Korean American female pastors push back against patriarchy


By AGENCY

Lee’s success story is rare in the realm of Korean American churches, where women are seldom seen in the pulpits. Photos: AP

When the Rev. Kyunglim Shin Lee was ordained in 1988, it angered her in-laws for contravening long-held Korean cultural values subordinating women’s roles in society.

Even her husband, a pastor, told her he understood intellectually "but his heart couldn’t accept it.”Those reactions broke Lee’s heart – and steeled her resolve. Today she is vice president for international relations at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC; has traveled to 60 countries as the seminary's ambassador; and once served as interim lead pastor at a Korean American church for 11 months. Along the journey, she visualised herself as a speeding train.

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