Please join us for the 22nd NAPAD Biennial Convocation via zoom on Saturday, September 24, from 6 pm to 8 pm (EDT).
The business session will start at 6 pm, followed by worship at 7 pm. This year's theme is "Renewed Covenant and New Hope (Rev. 7:9-17)." Rev. Marco Cable, President of Division of Overseas Ministries and Co-Executive of Global Ministries of the Christian Church (DOC) and United Church of Christ, will preach.
More information, including registration, will be forthcoming.
The ministries of National Convocation, Obra Hispana, NAPAD have prayerfully decided to cancel “It’s Real: The 2022 Experience.” Since 2019, we have been planning a one-time in-person gathering for the whole church to experience the diverse theological, multicultural, and multilingual identities, history, and culture of our communities. In care for the health and wholeness of our church, as cases of covid-19 and the omicron variant surge globally, we have discerned that we cannot host the event with excellence and integrity.
We thank God for the care and labor of our respective National and Executive Pastors, our Moderators and Presidents, the local arrangements committee, TCU representatives, institutional sponsors, and supporters of this event over the last four years.
We continue to be encouraged and challenged by Revelation 7:9, and look forward to continuing to work together to safely listen, learn, and worship together online in the future. The good work that the holy spirit began among and between us will take a different form. Stay tuned for the vision that is yet emerging.
Rev. Yvonne T. Gilmore, Interim Administrative Secretary, National Convocation
Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor, Obra Hispana
Rev. Chung Seong Kim, Executive Pastor, North American Pacific/Asian Disciples
As members of the one body of Christ and the family of humanity, we join together to condemn the rise in overt anti-Asian violence in the United States. We join with our Asian American siblings to call for an immediate end to xenophobic and racist rhetoric, hate crimes and violence against Asian Americans. Thousands of incidents of racism against the Asian American community have been reported since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and many more have gone unreported. The intentional use of such nomenclature for the COVID-19 virus such as “the China virus”, has been perpetuated and promoted by leaders in the US with impunity. We denounce racist language against Black and brown communities, and we must insist that anti-Asian violence be called out and addressed as part of the systemic injustices laid bare in this time of global pandemic.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we must hold ourselves accountable to the Biblical commandment to love God by loving neighbor, (Mark 12:31, 1 John 4:21) and to affirm that all are created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27). Jesus teaches us that we are to love one another as he has loved us, and that such love will say to the world that we are his disciples. (John 13:34-35).
In the context of such violence, the shooting at multiple spas in Georgia that resulted in the additional loss of Asian lives demands that we be vigilant in naming and eliminating the ongoing threats being faced by over 20 million Americans. Whenever one human being is diminished, we are all diminished. We cannot remain silent in the face of such violence and terrorism being visited upon our siblings. We stand in solidarity with Asian American Christians and community leaders to call US leaders to account and demand justice and safety for Asian Americans. We must hold elected officials accountable for their words and inaction, as we must whenever such racist and bigoted injustice occurs. For the sake of the common good, (Jeremiah 29:7), we urge them to pursue justice and peace. (1 Timothy 2:2)
We say we are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. We say we welcome all to the Lord’s table as God has welcomed us. We say we are an anti-racist, pro-reconciling church. We call each other as Disciples of Christ to do the work of being that church. Let us be the church we say we are.
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President
Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Interim Administrative Secretary, National Convocation
Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor, Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries
Rev. Chung Seong Kim, Executive Pastor, North American Pacific/Asian Disciples
모든 인류의 가족이자 그리스도 안에서 한 몸을 이룬 우리는 미국에서 증가하고 있는 아시아인에 대한 폭력(anti-Asian violence)을 규탄합니다. 우리는 아시아계 미국인 자매 형제들의 목소리를 모아 외국인 혐오, 인종차별적 언사, 아시안 증오 범죄와 폭력의 즉각적인 중단을 촉구합니다. 코로나19 전염병이 시작된 이후 아시아계 미국인 공동체에 대한 수천 건의 인종 차별 사건이 보고되었고, 보고되지 않은 사례들은 이보다 훨씬 많습니다. 미국의 지도자들은 ‘중국 바이러스 (the China Virus)와 같은 용어를 의도적으로 사용하여 인종 차별 문제를 심화 시켰습니다. 우리는 흑인과 브라운 공동체에 대한 인종 차별적 언어를 비난합니다. 그리고 아시아인에 대한 폭력 또한 코로나19로 인해 이 시점에 공론화되었을 뿐 오랜 기간 존재해온 구조적인 불의임을 주장하며, 즉시 근절을 촉구합니다.
예수 그리스도를 따르는 우리는 모든 것이 하나님의 형상대로 창조되었음을 강조하며 (창세기 1장 27절) 이웃을 사랑함으로써 하나님을 사랑하라는 성서의 명령을 따라야 합니다 (마가복음 12장3절, 요한1서 4장 21절).
예수는 그가 우리를 사랑한 대로 우리도 서로 사랑해야 하며, 그러한 사랑이 우리가 그의 제자라는 것을 증언한다고 가르치십니다 (요한복음 13장 34-35절).
이러한 폭력이 만연한 가운데, 아시안 자매들의 목숨을 앗아간 조지아주 스파 총격 사건이 일어났습니다. 이 사건은 우리로 하여금 2천만 명 이상의 미국인들이 직면한 위협이 무엇인지 분명히 밝혀야 하며, 그 위협의 근절을 위한 즉각적인 노력이 필요하다는 것을 일깨워 주었습니다. 한 사람 목숨이 사라지는 것은, 우리 모두가 점점 사라진다는 것을 의미합니다. 우리의 자매와 형제가 마주하는 이러한 폭력과 테러에 대해 우리는 더 이상 침묵할 수 없습니다. 우리는 아시아계 미국인 크리스천 그리고 공동체의 지도자들과 연대하며 미국 지도자들에게 책임을 묻고, 아시아계 미국인의 정의와 안전을 위한 대책을 촉구합니다. 인종차별적이고 편향적인 부정의 앞에서 우리는 선출된 관료들이 그들의 말과 행동에 책임질 것을 요구하며, 공동의 선을 위한 (예레미야 29장 7절) 정의와 평화를 추구할 것을 촉구합니다 (디모데전서 2장 2절).
우리는 우리 스스로를 분열된 세상에서 온전함을 추구하는 운동, ‘그리스도의 제자 (제자회)’라고 부릅니다. 우리는 하나님이 우리를 환영하신 것처럼 우리 또한 주님의 식탁으로 모든 이들을 초대하고 환영한다고 말합니다. 우리는 스스로를 반인종주의적 (anti-racist)이며 화해를 추구하는 (pro-reconciliation) 교회라고 말합니다. 이런 교회를 이루기 위한 일에 동참하는 우리는 서로를 그리스도의 제자라고 부릅니다. 이제 우리가 말하는 그런 교회가 되어야 할 때입니다.
Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President
Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Interim Administrative Secretary, National Convocation
Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor, Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries
Rev. Chung Seong Kim, Executive Pastor, North American Pacific/Asian Disciples
NAPAD had first-ever virtual convocation under the theme of Resilient Faith (Joshua 1:9). More than 80 people gathered together virtually via Zoom.
The main session consisted of the business meeting and the worship service. In the business meeting, NAPAD elected four new board of directors (John Ahn, Miseon Choi, Larry Sotam, and Neomai Uesi) and appointed moderate-elect, Yunkyong Lee Hill. GMP Rev. Terri Hord Owens blessed and prayed for the entire board of directors. We also recognized and blessed five board members who were rotating off from the board, including Timothy Lee, Caleb Wang, Tevita Uesi, Jess Kim, and Doug Wirt.
The virtual worship service was graceful and lively. We celebrated thirteen new churches in the NAPAD community.
During the worship service, NAPAD Virtual Singers and the praise team of First Filipino Disciples Christian Church, LA. offered powerful and inspiring music.
Wonderful messages were delivered by Rev. Vy Nguyen, Executive Director of Week of Compassion, and Eula Pagdalio, the moderate of NAPAD board through the sermon and the invitation to communion.
We give thanks for all the wonderful time.
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