About 50 Korean United Methodists as well as supporters protest against the dismissal of Korean Pastors by the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church the rally took place in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Parishioners kneel on the street to pray against what they called the racial bullying of Korean Pastors by the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Glen Haworth the Lead Pastor for 'The Fount expresses his feelings about the dismissal of Korean Pastors by the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Parishioners from the Korean United Methodists as well as supporters hold signs to protest against the dismissal of Korean Pastors in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Members of the National Leadership of Korean Churches lead the rally against the dismissal of Korean Pastors in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
About 50 Korean United Methodists as well as supporters protest against the dismissal of Korean Pastors by the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church the rally took place in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
A protest against the dismissal of Korean Pastors by the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church the rally took place in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
About 50 Korean United Methodists as well as supporters protest against the dismissal of Korean Pastors by the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church the rally took place in front of the United Methodist Church on Euclid Ave in Pasadena, Friday, May 21, 2021. (Photo by James Carbone)
Several Korean American pastors and dozens of supporters rallied Friday outside the Pasadena offices of the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church to protest what they described as the “racial bullying” of the pastors by Bishop Grant Hagiya, the resident United Methodist bishop for Los Angeles.
The controversy erupted after Bishop Hagiya abruptly removed three Korean pastors from their local churches, according to the Wesleyan Covenant Association.
The congregations are resisting Hagiya’s actions, the WCA reported.
The United Methodist Church has recently been roiled by controversy over the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and whether to accept same-sex marriage.
In March, conservative leaders within the church announced they would form a new denomination, the Global Methodist Church, with a doctrine that does not recognize same-sex marriage.
According to First United Methodist of Pasadena pastor Rev. Sandra K. Olewine, the removed Korean American pastors and some of their congregants feel that the pastors’ removals may have been related to “theological difference.”
Olewine pointed out “there’s a lot of call for division in our denomination” over the LGBTQ+ issue.
The protestors, however, focused exclusively on their allegation of racism against the Bishop and did not refer to the LGBTQ+ issue.
“The racial animus the Bishop demonstrates towards the Koreans is completely contrary to the values of the Gospel and unworthy of a leader of the church,” said Deborah Kwak, a member of Bell Memorial UMC, in Rowland Heights.