Overview
Asian Americans comprise 10 ethnic groups, who speak approximately 17 different languages: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Formosan (Taiwanese), Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, South Asian (including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Indonesian and Malaysian) and Vietnamese. There are approximately 1,200 Asian American United Methodist congregations, churches, fellowships and ministries in the United States.
In 1996, the United Methodist General Conference adopted the Asian American Language Ministry Study to explore and address ministry needs among Asian Americans. The 2004 and 2008 General Conferences both continued that initiative. The study has addressed ministry concerns of this racial/ethnic group in four areas: resource development, leadership development, congregational development, and community development. Plans are to expand it to include a Paglago (Filipino Ministry Plan) as well as other ethnic groups with emerging ministries.
Selected Bibilography
An, Choi Hee. KOREAN WOMEN AND GOD: EXPERIENCING GOD IN A MULTI-RELIGIOUIS COLONIAL CONTEXT (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Book, 2005).
Brock, Rita Nakashima; Kim, Jung Ha; Pui-Lan, Kwok; Yang, Seung Ai, Eds. OFF THE MENU: ASIAN AND ASIAN NORTH AMERICAN WOMEN'S RELIGION AND THEOLOGY (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007).
Cho, Eunice Hyunhye, Francisco Arguelles Paz y Puente, Mirian Ching Yoon Louie, and Shasha Khokha. BRIDGE BUILDING A RACE AND IMMIGRATION DIALOGUE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: A Popular Education Resource for Immigrant and Refugee and Community Organizers (Oakland: National Network of Immigrant and Refugee Rights, 2007). Contact Information: E-Mail: nnirr@nnirr.org. Website: www.nnirr.org. Also available in Spanish language and Korean language supplements.
Chou, Rosalind S. THE MYTH OF THE MODEL MINORITY: Asian Americans Facing Racism (Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers, 2008).
Hong, Maria, Ed. Growing Up Asian American: Stories of childhood, adolescence, and coming of age in America (New York: Avon Books, 1993).
Joh, Wonhee Anne. HEART OF THE CROSS: A Postcolonial Christology (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006).
Kim, Ai Ra. WOMEN STRUGGLING FOR A NEW LIFE: The Role of Religion in the Cultural Passage from Korea to America (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996).
Kim, Marion Kennedy, Ed. ONCE I HAD A DREAM: Stories told by Korean Women minjung (Hong Kong: Documentation for Action Groups in Asia, 1992).
Matsuoka, Fumitaka and Eleazar S. Fernandez, Eds., REALIZING THE AMERICA OF OUR HEARTS: Theological Voices of Asian Americans (St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2003).
Matsuoka, Fumitaka. OUT OF SILENCE: EMERGING THEMES IN ASIAN AMERICAN CHURCHES (Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2009).
Matsuoka, Fumitaka. THE COLOR OF FAITH: BUILDING COMMUNITY IN A MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY (Cleveland, OH: UC Press, 1998).
Ng, David, Ed. PEOPLE ON THE WAY: ASIAN NORTH AMERICANS DISCOVERING CHRIST, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1996).
Orevillo-Montenegro, Muriel. THE JESUS OF ASIAN WOMEN (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Book, 2006).
Park, Andrew Sung. RACIAL CONFLICT AND HEALING: An Asian-American Theological Perspective (Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2009).
Park, Andrew Sung. TRIUNE ATONEMENT: CHRIST'S HEALING FOR SINNERS, VICTIMS, AND THE WHOLE CREATION (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009).
Park. Jong Chun. CRAWL WITH GOD, DANCE IN THE SPIRIT: A Creative Formation of Korean Theology of the Spirit (Nashville: Abingdon, 1998).
Uchida, Yoshiko. DESERT EXILE: THE UPROOTING OF A JAPANESE-AMERICAN FAMILY (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1982).
