Archive
ISAAC National Update (Apr 28, 2010)
Asian & Pacific Islander North America is just as unpredictable. Each new immigrant wave from a different part of Asia redefines us. The diversity of our second-fifth generation responses to Asia, North America, and the Pacific also makes it difficult to “pin down” what it means to be API. Some believe that we have assimilated so much that we harbor nativist attitudes towards new immigrants. Others are determined to preserve our ethnic identities or build a strong pan-ethnic niche in a society that still discriminates against API people.
The irregular and unpredictable nature of API existence is a challenge for anyone who wants to work with them. Every community with API Christian participants will be confronted with this reality. But because there are no straightforward ways to do ministry in these settings, effectiveness can only be developed in dialogue between practitioners and scholars. Scholars are equipped with tools to interpret the API experience within national and international landscapes. But some of the most valuable insights come from ministry practitioners who engage scripture and theology with a careful reflection on the cultural contexts of their ministries.
ISAAC wants the conversation between academia and ministry to be relevant, effective, and on-going. Your participation will help us develop effective tools for equipping one another, future leaders, and scholars to serve faithfully and relevantly in API contexts.
May you be renewed this Easter season!
Timothy Tseng Ph.D.Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity
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Interim English Pastor
Canaan Taiwanese Christian Church, San Jose
2. ISAAC East Region: Rev. Dr. Andrew Lee (ISAAC’s East Regional Director) met with the Princeton Forum for Asian Indian Ministries on February 20. This group seeks to promote work among Asian Indians in the United States and recently published Pilgrims at the Crossroads: Asian Indian Christians at the North American Frontier (see below for more information on this book or to purchase a copy). There are a number of similarities in the situations that Asian Indians face with that of other Asian American Christians. Rev. Lee became a member of the Forum’s Working Committee with responsibility in the area of theological education.
ISAAC-SoCal sponsored an Asian American Continuing Education seminar at Fuller Theological Seminary on April 24, as a follow up to the Asian American Equipping Symposium held at Fuller in November. Upcoming initiatives include a May 19 planning team meeting for the pilot Asian American Summer Institute, which will feature an experiential pedagogy to bridge urban and suburban experiences and will be co-sponsored with the Mosaic Center and other partners, including seminaries, churches, and parachurch organizations. Rev. Hertig will also be teaching an intensive course this summer (June 14-18) on Asian American Pastoral Theologies and Pastoral Leadership at Logos Evangelical Seminary.
The second AAES (Asian American Equipping Symposium) has been rescheduled for February 7-8, 2011, due to the Lausanne meeting in October in South Africa. Please contact Rev. Hertig at younglee@isaacweb.org with suggestions for the symposium theme or for more information.
5. ISAAC Nor Cal will co-sponsor a free workshop, The Art of Preaching in Asian American Settings, for pastors, seminarians, and interested persons on Thursday, May 13th (9:45 AM – Noon, followed by a free lunch) at Chinese Church in Christ, North Valley (Milpitas). The workshop features Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Wong, Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry at Tyndale University College in Toronto, Canada. For more information and to register on-line click this link.
6. Resources: For a limited time only! You can get a 10% discount on ISAAC resources ordered through Lulu.com. Visit the ISAAC Cafe at this link, select your resources, and enter code “SHOWERS” at checkout. You can choose to receive $3.99 credit towards shipping cost instead by entering code “FREEMAIL305.” These discounts expire on Apr 30 & May 1, 2010.
** Give a gift of $120/year and you will automatically be enrolled as a 2010 ISAAC AND SANACS member. Members receive complimentary issues of the 2010 SANACS Journal and special discounts for ISAAC resources and events. Those who give $500 or more will receive complimentary copies of all publications and resources created in 2010.
ISAAC Update – Nov. 13, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving friends!
For this month’s electronic newsletter, here are few updates:
The Bay Area Chinese Initiative
1. BAP Conference (Nov. 8, 2008):
Thanks to everyone who attended the first of our three Bay Area Chinese congregational research project conference last Saturday. The half-day conference was held at the Presbyterian Church in Chinatown (San Francisco), the very first Chinese congregation in North America! we are grateful for Rev. David Pan, the Chinese pastor, and Rev. David Mote is the English Ministry Interim pastor, and Jeanne Quock for their hospitality! I was personally delighted to visit this historic church. Its recently renovated worship hall is beautiful!
Dr. Chuck shared an update of the Growth of Chinese churches in the Bay Area since 1996 and I shared about ISAAC’s Equipping and Resource Center for lay and pastoral leaders. We hope to offer seminars, workshops, and classes on subjects as diverse as the history of Asian American Christianity, spiritual formation of leaders in Asian American ministries, teaching Sunday School, and college admissions and vocational counseling. We are also planning an Asian American immersion camp this summer to give youth an opportunity to learn about this history and contemporary situation of Asian Americans in the Bay Area.
2. Upcoming BAP Conferences (Nov. 15 and 22)
There is still time to attend the half-day conferences this Saturday and next Saturday. In addition to sharing about the recent growth of the nearly 200 Chinese churches in the Bay Area, we will also celebrate the publication of the Bay Area Chinese Churches research project report. Information about the report can be found on the ISAAC Blog. We are grateful for Rev. Steve Quen of the Bay Area Bible Church and Dr. Sam Tsang of Overseas Theological Seminary for their support of ISAAC’s work! Here are the locations for the upcoming conferences:
-> Nov. 15: South Bay (Overseas Theological Seminary in San Jose, 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM)
-> Nov. 22: East Bay (Bay Area Chinese Bible Church – Alameda Campus, 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM)
[Go to Bay Area Chinese Churches Project blog for more information. | Register online here]
Other Projects
In partnership with the Pacific Asian American and Canadian Christian Education (PAACCE), we will publish an Asian American Christianity Reader by the end of November. The reader is a collection of historical, sociological, theological, and personal essays that offer insightful into Asian American Christianity. It will be a useful teaching aid for educators and church leaders. Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to review the reader. Preview copies will be emailed to reviewers before Thanksgiving.
The Society of Asian North American Christian Studies (SANACS) will be publishing its inaugural journal this December. We are now making a final call for 2008 membership. Members will receive the 2008 annual journal for free. Click here to learn more about SANACS.
Dr. Russell Moy, ISAAC board member in charge of seminary relations, is serving on the Association of Theological Schools’ planning committee for the upcoming Enhancing Diversity in Theological Education conference at the end of March. He will also complete a report of the Asian and Asian North American Faculty consultation held last December.
We are also planning to develop an lectureship series on Religion in Asian America in which leading scholars of Asian American religions will be invited to speak at partnering universities, colleges, and seminaries around the country. Stayed tuned for more details!
Funding Situation
We are truly grateful for our supporters over the past two years! Regarding of amount of support, they have enabled us to develop resources and programs. And the best is yet to come! So please complete your commitment or pledge for 2008 if you have not yet done so. To make a donation, go to http://isaacweb.org/a/support.htm
Some supporters have already made pledges or commitments for 2009 – thank you! You help us plan ahead and give us assurance that we’ll have enough to continue our work. If anyone else would like to make a pledge or commitment for next year, please email or call me and I’ll fill you in on the details.
As you know, we are a “start up” organization and work on a shoe string budget. We can only afford part-time staff (including myself) and volunteers. But with your help, I believe ISAAC can enter 2009 with confidence that our programs will have the greatest impact on educators, scholars, and church leaders. So please consider making a gift this year and pledge or commitment for 2009!
Cordially,
Timothy Tseng [email me]
President & Executive Director
Institute for the Study of Asian American Christianity (isaacweb.org)
Adjunct Professor, University of San Francisco
ISAAC Update (Oct. 14, 2008)
Greetings friends!
Although the U.S. presidential elections and economic downturn dominate the headlines these days, I’m happy to report that ISAAC is making steady progress in equipping university and theological educators and church leaders. We have been so focused on developing our resources that we have not done an adequate job of fund-raising for the future. So I hope that you will consider making a generous gift and a pledge for 2009 in the next few weeks.
Anyway, here is what we are up to:
1. Resource Development
In partnership with the Pacific Asian American and Canadian Christian Education (PAACCE), we will publish an Asian American Christianity Reader by the end of November. The reader is a collection of historical, sociological, theological, and personal essays that offer insight into Asian American Christianity. It will be a useful teaching aid for educators and church leaders. We are currently seeking reviewers from colleges, seminaries, and churches to offer feedback. Please contact me if you are interested in previewing the reader.
The Society of Asian North American Christian Studies (SANACS) will be publishing its inaugural journal this December. We are now making a final call for 2008 membership. Members will receive the 2008 annual journal for free. Click here to learn more about SANACS.
2. The Bay Area Chinese Initiative
Inspired by Dr. James Chuck, our Bay Area Chinese initiative is gradually taking shape. We hope to expand its scope beyond the Bay Area and the Chinese Christian community in the near future.
First, the Bay Area Chinese Churches research project report will be available in November. Information about the report can be found on the ISAAC Blog. You are also welcome to come to one or all three of the following half-day conferences to celebrate its publication!
-> Nov. 8: Peninsula and San Francisco (Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM)
-> Nov. 15: South Bay (Overseas Theological Seminary in San Jose, 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM)
-> Nov. 22: East Bay (Bay Area Chinese Bible Church – Alameda Campus, 9:15 AM – 12:30 PM)
[Go to Bay Area Chinese Churches Project blog for more information. | Register online here]
Second, ISAAC has partnered with The Leadership Connection (TLC) to support pastors who serve bi-generational Chinese congregations. TLC utilizes Executive Coaching models to help pastors problem solve, support and hold each other accountable to strengthening their leadership capacity. In August, we co-sponsored a retreat for pastors of English Ministries which has led to the formation of three peer-to-peer small groups. Though these groups have just started, the response has been quite enthusiastic. We are also partnering with TLC to provide peer-to-peer groups with Asian American Christian business leaders!
Third, ISAAC is partnering with local pastors and churches in developing an Equipping and Resource Center for church leaders. This Spring we hope to offer seminars, workshops, and classes in subjects as diverse as teaching Sunday School, the history of Asian American Christianity, spiritual formation of leaders in Asian American ministries, and college admissions counseling from an Asian American Christian perspective.
These activities, and several others on the horizon, are what makes me excited about ISAAC. Asian American Christians don’t have to be the side dish of education and ministry in North America. With your help, Asian American Christians can also be an entree that further enriches the multi-cultural banquet of our society and the world!
Timothy Tseng
ISAAC Blog 