Emily Dwyer finds hope in the kindness, generosity, and community spirit of the Sumdol Hyanglin church in South Korea.
On my first full day in South Korea, I was welcomed into the small but mighty congregation of the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Sumdol Hyanglin PROK Church, in Seoul. This church has been a refuge and a community of love and acceptance for LGTBQIA+ people and allies for over a decade. As I walked through the doors, still a little jet-lagged from the long flight and the time difference, and awed by the beauty and culture in my first visit to Asia, I was welcomed by the giant smile of Reverend Kim Susanna, Senior Minister. She had come into this post only a few months prior.
Our initial exchange showed how, for the most meaningful forms of human connection, sometimes a perfect command of mutually understood spoken language isn’t required. Rev. Susanna was not very comfortable in English, and my Korean language skills are non-existent. In the church’s sitting room, I was offered corn husk tea, and was shown, through tearful eyes, a beautiful green tree with a rainbow flag. In the tree hung many notes of love and appreciation in memory Rev. Lim Borah, the first minister of the congregation, who had died in early 2023.
“We miss Rev. Lim Borah a lot. I miss her.” Rev. Susanna showed me an embroidered cloth with the crest of The United Church of Canada. “Rev. Lim had this prominently on her desk. The United Church of Canada meant a lot to her; it was a symbol of hope of what could be.”
I asked if I could write a short note for the tree. With the help of online translation apps, we crafted a message of love and thanks to the late Rev. Lim on behalf of The United Church of Canada. After looking through the bookshelves housing several copies of The Queer Bible Commentary that Rev. Lim helped translate to Korean and get published, we walked down to the basement to a small accessible room filled with diverse community members: some families, a handful of kids, some older folks, and a lot of youth in rainbow socks with cool hair. Almost a third of participants were involved in making the joyful music that was woven throughout the service.
The Sumdol community decided that their church would be a democratic, participatory one. The minister offered the initial sermon and engaged with the kids on today's topic: child labour. Another congregant, an older organic farmer, read from the Bible and showed pictures of her organic farming techniques, weaving in biblical interpretations with commentary on the political-economic situation (“… such a high percent of produce is imported into Korea, we’re going to be food insecure… see this picture of an imperfect looking vegetable I grew? You wouldn’t find this in a store…”). She used some pruned branches as visual aids. The congregation was enthralled by her remarks, actively joined in her interactive Q&A, and periodically erupted in communal laughter.
I was invited to share words of solidarity and brought messages of greeting and gratitude on behalf of The United Church of Canada, shared a short prayer “For Those Who Mourn”, and spoke to examples of holding out hope beyond what might seem to be currently possible; how struggles for human rights, dignity, love, and compassion can be long and hard-fought.
Every week the congregants take turns preparing lunch; we shared a delightful home-cooked meal together before leaving.
The road has not been easy for the Sumdol Hyanglin congregation. It was not easy for Rev. Lim Borah, nor is it today for LGBTQIA+ persons in South Korea. The latest developments in Korean mainstream society and segments of Korean churches show that the struggle for the full rights and dignity of LGBTQIA+ persons will continue. The community-spirit, mutual solidarity, and love for one another that was palpable from each and every member of this congregation, and the kindness and generosity of their new minister to carry on Rev. Lim Borah’s legacy, gives me hope. I also hope and trust that The United Church of Canada—both at the General Council level and among congregants—will continue to build and deepen relationships of mutual radical solidarity with Sumdol Hyanglin Church for a long time to come.
What a joy during Pride Month to reflect back on this year’s visit to this small but oh so mighty congregation in Seoul.
—Emily Dwyer is the Government Relations Officer at The United Church of Canada. In May 2024, Emily represented the United Church at an ecumenical gathering of Asian Human Rights Defenders hosted by Mission and Service partner, the National Council of Churches in Korea.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.