Revision #16159
Korean Immigrant Church
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
- A **Korean immigrant church** is a church founded chiefly by Koreans living outside Korea and their descendants. It is commonly called an **immigrant church** and is also known as a **diaspora church**, from the word diaspora, meaning "a people living scattered abroad." The term does not refer to a single denomination. Rather, it is a collective name for churches that belong to various denominations or to none at all.
+ A **Korean immigrant church** is a church founded chiefly by Koreans living outside Korea and their descendants. Such churches are commonly called **immigrant churches**. They are also known as **diaspora churches**, from *diaspora*, a word meaning "a people living scattered abroad." The term does not refer to a single denomination. It is a collective name for churches that belong to various denominations or to none at all.
=
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
- "Diaspora" originally referred to Jews who had left their homeland and lived scattered among other nations. The New Testament also uses the word for scattered believers (James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). Acts 8 records that believers scattered by persecution preached the gospel wherever they went. Some in Korean immigrant churches cite this passage to interpret migration as an opportunity for mission.
+ "Diaspora" originally referred to Jews who had left their homeland and lived scattered among other nations. The New Testament also uses the word for scattered believers (James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). Acts 8 records that believers scattered by persecution preached the gospel wherever they went. Some Korean immigrant churches cite this passage to interpret migration as an opportunity for mission.
=
- The first Korean church abroad arose with Korean immigration to Hawaii. The first group of Korean immigrants left Incheon in December 1902 and arrived in Honolulu in January 1903. By July 1905, more than 7,000 people had emigrated to work as laborers on sugarcane plantations. In November 1903, the Korean Methodist Mission held its first worship service on the island of Oahu; this is regarded as the beginning of today's Christ United Methodist Church, although sources differ somewhat on the founding date. By 1904, the number of Korean churches in Hawaii had grown to fourteen. At the time, these churches served as communities for plantation workers and also raised and sent funds to support the Korean independence movement.
+ The first Korean church abroad arose with Korean immigration to Hawaii. The first group of Korean immigrants left Incheon in December 1902 and arrived in Honolulu in January 1903. By July 1905, more than 7,000 people had emigrated to work as laborers on sugarcane plantations. In November 1903, the Korean Methodist Mission held its first worship service on the island of Oahu. This service is regarded as the beginning of today's Christ United Methodist Church, although sources differ somewhat on the founding date. By 1904, the number of Korean churches in Hawaii had grown to fourteen. These early churches served as communities for plantation workers and also collected funds for the Korean independence movement.
=
= ## Role and Practice
- In addition to holding worship services, Korean immigrant churches have served as centers of Korean communities abroad, running Korean-language schools, sharing practical information about daily life, and assisting families with weddings, funerals, and other occasions. According to a count by one Christian newspaper, there were 4,251 Korean churches in the Americas as of the end of 2015.
+ Beyond holding worship services, Korean immigrant churches have served as centers of Korean communities abroad. They have run Korean-language schools, shared practical information about daily life, and helped families with weddings, funerals, and other family occasions. According to a count by one Christian newspaper, there were 4,251 Korean churches in the Americas as of the end of 2015.
=
= Denominational affiliation varies from church to church.
…
= - Some are independent churches that belong to no denomination.
=
- Immigrants of the second and later generations are often more comfortable in the local language than in Korean. Consequently, many Korean immigrant churches hold separate worship services in Korean and in the local language, and they regard communication between generations as a major challenge.
+ Immigrants of the second and later generations are often more comfortable in the local language than in Korean. Many Korean immigrant churches therefore hold separate worship services in Korean and in the local language, and they treat communication between generations as a major concern.
A Korean immigrant church is a Protestant church in which Koreans living abroad gather to worship in Korean. Besides serving as a community of faith, such churches have long been focal points of immigrant communities.
A Korean immigrant church is a Protestant church in which Koreans living abroad gather to worship in Korean. In addition to serving as a community of faith, such churches have long been focal points of Korean immigrant communities.
Full revision
A Korean immigrant church is a Protestant church in which Koreans living abroad gather to worship in Korean. In addition to serving as a community of faith, such churches have long been focal points of Korean immigrant communities.
Definition and Meaning
A Korean immigrant church is a church founded chiefly by Koreans living outside Korea and their descendants. Such churches are commonly called immigrant churches. They are also known as diaspora churches, from diaspora, a word meaning "a people living scattered abroad." The term does not refer to a single denomination. It is a collective name for churches that belong to various denominations or to none at all.
Biblical and Historical Background
"Diaspora" originally referred to Jews who had left their homeland and lived scattered among other nations. The New Testament also uses the word for scattered believers (James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). Acts 8 records that believers scattered by persecution preached the gospel wherever they went. Some Korean immigrant churches cite this passage to interpret migration as an opportunity for mission.
The first Korean church abroad arose with Korean immigration to Hawaii. The first group of Korean immigrants left Incheon in December 1902 and arrived in Honolulu in January 1903. By July 1905, more than 7,000 people had emigrated to work as laborers on sugarcane plantations. In November 1903, the Korean Methodist Mission held its first worship service on the island of Oahu. This service is regarded as the beginning of today's Christ United Methodist Church, although sources differ somewhat on the founding date. By 1904, the number of Korean churches in Hawaii had grown to fourteen. These early churches served as communities for plantation workers and also collected funds for the Korean independence movement.
Role and Practice
Beyond holding worship services, Korean immigrant churches have served as centers of Korean communities abroad. They have run Korean-language schools, shared practical information about daily life, and helped families with weddings, funerals, and other family occasions. According to a count by one Christian newspaper, there were 4,251 Korean churches in the Americas as of the end of 2015.
Denominational affiliation varies from church to church.
- Some churches join a local denomination, such as the United Methodist Church in the United States, and follow its church polity.
- Some belong to overseas presbyteries or districts connected with denominations in Korea.
- Some are independent churches that belong to no denomination.
Immigrants of the second and later generations are often more comfortable in the local language than in Korean. Many Korean immigrant churches therefore hold separate worship services in Korean and in the local language, and they treat communication between generations as a major concern.