Worship Weblog

Report #1 from Korean Worship and Music Conference

Posted by cicw

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Report from Paul Ryan, filed last week from Decatur, Georgia:

This week I am attending the 12th annual Korean Worship and Music Conference at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. I am one of two non-Koreans attending the conference (the other is David Gambrel from the Office of Worship for the PCUSA). I am here as a workshop presenter, learner, and observer. After one day of worship and learning my heart is filled with gratitude for the creative worship experiences, meaningful conversations, gracious hospitality, and for testimonies of the good work of God within and among the Korean-American churches.

This is the 12 annual conference, meeting for the second time at Columbia Theological Seminary. The conference is being held at CTS in part by funding provided by the worship renewal grants program of CICW. CTS has been a wonderful location and is a good connection to an area that boasts one of the fasting growing populations of Korean-Americans. I’m told that Korean Americans in Atlanta are over 100,000 strong.

The conference is well-attended. Over 80 people have registered including children. The conference could also be considered a retreat. Families have come together and most conferees have the opportunity to lodge right on campus. During the conference a separate track is offered for children and youth. In these sessions, the children and youth prepare elements to be used in the worship service. Because of this, the worship services have been intergenerational!

Along with the track for children and youth three other tracks are offered. One track is for pastors on worship and preaching, a second is for church music, and a third is on emerging worship. These tracks meet twice daily. In addition to these tracks each morning begins with a plenary and each afternoon offers additional practical workshops open to all the conferees. On Monday morning we had the privilege of hearing speak Don Saliers, emeritus professor of worship at Candler School of Theology.

A highlight of the conference has been the worship services. Each service has been highly creative, participatory, intergenerational, bi-lingual, visual, dramatic and eclectic musically while at the same time following a classic pattern of worship. Helen Cha-Pyo, Charles Ryu, and Paul Huh have been winsome, infectious, and gracious liturgists and song leaders. In the services we have meditated on music, visited prayer stations, experienced silence, heard the Word of God preached, held stones, picked up seeds, eaten watermelon, viewed dramatized scripture readings and projected images, listened to the sound of pouring water and torn fabric, given high fives, and processed congregationally into the worship space taking two steps forward and one step back. (And this was just the first day!). All the elements have been artfully and sensitively done. I’ve heard that it has been overwhelming for some, but all have shown willingness to participate.

Dr. Paul Huh, conference director, Paul Yang, assistant director, and their team have a done a wonderful job in putting together this 12th annual conference for Korean-American Presbyterians. The learning has been deep, the conversations have been rich, and all are feeling inspired and encouraged to lead their congregations in worship.

Tags: conferences, culture, Korean-Americans, pryan