For Rev. Hae Seon Lee, the call to ministry began at just seven years old. But long before that, at the age of five, he imagined planting the first church on the International Space Station. That early dream of ministry in uncharted territory has become a lifelong vocation of boundary-crossing, bridging cultures, languages, and communities. As vice president of the National Association of Korean-American United Methodist Pastors Serving Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural Appointments (NAKAUMSCRA), Rev. Lee embodies the work of building bridges of grace across divides.
Growing up as a Korean missionary kid in Sri Lanka, then serving and studying across Asia and now the U.S., Rev. Lee describes his layered identity as a gift that once felt isolating but has become central to his calling. Like Moses, who held Hebrew, Egyptian, and Midianite identities, or Paul, who carried multiple cultural fluencies, Rev. Lee’s story has shaped his commitment to those who feel "on the outside" because of race, culture, or language.
This commitment led him to NAKAUMSCRA at GCORR’s “Facing The Future” event in 2018. What he found in the group was a community of Korean-American pastors navigating the complexities of cross-racial/cross-cultural (CRCC) ministry. Since then, he has served the organization in various leadership roles, bringing not only his experience but his deep theological grounding in reconciliation and justice.
The Mission of NAKAUMSCRA
NAKAUMSCRA exists to be a lifeline for Korean-American United Methodist pastors in CRCC appointments. Its mission is fourfold:
- Weave a supportive network for pastors to share resources and encouragement.
- Cultivate cross-cultural leadership and professional formation.
- Advocate for the spiritual, vocational, and systemic needs of Korean-American clergy within the denomination.
- Foster intentional mentorship for newer pastors to thrive in diverse ministry settings.
While the mission remains steady, its expression has evolved with the seasons of the church. During the pandemic, NAKAUMSCRA offered webinars and virtual spaces for support. When denominational disaffiliations created new uncertainties, they became a place for lament, healing, and hope. Today, with immigration challenges looming large for many pastors, NAKAUMSCRA actively advocates for fair policies and pastoral protections.
Unique Challenges in CRCC Ministry
Korean-American pastors in CRCC settings often face what Rev. Lee describes as a “triple translation”—from Korean culture to U.S. culture, from Korean religious sensibilities to United Methodist polity, and from Korean honorific language to English idioms in diverse local contexts. This constant cultural code-switching can lead to isolation, decision fatigue, and the feeling of being “never fully at home” in either world.
NAKAUMSCRA steps into this space with practical tools and spiritual framing. From CRCC “Madang” cohorts pairing early-career clergy with seasoned mentors, to legal and immigration advocacy, to curated worship resources that blend Korean spiritual practices with multicultural congregations, NAKAUMSCRA provides what Rev. Lee calls “translation, advocacy, and accompaniment” tailored for Korean-American clergy.
Equipping the Church for Inclusion
NAKAUMSCRA’s work echoes the church’s Pentecost origin—a community where many languages and cultures converge around the gospel. By equipping pastors who embody multiple identities, NAKAUMSCRA empowers congregations to move beyond token diversity toward genuine mutuality, where leadership is shared, worship reflects the richness of many traditions, and decisions honor every voice at the table.
This work is critical for the broader United Methodist Church’s journey toward inclusion and equity. It is not enough to appoint diverse pastors; congregations and conferences must also equip and sustain them.
Looking ahead, Rev. Lee hopes NAKAUMSCRA will continue to expand its reach, ensuring that every Korean-American pastor in CRCC ministry—especially those feeling isolated—knows they have a community standing with them. He envisions mentoring pathways that bridge generations, legal advocacy that adapts to changing immigration policies, and digital spaces where younger leaders can connect and collaborate.
“My prayer is that NAKAUMSCRA continues to evolve, offering the advocacy, companionship, and culturally fluent training that enables Korean-American pastors not just to survive, but to flourish—and, in doing so, lead our denomination toward deeper inclusion and gospel-shaped equity,” he shares.
How the Church Can Support CRCC Ministry
Rev. Lee offers wise and practical advice for how individuals, congregations, and annual conferences can better support Korean-American clergy and CRCC ministries:
- Practice curiosity. Ask about your pastor’s story, culture, and spiritual practices. Share the burden of translation.
- Build relationships. Invite pastors into local traditions—whether it’s the county fair or the volunteer fire company breakfast.
- Address micro-aggressions. Small comments accumulate over time; create spaces to name and discuss them as a community.
- Invest structurally. Offer cultural competency training, budget for CRCC-specific continuing education, and provide legal support for immigrant clergy.
- Give the gift of time. Trust takes longer across cultural divides. Allow pastors space to learn, observe, and build relationships before expecting major changes.
When individuals, congregations, and conferences commit to this work together, CRCC ministry moves from being an “experiment” to a living witness of the gospel—a reflection of the multilingual, multiethnic Body of Christ envisioned at Pentecost.
Through NAKAUMSCRA’s leadership and the tireless ministry of Korean-American clergy, the church is invited to cross boundaries, build bridges, and become a place where all can fully belong. Their next gathering is scheduled to be held in August 2025.