s executive committee.

The event, though geared towards members of NAPAD, is open to anyone who would like to attend. says Kim.

Blogmaster's Note: The Upper Midwest Region has one known Asian/Pacific Congregation; Korean Dordom Church in St. Louis Park, Minnesota led by Henkug Choi .