A Place at the Table: Hoeun Lee

“There is a place for you in The United Church of Canada. Despite the challenges of racism and cultural pressures, the church offers a space where individuals can be their authentic selves and celebrate diversity.”

Hoeun Lee, originally from South Korea, now serves as the minister of First United Church in Waterloo, Ontario. His journey to Canada began in 2017, driven by a desire to find a new home and a more inclusive faith community.

Hoeun faced increasing homophobia and exclusion in his former denomination, which caused him to consider leaving his calling as a minister. However, in The United Church of Canada, which he describes as one of the most progressive and inclusive denominations in the world, he found hope and a place where he could truly belong.

Hoeun believes The United Church of Canada plays a crucial role in society, not just within Canada but globally. Reflecting on the historical support Canadian missionaries provided to Korean people during the colonial era under Japan, Hoeun sees the church’s mission as reaffirming radical inclusivity and expressing God’s love to all. He emphasizes that the church must embrace the reality of a diverse and rapidly changing society to survive and thrive.

For Hoeun, “A Place at the Table” challenges racism and cultural pressures, offering a space where individuals can be their authentic selves and celebrate diversity. Hoeun’s message to newcomers is clear: there is a place for you in The United Church of Canada.

Hoeun smiling, wearing glasses, and a multi-coloured stole over a white and pink top

Rev. Hoeun Lee was ordained in Korea in 2012 and admitted to the United Church’s Order of Ministry in 2020. After six years in Saskatchewan, Hoeun moved to Waterloo, Ontario, with his partner, Yoonjoo, and their daughter, Jaye. He now serves First United Church, helping reimagine what it means to be the church today.