Abstract
The Identity and Mission of the Korean American Church explores the sociocultural and theological challenges Korean American churches face in finding their place as immigrant congregations (p.224). This collection of essays offers a distinctive interdisciplinary lens, blending theology, psychology, sociology, and missiology, focusing on Korean Americans and the intergenerational tensions within immigrant churches (p.xiv).
The volume is structured around three key areas: identity formation, missional and spiritual formation, and intercultural formation (p.224). In Chapter 2, Nam Soon Song introduces bahb (cooked rice) as a theological and cultural symbol of Korean identity, embodying values such as sharing and empathy (p.225). Helen Jin Kim, in Chapter 3, traces the theological identity through the roots of the Korean diaspora (p.xi). Regarding missional formation, Enoch Wan, in Chapter 6, proposes an “integrated understanding of the Christian mission” grounded in a “missiological diaspora paradigm,” advocating for a contextually Korean approach to mission (p.xiii).
Finally, in Chapter 8, Allison L. Norton underscores immigrant churches’ contributions to revitalizing American congregations and “reshaping the religious landscape” (xiii) while addressing the challenge of “transgenerational belonging” within American Christianity, arguing that immigrant churches, shaped by ongoing adaptation and transformation, offer valuable insights into passing on faith across generations (p.227).
This collection of essays effectively highlights the often-overlooked influence of South Korean theology and faith on Korean American congregations. Notably, Chapter 2 is compelling, as the author explores the deeper theological significance of cooking bahb, a distinctly Korean practice, as a contextual expression of faith tied to God’s mission. Likewise, Chapter 8 offers valuable insight into the intergenerational transmission of faith as a dynamic process of translation, invention, and reinvention within a new cultural context. Together, these contributions exemplify thoughtful theological reflection and active missional engagement, positioning Korean American churches not as passive recipients of Western Christianity but as active shapers of a contextual Christian witness.
One notable limitation is the book’s ambition to address numerous disciplines and themes, such as race, identity, and diaspora, which, though reflective of the Korean immigrant church’s complexity, occasionally dilutes analytical depth. Moreover, the volume centers largely on first-generation South Korean experiences, with minimal representation of younger Korean American voices.
Regardless, The Identity and Mission of the Korean American Church is a timely and valuable resource for those studying the root and mission of Korean American congregations, especially seminarians discerning God’s call for the next generation.