Report on the Asian American Symposium at Fuller Seminary: Young Lee Hertig
November 23, 2009 at 1:40 pm | In report | 1 CommentTags: Asian American Christianity, Fuller Theological Seminary, Jonathan Tran, Logos Evangelical Seminary, ministry, Richard Mouw, Southern California, young lee hertig
November 16, 2009
Apologies to Young Lee Hertig for the delay in posting this report… Tim Tseng
The Inaugural AAES Epiphany
By Young Lee Hertig, Director of ISAAC-SoCal/AAWOL (Asian American Women On Leadership)
The dream of gathering one of the most scattered group, Asian American Christian leaders, came true when the inaugural Asian American Equipping Symposium kicked off on November 2-3 at Fuller Theological Seminary. Initial idea came from ISAAC’S Executive Director, Timothy Tseng, who began lectureship circuits in Northern California with various Universities. In implementing the vision, as fellow African American pastors would say, “When you don’t have teeth to chew, gum it” relying on daily divine whispers and riding along the whimsical wind of the Spirit.
The first whisper in implementing the dream came through a meeting with Howard Loewen, Dean of School of Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. When the Dean announced his fall Sabbatical, the new partnership emerged with Fuller’s Office of Alumni/ae and Church Relations turned dream possible. Tirelessly everyone in Mary Hubbard Given’s office devoted their time to the details of the two-day event—lecture, panel, breakout session, banquet, and luncheon.
The Program Highlights
The keynote speaker, Dr. Jonathan Tran, an Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics, framed the lectures of the past and future of Asian American churches with “both and” paradigm, not “either or.” It was the right frame to contain multiple facets of bridging the inaugural AAES aimed. Bridging both theologies with the Asian American churches, the past with the future, and diverse intra Asian American ethnic groups, Tran walked us through the interpretive path that was so rich in its contents and candor in delivery. Participants were captivated by vivid biblical narratives resonant with Asian American journeys. The panel responses on Monday included three school faculty and Asian American pastors: Jehu J. Hanciles, Mark Lau Branson, Miyoung Yoon Hammer, Ken Fong, and Michael Lee. We are so grateful for panelists taking their busy time off to deliver their insights.
Monday evening was the Asian American Leadership Banquet and 160 people filled the room, Payton 101 at Fuller Theological Seminary. At the 11th hour, the Women of Four (Mary Hubbard Given, Bert Jacklitch, Bonnie Stevens, and Young Lee Hertig) decided to change the banquet venue from the Rose Tournament House to Payton 101 to accommodate everyone who wanted to come to the banquet. We apologize for those who didn’t have time to check the last minute email sent out when we changed the venue for the banquet. At the banquet, President Rich Mouw almost turned his keynote address, Theological Imagination With Asian American Churches” in interpretive dance after Ashley Thaxton’s liturgical dance to the song, “In This Very Room,” sung by Debra Williams. We almost believed that he might since Mrs. Phyllis Mouw was present
On Tuesday Tran covered why Asian American Churches are the Future. The panelists were Charlene Jin Lee, Timothy Tseng, Charles Lee, Melanie Mar Chow, and Benjamin Shin. Gender issues in Asian American Churches, addressed by Charlene Jin Lee, in particular captivated everyone. Tran continued dialogue by email exchanges with Jin Lee even after his return to Texas.
The breakout sessions with Jonathan Wu and Melanie Mar Chow’s leadership, were divided into four To let you know, we will have four topics for discussion and strategic thinking:
1. The future of AA pastoral leadership
2. The future of AA women in ministry
3. The future of the intergenerational AA church
4. The future of theological formation in AA churches
Jonathan and Melanie expressed their appreciation of the deep level of engagement and learning happening in all of the groups as Jonathan Tran and the panelists paved the way for some serious interactions in our breakout groups. We are grateful to you all for navigating the direction toward constructive conversations and substantive outcomes. We deeply appreciate participants recommendations with the clarity to keep traction and momentum going forward.
Last but not the least, the inaugural AAES was possible through sponsorships of local churches, para-church organizations and friends. ISAAC appreciates all of your financial support that made our collective dreaming possible.
Asian American Christianity Reader – now available!
August 24, 2009 at 9:32 am | In announcement, resource | 1 CommentTags: academic, Asian American Christianity, education, resource, textbook
I’m delighted to announce that the Asian American Christianity Reader has been published! As a joint project with Pacific Asian American and Canadian Christian Education (PAACCE) we believe that both scholars and church leaders will benefit from the Reader. Whether you are a theological educator, a pastor, a college professor, or para-church staff member, this Reader will be useful introduction to Asian American Christianity.
Description
This textbook is an interdisciplinary collection of scholarly and religious articles about Asian American Christianity, past and present. Its four sections – contexts, sites, identity, and voices – offer in-depth understanding of both Catholic and Protestant traditions, practices, theologies, and faith communities. It also highlights diversity and complexity across lines of gender, generation, denomination, race and ethnicity in Asian American Christianity. Both scholarly and accessible, the essays in this reader will be useful teaching resources for educators and church leaders.
What some people are saying about the Reader:
Mark Noll of the University of Notre Dame calls it “a real boon for understanding contemporary American religious life.”
Andrew Sung Park of United Theological Seminary says “this Reader is informative, inspiring, transformative, and indispensable.”
Jung Ha Kim of Georgia State University says “I strongly recommend this reader for anyone who wants to understand the dynamic process of (re)making religion in the United States.”
Amos Yong of Regent University School of Divinity says “Students and scholars will learn a great deal, and no theological library should go without it.”
Charles J. Lee, Lead Pastor of Acts Fellowship Church in Austin, Texas calls it “a wonderful resource! a tremendous collection of articles that will help anyone to better understand the nuances of ministering to the Asian American population. It gives great insights into a wide range of issues and topics. Great job!!!”
Anselm Min of Claremont Graduate University notes that “Non-Asian American theologians and pastors in North America as well as the white leadership in the North American churches will also find valuable resources of information about what is going on in Asian Christian communities. I recommend it with great enthusiasm.”
Joel Carpenter, Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, Calvin College believes that “it belongs on many a scholar’s desk and in any library that supports religious studies.”
The Reader is 352 pages and costs $28.00. Go to www.aacreader.com for more information.
Order your copy today!
Click here to view Contents
Click here to view list of Contributors
Click here to view all Endorsements
Please note: ISAAC will send a complimentary copy of the Reader to donors who give or have contributed at least $500 since the summer of 2008.
Sincerely,
Timothy Tseng
Executive Director, ISAAC
* * * * *
ISAAC Fall Calendar
Please check isaacweb.org for more details
- Sept. 12: Fund-raising banquet in Pasadena, CA. to support the Asian American Equipping Symposium to be held at Fuller Theological Seminary in November. Contact Young Lee Hertig.
- Sept. 21-22: Bay Area Asian American English ministries Pastors retreat – co-sponsored with The Leadership Connection. Contact Johnson Chiu.
- Sept. 23: ISAAC-co-sponsored lecture at U.C. Berkeley. Dr. Fenggang Yang will talk about Religious Policies in the People’s Republic of China. Dr. Yang is the author of Chinese Christians in America: Conversion, Assimilation, and Adhesive Identities (Penn State University Press 1999), co-editor (with Tony Carnes) of Asian American Religions: The Making and Remaking of Borders and Boundaries (New York University Press 2004), and co-editor (with Joseph B. Tamney) of State, Market, and Religions in Chinese Societies (Brill Academic Publishers 2005). This lecture is co-sponsored by U.C. Berkeley’s Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program, Institute of East Asian Studies, Center for Chinese Studies, and Department of Sociology. Contact Tim Tseng.
- Sept. 24: ISAAC Research Seminar featuring Dr. Fenggang Yang and local researchers in Berkeley, CA. Contact James Chuck.
- Oct. 21: ISAAC-co-sponsored panel at U.C. Berkeley: Filipino Faith: The Role of Religion in Diasporic Communities in America and Beyond featuring:
-Joaquin Jay Gonzalez III, Associate Professor of Politics; Director of the Yuchengco Philippine Studies Program, University of San Francisco and author of Filipino American
Faith in Action (New York University Press) and Religion on the Corner of Bliss and Nirvana (Duke University Press).
-Benjamin Pimentel, Author of Pareng Barack: Filipinos in Obama’s America; former reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle
Co-sponsored by U.C. Berkeley’s Religion, Politics, and Globalization Program. Contact Tim Tseng. - Nov. 2-3: Asian American Equipping Symposium featuring Dr. Jonathan Tran, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Baylor University, and local pastors and scholars. Co-sponsored by Fuller Theological Seminary. Contact Young Lee Hertig.
Asian American Christianity Reader soon to be released!
April 22, 2009 at 8:37 am | In announcement, resource | 1 CommentTags: Asian American Christianity, Church leaders, Reader, resources, scholars, students
ISAAC and the Pacific Asian American & Canadian Christian Education project is delighted to announce the scheduled release of the Asian American Christianity Reader. It will be available in May, just in time for Asian American Heritage month. See www.aacreader.com for more information.
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