VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/20/15)—The topic of women in ministry has been an enduring, controversial subject in many denominations. How does the paradigm change when considering female immigrant clergy in the American Church? Here I Am: Faith Stories of Korean American Clergywoman unveils a rare perspective of the challenges Korean American women in ministry face, and it endeavors to prompt change in churches, communities, and homes.

Here I Am is a unique compilation of theological reflections and stories of faith from Korean American women in various forms of ministry in the church. These contributions provide a window of understanding into the trials of Korean American women in ministry—a window that may serve as a mirror for other women who know what it is to be marginalized, overlooked, or prejudged based on gender, ethnicity, culture, or appearance. Using various genres of expression—from sermons and theological reflections, to poetry and stories of personal journey, the writers add clarity, wisdom, and hope, enriching the overall landscape of literature in this field.

“These chapters are like flowers to the Korean American church, to women, to clergywomen, to the white dominant church. These words are acts of generosity, gifts of honest and loving wisdom.” —Laura Mariko Cheifetz, Executive Director of Church & Public Relations, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation

This one-of-a-kind book will encourage, inspire, and affirm Asian American women called to ministry, female clergywomen, and those who support women in ministry.

Grace Ji-Sun Kim, MDiv, PhD, is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Associate Professor of Theological Studies at Earlham School of Religion. She is author of numerous other books, including Embracing the Other: The Transformative Spirit of Love (2015) and Colonialism, Han, and the Transformative Spirit (2013). Her writings can be found at http://gracejisunkim.wordpress.com/.

Founded in 1824, Judson Press is a publishing ministry of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, American Baptist Churches USA. It is committed to producing Christ-centered leadership resources for the transformation of individuals, congregations, communities, and cultures.

American Baptist Home Mission Societies—the domestic mission arm of American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA)—ministers as the caring heart and serving hands of Jesus Christ across the United States and Puerto Rico through a multitude of initiatives that focus on discipleship, community, and justice.

American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with more than 5,200 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.