I currently pastor a new community of faith that is about 50-60% Asian (~100 adults total) in So. Cal. I do sense pressure both ways… On one side, I definitely feel like a minority in a dominantly Caucasian denomination. On the other hand, I never really felt totally embraced by Asian American churches as well. Although this may be the result of my life-long education in the dominant culture, I wonder if a third kind of option is available… not sure what it is yet.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my identity as an Asian American, specifically Korean American. This identity has afforded me even great opportunities within my own denomination in high levels of leadership (not that this the supreme goal). I just really love living in a community that is diverse. For me and my limited view, anything labeled Asian American, African American, Latino, etc… excludes the other groups (even if it is not necessarily the intentional attempt of a ministry). In any case, it is impossible, even I wanted (though I don’t), to ignore my ethnicity… I’m reminded everytime I look in the mirror.

I hope the future affords us the opportunity to connect more with one another. Appreciate your thoughts.

Forgive me. I don’t mean to belittle what is happening in terms of modern day slaves and human trafficking. The Asian American experience is a shadow of that type of slavery and is not mentioned to somehow remove the gravity to forced slavery. My point is merely that many Asian Americans do not recognize that we also are under a type of slavery, albeit not nearly to the degree as past or modern slaves.

While my language is inadequate at times in conveying it, I can’t help but think that we have lost a sense of cultural identity when Asian Americans opt out on caring for issues that impact us merely because they are not important to the dominant majority. That represents to me a “slave” mentality – again, these are loaded and blunt words and I confess that I have not yet learned to wield all of them well.

I do think that my language needs refinement. You say that the labels I’ve used are so limiting, but when it comes to faith, ethnicity, race, generation, and power, I’m attempting to articulate the complexity, not to simplify it. I hope you understand why I need conversations, such as the one we’re attempting to have on skype, so desperately in order to broaden my vocabulary. I invite you to help me refine my verbiage. My intent is not to offend but to bring understanding to the ways in which culture can inhibit or promote the gospel – less of the former and more of the latter.

Our cultural struggles (depending on one’s view) as Asian Americans (such a broad term to begin with) are nothing compared to modern-day slavery. In addition, the notion that people choose to becomes slaves because it is the better in a minor reality. David makes it sound like many choose this option, especially when taken analogous to the Asian American church.

I work with abolitionists around the world and I am pretty sure that “slavery” to “white” America (whatever this is reference to) is nothing like modern-day slavery.

For me, cultural uniqueness is better highlighted and celebrate sometimes in diversity and not mono-culture. In addition, generalizations and labels are so limiting…e.g., Asian American, 1st and 2nd generations, etc. Humanity is complex. David’s notes on maintaining cultural identity over-simplifies the issue in a world of contextualization and diverse family make-up.

I’m interested to see what comes out of your conversation on skype.