Ethno-cultural Associations

In the late 1950s, when the Korean peninsula was in political, economic, and spiritual turmoil, the first Korean immigrants left their homeland and crossed the Pacific Ocean toward Canada. They came with the desire to build new lives after the Korean War, seeking God's guidance and blessings in their new land.

Hundreds of Koreans settled in Toronto and Montréal, and over the next few decades, Korean Christians began gathering privately in homes for fellowship and support.

Life in Canada was difficult for early Korean immigrants-many were lonely and missed their families back in their home country. Seeking affiliation with a Christian denomination, Korean Canadians recalled their positive experiences with Canadian missionaries in Korea. Many were familiar with and eager to join The United Church of Canada.

In the years between 1965 and 1967, Korean Canadians gathered simultaneously in the major cities of Montréal, Toronto, and Vancouver. These communities of faith marked the establishment of the first Korean congregations of The United Church of Canada. In 1967, when Canada adopted a more liberal immigration policy, the number of Koreans arriving in Canada increased sharply.

For many Korean immigrants, church came to represent not only a centre for worship but also the heart of ethno-cultural life. The church became a community centre and place of support for newcomers to the country. Korean Canadians were not only seeking a church, but also longed to retain their own culture, language, and customs in their place of worship.

The first gathering of Korean Canadian congregations of the United Church took place in Vancouver in 1968; the meeting included clergy, elders, and lay people. These early gatherings focused on mutual support for new Korean Canadians in United Church congregations, and conducted their meetings largely in the Korean language. With the formation of the Ethnic Ministries Council in 1996, the Association began to widen its support to include male and female laity in Korean congregations, Korean seminary students, and Korean clergy serving ethnic majority congregations. The Association also began to concentrate on leadership training for Korean youth and young adults. The women of Korean United Church congregations are active in celebrating women's ministry.

Korean Canadian ministers, many of whom have trained in United Church theological schools, also serve in ethnic majority congregations across Canada. A Korean minister, the Very Rev. Dr. Sang Chul Lee, was the first chair of the National Ethnic Committee and served as Moderator of The United Church of Canada from 1988 to 1990.

In early 2004, the Korean Association divided its support into two geographic regions: the Western Region (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) and the Eastern Region (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, PEI). The two regions facilitate local programming throughout the year to minimize cross-country travel, and they meet as a large group for their annual general meeting and continuing education.

The Association of Korean Congregations meets as a community for fellowship and to share joys, struggles, and Korean heritage with the younger generation. The Association translates some Christian educational resources from English into Korean for congregational use. In its mission statement, the Association explains that in the Holy Spirit, it seeks to nurture fellowship and solidarity, cultivate spiritual growth, and support local ministries among the Korean United Church congregations in Canada.

Today, more than 40 years after the first large wave of Korean immigration, those affiliated with the Korean Association include first-generation Korean Canadians, as well as their second- and third-generation descendants who speak English as their first language. Hence, meetings are now held in both Korean and English.

The Association of Korean Congregations is composed of 13 pastoral charges in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec.