RIP - The Reverend Jae Wook Chung, 42

December 16, 2015

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It is with profound sorrow that I write to tell you that the Rev. Jae Wook Chung, Priest Associate at Saint Ann's in Sayville, died early this morning at Stony Brook Medical Center.

Jae's recurrence of cancer and the swiftness with which it overtook him has shocked us all. We join his family, his parish family, and all those whose lives he touched in their overwhelming grief. And I thank you for the many prayers, visits, and messages of comfort that you have extended to Jae and his family in these last days.

Jae will be missed for all his many gifts, his deep love and faith in Jesus, but most especially for his prayerful, holy manner in all aspects of life.

Every encounter with him made me want to be a better person and a better bishop to the people we serve together. His abiding love and gentle care for all people is an example to us all.

Your prayers and presence are invited as we gather to lay our brother to rest.

Vigil Watch
Friday, December 18 from 4 pm to 9 pm
Formal vigil prayers will be held at 7 pm
at St. Ann's Episcopal Church
257 Middle Road
Sayville, NY  11782

Requiem Eucharist
Saturday, December 19 at 11 am
at the Cathedral of the Incarnation
50 Cathedral Avenue
Garden City, NY  11530

The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano will preside
Burial will follow at St. Ann's Church Cemetery, Sayville

Cards and messages of condolence may be sent to Shin, Jae's wife, and their four children, Ian, Emma, Leo, and Lucas at 59 Pine Street, Sayville, NY  11782.

Please pray for God's consoling presence with them and Jae's wider family, the clergy and people of Saint Ann's, and all those who grieve.

Please also remember our brother Jae in your prayers and at your altar. May he rest in the loving, gentle arms of the Lord he loved and served.

Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


The Rt. Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano
Bishop of Long Island

The Rev. Jae Wook Chung

July 15, 1973 - December 16, 2015

Jae Wook Chung was ordained deacon in January 2014 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. A Korean American, he was born in Seoul in 1973, and immigrated to the United States at age 27 after finishing two years of required military service. He graduated from Korea's Dankook University with a B.S. in Economics.

In the United States, Jae founded a web agency for Global 500 companies with his wife, Shin Kang, a graphic designer.

He was an active parishioner of Great Neck Episcopal Ministry and served as a youth director for six years until he entered the General Theological Seminary as a postulant of the Diocese of Long Island in 2011.

Jae also served as a member of the Diocesan Bishop Search Committee.  He and his wife lived at Camp DeWolfe as resident staff members in 2007, where they also created the camp's first website.

Father Jae Chung with Mother Diane Britt,

rector of St. Ann's Church, Sayville.

In February, 2014, Jae began his journey as deacon in St. Ann's, Sayville.

After his ordination as priest, he continued his ministry at St. Ann's, as Priest Associate.

Father Jae with his wife, Shin, at his side at his
ordination to the priesthood on July 19, 2014

Fr. Jae also served as the co-convener, with Fr. Paul Lai, of the Diocese of Long Island's Episcopal Asian American Ministry Commission, which was formed by a resolution at the Diocese of Long Island convention in 2009.

In an article in St. Ann's Parish Journal, Fr. Jae, wrote:

"As a Korean-American who is not a native English speaker, I never imagined that I would be coming to a program-sized parish as a full time minister in Suffolk County. However, it really happened to me when I answered "Amen" (yes) to applying for the curacy position at St. Ann's.

For the last five months, my experiences to magnify (enlarge) God and the Body of Christ here at St. Ann's have "enlarged" priesthood in me. There is astonishing joy seeing all the parishioners who are happily expecting my ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, July 19th, 2014. The ordination is not only for me, but also for all parishioners as well as all people in this Diocese.

I hope and pray that I can keep happily walking this sacramental journey as a priest to magnify the Lord with the people of God in the Diocese of Long Island and beyond."

Ordination to the diaconate, January 11, 2014

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New York Times: Asian Advantage

Click on the web link below to see a New York Times article:

Asian Advantage

October 10, 2015

"THIS is an awkward question, but here goes: Why are Asian-Americans so successful in America?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/11/opinion/sunday/the-asian-advantage.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=00



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Korean Anglicans celebrate 125 years of mission, ministry

Eucharist combines Korean and Anglican traditions to mark anniversary

>  Click here for news and photos of the anniversary published by ENS, Episcopal News Service

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ENS - Complete Coverage of the International EAM Conference

ENS - Episcopal News Service has complete coverage of the recent International Episcopal Asian American Ministry Conference and Consultation convened in Seoul, South Korea.

Click on the web link below to see all of the ENS news reports from the EAM conferecne.

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/tag/asiamericaministries2015/

The link includes, among several news articles,  a VIDEO of the Presiding Bishop discussing the future of Asian America partnerships.




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Visit EAM Long Island on Facebook

ANNOUNCEMENT
from the 2015 EAM Co-Conveners:

EAM Long Island information is now also being posted on Facebook, in a private Facebook Group Page.

Here is the link to the EAM Group page:

https://www.facebook.com/login.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgroups%2F1484091951865834%2F



To see the private EAM Group page, use your personal Facebook login.





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RIP - The Rt. Rev. Dr. A. George Ninan

June 23, 2015

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

With deep sorrow, I write to inform you that the Rt. Rev. Dr. A. George Ninan, my brother bishop and friend, passed into the greater life on Sunday after a very recent diagnosis of pneumonia and a brief hospitalization. Bishop Ninan was both a leader for Asian Indian Christians globally and a faithful minister in our diocese, serving several of our parishes after his retirement from episcopal ministry and making confirmation visitations to many others. This is a hard loss for friends and admirers across the world, in our diocese, and may I say, for me, too.




Funeral Liturgy

Saturday, June 27, 2015, 9:30 a.m.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Pearl River

The Rt. Rev. Andrew R. St. John, Presiding

The Rt. Rev. Johncy Itty, Preaching 

Visiting Clergy: Cassock, Surplice, Tippet

Public Viewing
Friday, June 26, 2015
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
St. Stephen's, Pearl River


Born on August 4, 1934 in Kerala, India, Bishop Ninan was raised an Anglican. After studies at Leonard Theological College in Jabalpur, he was ordained in 1964 as an Anglican priest and began what became a ministry of global significance, serving in India, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Canada.

His ministry especially focused on the poor. During the 1970s, his leadership in the Bombay Urban Industrial League for Development (BUILD) and the innovative programmes he initiated to help people living in the slums of Mumbai manifested Christ's own mission to the poor. He encouraged committed Christians to minister in rural and urban situations of poverty and exploitation, and he urged the churches of India to advocate for the poor and participate in the struggle for social justice. From 1979 to 1985, Bishop Ninan served as Executive Secretary of the Urban Rural Mission of the Christian Conference of Asia, and the programs he developed to support pastors and church workers were at the forefront of the human rights movements in Asia. These programs aided church workers and human rights activists imprisoned by dictatorships, as well as leaders and activists of trade union movements working with the slum dwellers in many parts of Asia.

His gifts as a visionary, organizer, and practical theologian eventually led him to higher office within the churches of Asia. From 1985 to 1990, he served as the Associate General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia. In 1994, he began his ministry as the Bishop of Nasik, a diocese of the Church of North India, a united church of several Protestant denominations that is a successor to the Church of England.

Bishop Ninan and his wife Rachel, whom he married in 1961, first came to the United States during the 1970s for his doctoral studies at Phillips University in Oklahoma. They returned in 2004 to be near their three adult children and their grandchildren, making their home in our diocese. In the decade of his ministry among us, Bishop Ninan served as Vicar of All Saints' in Valley Cottage, Interim at St. Mary's, Scarborough, and Pastor of St. Andrew's, Brewster. He was also a beloved preacher and spiritual leader for Asian Indian Christians throughout the United States.

When he first came to the Diocese of New York, I was introduced to Bishop Ninan by two of our Indian priests with the words, "We would like you to meet a hero of human rights." A warm friendship quickly grew between us. Over time spent across the table from one another and in our common life in this diocese, I came to know and understand more of the courage and faith with which he advocated for Dalits in India and witnessed to justice and reconciliation within the wider Anglican Communion and Church.

I also came to know Bishop Ninan as he helped to build the Malayalam-speaking membership of All Saints', Valley Cottage, culminating in this congregation of the Church of South India choosing to accept the jurisdiction of the Bishop of New York and join The Episcopal Church. Today, All Saints' is a beautifully harmonious community of long-time Episcopalians and Malayalam-speaking Indian Christians. Just last April, we held a memorial service for the Reverend John Fredenburgh in our cathedral, and Bishop Ninan was present. On that occasion, he shared with me his memories of the holy partnership between that priest and this bishop in bringing to fulfillment the vision of the community which All Saints has become. I express my condolences to the Reverend Jacob Nanthicattu, a newly ordained priest in our diocese who now leads All Saints', for whom Bishop Ninan was a dear mentor and friend, and to all of our sisters and brothers in Christ in that good parish.

Bishop Ninan's funeral is expected to draw many Asian Indian clergy and will be a truly cross-cultural liturgy. Because of my responsibilities at General Convention, including the election that same day of The Episcopal Church's next Presiding Bishop, I profoundly regret that I will not be able to participate. To Bishop Andrew St. John, who will represent me, to Bishop Johncy Itty, who will preach, I extend my gratitude. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Episcopal Charities, in honor of Bishop Ninan's care for the poor.

Please remember our brother George in your prayers and at your altars, and please pray for God's consoling presence with Rachel, the children Reny, Reena and Rajive, their wider family, and all who mourn. With every good wish, I remain

Yours,

The Rt. Rev. Andrew M. L. Dietsche

Bishop of New York 

The General Theological Seminary will confer the Doctor of Divinity degree, honoris causa, on the Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin, at its 193rd Commencement ceremonies on May 20, 2015

Bishop Shin

The Rt. Rev. Allen Kunho Shin is Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of New York.

Born in South Korea, Shin and his family moved to Washington, D.C., in 1972, where he attended Gonzaga College High School, a Jesuit school for boys.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1983, majoring in Music/Vocal Performance. He then spent four years in New York City working as a professional singer, before taking up a position as the choir director at a Korean Episcopal church in Chicago.

Having gone through the discernment process in Chicago, Shin studied for his Master of Divinity degree at The General Theological Seminary in New York City, graduating in 1996. He was ordained to the diaconate in the Diocese of Chicago in June of that year, and to the priesthood in the Diocese of New York that December. Also in 1996, he was called as Curate/Assistant to the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in New York City, where he remained until 2001, at the same time taking up the position of Assistant Officer, Episcopal Asiamerica Ministry at the Episcopal Church Center, which he held until 1999.

In 2001, he earned the degree of Master of Sacred Theology from The General Theological Seminary. He then went to England where, from 2002 to 2005, he pursued post-graduate work in Patristic Studies at the University of Oxford. During the course of his studies, he also held the position of Honorary Assistant Priest at All Saints Church, Margaret Street, London. He remained at the University of Oxford from 2005 to 2010 as Fellow and Chaplain of Keble College.

Shin returned from England to the United States in 2010, to take up the position of Rector of St. John’s Church, Huntington, New York, in the Diocese of Long Island.



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“Celebrating Our Partnerships, Uniting Our Mission” September in Seoul, Korea

Episcopal Asian American Ministries Consultation 2015:
“Celebrating Our Partnerships, Uniting Our Mission”
September in Seoul, Korea

[May 7, 2015] Samuel McDonald, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mission for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, has announced that registration is now open for the Episcopal Asian American Ministries Consultation 2015, slated for Seoul, Korea September 30 – October 5.

“Celebrating our Partnerships, Uniting our Mission” is the theme of the event which will be held at the Anglican Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Nicholas, Seoul, Korea.

“The Consultation will provide new opportunities for renewal and celebration of the partnership in mission between The Episcopal Church and the churches in Asia,” commented the Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara, Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society missioner for Asian American Ministries.


With an invitation from the Most Rev. Paul Kim, Archbishop and Primate of the Church in Korea, the consultation also will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Anglican Church in Korea.
Keynote speakers include:

• The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church

• The Most Rev. Nathaniel Uematsu, Archbishop of Hokkaido and Primate of Japan Nippon Sei Ko Kai

• The Rt. Rev. Allen Shin, Suffragan Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of New York

• The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Yang, Former President of Songdonghoe University, Seoul, Korea


Workshops will explore various aspects including Congregational Development, Evangelism and Church Planting, Multi-ethnic and intercultural churches, Ministry of Reconciliation, Life Long Formation, Anglican Global Relations, Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and Issues Arising from the General Convention.

Registration is encouraged for clergy and lay from the Episcopal Asian American Ministries Convocations (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, South Asian and Southeast Asian parishes and missions), the churches in the Anglican Communion; and those in communion with The Episcopal Church including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Moravian Church and Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

For more information contact Angeline Cabanban, acabanban@episcopalchurch.org

Bishop Chilton Knudsen Makes a Pastoral Visit to St. John’s, Queens

Article by Daphne Palasi Andreades
Photos by Josie Solano and Ruth Balageo


Rain and icy weather did not deter Diocese of Long Island Assistant Bishop Chilton Knudsen from traveling to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Flushing, Queens, on January 18th, where eight young adults were to be confirmed.

Bishop Knudsen arrived smiling and brimming with energy to greet the candidates. She spoke with them before their confirmation.

Some candidates expressed nervousness before the ceremony. “I felt kind of scared for some reason,” said Beret Solano, age 15. “But after, I realized it wasn’t that bad, and I felt even closer to the church.”

According to the Book of Common Prayer, “Confirmation is the rite in which we express a mature commitment to Christ, and receive strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by a bishop”.

The thoughtfulness and hard work that was put into producing such a beautiful service was appreciated. Bishop Knudsen was the celebrant and preacher. She was assisted by the Rev. Deacon Charlie Perrin and the Very Rev. Dario Palasi.

The service featured hymns sung by the women of St. John’s and conducted by church organist Marjorie Longid. Other highlights included a closing contemporary song led by the St. John’s youth band, that included piano, guitar, bass and drums, and the traditional organ.

Another significant part of the service included a tribute to the Filipino cultural heritage of the primarily Filipino-based congregation. During the processional and recessional several men performed gangsa, an indigenous Filipino dance which uses gongs.

Following the Eucharist, members of St. John’s sung a lively song written in Tagalog pertaining to duty and responsibility.

The climax of the service undoubtedly was when Bishop Knudsen placed her hands on the candidates’ heads as they reconfirmed their commitment to Christ. Equally meaningful was when the congregation vowed to support each young adults’ walk with the Lord. Once all the candidates were confirmed, the congregation burst into a joyous applause.

“For me, being confirmed felt like a rite of passage,” said one candidate.

The celebration continued during the potluck luncheon that took place after the service. Fellowship included conversing over Filipino dishes such as lumpia, pancit, and menudo, the singing of songs, and more gangsa.

The congregation was delighted to learn that Bishop Knudsen spent her early years in Baguio, Philippines – where many of St. John’s Filipinos are from -- while her father was in the Navy. Bishop Knudsen stepped onto the stage to join two singers and a guitarist as they sang a Tagalog ballad, Dahil Sa Iyo, “Because of You,” which was met with cheers and much applause.

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Japanese and Korean Anglican Churches Celebrate 30 Years of Partnership

[Nippon Sei Ko Kai ] The Japanese and Korean Anglican Churches, which began official partnership in 1984, celebrated their 30th partnership anniversary October 20-23, 2014, on Jeju Island, Korea.

The Most Rev. Nathaniel Makoto Uematsu, primate of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai (the Anglican Church in Japan), and the Most Rev. Paul Keun Sang Kim, presiding bishop of the Anglican Church of Korea, convened the meeting of bishops, clergy and lay participants (including representatives of shared missions, women’s and youth groups) from the three Korean and 11 Japanese dioceses.

Both churches have been addressing various aspects of cooperation, such as the implementation of bilateral youth seminars, social study tours in Korea, the organizing of the World Anglican Peace Council and offering positions for Korean mission partners in Japan, as well as mutual attendance at several bishops’ consecrations since 2004’s 20th anniversary of the Korea-Japan Anglican Mission Partnership Conference.

There do remain, however, various challenges that must be overcome between the two countries at large, including differing interpretations of history, the issue of “comfort women,” and territorial disputes. 

Recently and especially, the problem of “Hate Speech” and rising anti-Korean sentiment in Japan have even drawn some serious attention from the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. They have warned that a result of such anti-social activities is the increased risk of criminal acts against the Korean minority.

In this 30th anniversary year of the partnership, both churches discussed their roles within the East Asian region, under the banner theme of “Life, Justice, and Peace,” and declared that the Korea-Japan Anglican Mission Partnership should reinforce its alliance and good relationship. 

The conference adopted a statement laying out 11 key issues to aid this, including various activities such as the continuing exchange of youth and women’s groups and defending the human rights of those in the minority.




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