ORLANDO, Fla. – Two items of business at the Korean Council’s annual meeting that could have resulted in a great deal of discussion instead drew little because of previous conversations at the local and regional levels.
The 45th annual gathering of the Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America took place Tuesday through Thursday, June 9-11, at Church at the Cross in Orlando, where Shawn Smith is pastor. Previous years’ Monday through Wednesday schedule was changed this year because many Koreans had requested more time to attend the SBC Annual Meeting, Executive Director James Kang told Baptist Press.
At the same time, the opportunity to gather in a large group with people from the same cultural background drew 950 Korean adults, teens and children to the Korean annual meeting.
“Attending the Korean Council’s annual meeting provides pastors with valuable opportunities for spiritual renewal, encouragement, and fellowship with fellow ministry leaders from across North America and beyond,” Kang said. “Through worship, biblical preaching, training sessions, and networking, pastors gain practical ministry insights, build meaningful partnerships, and are reminded that they are not serving alone in the work of advancing God’s Kingdom.”
As usual again this year, the 2026 SBC annual meeting’s “Walking Worthy” theme from Ephesians 4:13 was also used for the Korean Council’s gathering. Worship was led by Doosik Min and the First Korean-American Baptist Church of Pensacola worship team.
Kyung Won Song, pastor of Tacoma (Wash.) First Baptist Church and president of the Korean Council’s Home Mission Board, preached Tuesday evening from Philippians 3:1-14 on the need to “Rejoice in Christ Once More.” Edgar Sandoval Sr., president and CEO of World Vision, spoke Wednesday morning from Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:15-20 on “The Power of the Word of God.”
Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, preached Wednesday evening from Ephesians 3:8-13 on “God’s Mission for Korean Baptists.” Hochul Song, pastor of EverLove Church in Daejeon, South Korea, brought the final message Thursday evening from John 21:1-14, titled “Once Again, Before the Lord’s Grace.”
Eight breakout sessions on different aspects of ministry added to the spiritual and ministerial training of annual meeting participants.
“The preaching was highly relevant and deeply meaningful to the congregation,” Kang said. “Each message was timely, biblically grounded, and spoke directly to the needs of those in attendance. The sermons were a great source of grace and encouragement, providing comfort, strength, and renewed hope, especially for pastors and ministry leaders facing challenges in their service.”
Most of the meals were Korean fare, except for Wednesday evening’s barbecue provided by World Vision, and Thursday’s Chick-Fil-A lunch provided by the Korean Council.
Orlando Central Baptist Church, where Sun Kuk Kim is pastor, provided Tuesday’s dinner. The Harim Group, a Korean food company, provided Korean chicken and soup for Wednesday lunch. New Light Church of Tampa, Fla., where Seop Lee Kim is pastor, and Keystone Korean Baptist Church in Odessa, Fla., where Eun Bok Kim is pastor, provided Thursday evening’s dinner.
Reports
Seung Ryong (John) Jung, pastor of Richmond (Calif.) Korean Baptist Church, and president of Korean Baptist Overseas Mission Board (KBOM) reported 57 missionaries in at least 20 nations are being supported by the Korean Council’s 800 member churches. One new couple was appointed this year to serve in the Dominican Republic.
Later at this year’s annual meeting, Jung was elected first vice president and Jae Won Lee was elected KBOM president. Lee is pastor of Vision Connection Church of Atlanta.
The Korean Council is helping to support 15 churches, including eight church plants, Song reported in describing the work of the Home Mission Board. Pastors’ retreats, regional training and Zoom accountability sessions were additional aspects of the Korean Council’s year-round ministry, Kang reported.
Budget
Members approved a $2.16 million budget, which includes $1.17 million – 56 percent – for foreign missions and $358,000 – or 16.6 percent – for home missions. Kang serves as executive director/treasurer of the Korean Council.
Again this year, Korean Southern Baptists rallied to support victims of tragedy. This year it was $22,000 to help after major flooding in Texas.
“Even though there always seems to be another need each year, Korean churches continue to give sacrificially because they understand that God calls His people to bear one another’s burdens and serve those in need,” Kang said. “Their generosity reflects a commitment to living out the gospel through both word and deed.”
Member churches also gave extra – about $100/person – to help defray expenses for the 280 children and teens who went to Universal Studios for their big outing Wednesday.
Elections
Three officers were elected: President, Eun Bok Kim, pastor of Keystone Korean Baptist Church in Odessa, Fla. First Vice President is Seung Ryong (John) Jung, pastor of Richmond (Calif.) Korean Baptist Church. Second Vice President is Seung H. Choi, pastor of New Nation Church in Cupertino, Calif.
Other business
A vote to change several aspects of the Korean Council’s constitution and bylaws, to bring them to parity with those of the Southern Baptist Convention passed with limited discussion. The matter was first presented at last year’s annual meeting; brought back this year for yet another nearly unanimous vote.
Unique to the Korean Council, though, messengers to the annual meeting must have a pastoral role in the church, because pastors are more involved with the Korean Council, Kang said. Also, the churches where Korean Council officers come from must show two consecutive years of support to missions through the Cooperative Program.
Also, the executive director is limited to two terms but may be considered as a candidate for election alongside other candidates. The Council has also established a mandatory retirement age of 67 for the executive director.
Approval of a resolution regarding church polity passed with no discussion.
The Korean Council executive committee members, noticing a deviation from standard practice in recent years, discussed the matter and brought a resolution about it to members. Longtime pastors have begun to retire from churches they may have started, after which the churches, adapting a Presbyterian method, have begun adding to their bylaws a “reconfirmation” of a pastor’s call every four to five years.
“The pastor confidence vote (reaffirmation vote) system currently implemented in some affiliated churches lacks clear biblical basis and risks framing the pastoral office as subject to regular congregational evaluation rather than recognizing it as a spiritual calling based on God’s calling,” according to a document explaining the Korean Council’s recommendation for a resolution. It’s not a “rule,” since each Korean Southern Baptist church is autonomous, Kang said.
Messengers approved the following:
“The Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in America affirms that the pastor confidence vote system is not consistent with biblical church order nor with the historic polity and principles of the Southern Baptist Convention. Therefore, the Council recommends that affiliated churches refrain from adopting or implementing such a system and instead establish a biblically grounded accountability structure that upholds pastoral responsibility, spiritual oversight, and proper processes for evaluation and verification.”
Bottom line, Kang said, “One of the greatest needs in Korean churches is the development of the next generation of believers and leaders who are firmly grounded in Scripture and committed to the mission of the church. One of the greatest obstacles facing Korean churches is the aging of many congregations and the challenge of effectively connecting with younger generations.
“Korean churches have a unique opportunity to reach diverse communities through their strong commitment to missions, prayer, and church planting,” The executive director continued. “As immigration patterns and cultural demographics continue to change, churches can serve as bridges to share the gospel with both Korean and non-Korean populations, including younger generations and international communities.”
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