Contributions from the 2nd Gen?

[John Lee]

As an effort to better organize, I'm going to post Sam's recent message
in this discussion topic.

Sam wrote:
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Hey, I'm new at this forum and blogging stuff so please be patient with
me.

While I think that the 1st gen church has messed up things for the next
generation and are still in denial, I think that the 2nd gen needs to
take the initiative and responsibility to move ahead and not repeat the
mistakes of the previous generation. The question for me is whether
this undertaking needs to be fostered within the present environment of
ethnic church or to start new in independant church setting. Both
present some enormous challenges. While the situation in almost every
Korean-American church is similar, the situation in independant church
plants is diverse. I agree that the 2nd gen is fragmented but there is
a common cry for something better. How can we leverage this to become
a church that is relevant and vibrant to pursue and contribute to His
global church?

I look forward to your responses, ideas and efforts to revive this part
of God's kingdom.

...Sam

[John Lee]

Speaking from a 2nd Gen Korean perspective, I think that while the 2nd
Gen needs to do something about our plight, I don't know if creating an
Independent church really solves anything. If that just means 2nd Gens
leaving the 1st Gen to create their own churches, then I've seen enough
churches in Chicago do that and they are still equally exclusive and
prideful. Louis told me that in L.A., while there are so many 2nd Gen
ministries around (connected to 1st Gen or otherwise), they still don't
do many joint events because of that "it's all about us" attitude - you
know, that Hermit Kingdom mentality.

I honestly believe that's exactly why we need to approach this problem
from outside of the Church. An independent organization like this could
really help become a think tank, if you will, that tackles the problems
that the 1st and 2nd Gen churches struggle with. But I'm no fool and
think that we would be invulnerable to the very pride and stubbornness
or a cultural identity that most churches deal with. We would have to
be open and honest with one another and have a form of accountability
and responsibility toward one another - it makes it easier for us,
because there's no untouchable senior pastor in place.

[David Park]

My two cents.

It becomes increasingly harder for me to blame the 1st generation. I
think what they've done under the circumstances has been very difficult
and the immigrant mentality and serving the ethnic community is to a
great deal, their purpose and their niche.
Obviously, that is not a high priority for the 2nd gen, except in terms
of recovering of maintaining a link to our mother cultures. When 2nd
gen churches become independent then, which as John and you mention,
there is a real need to ask why. If it's to maintain a semblance of the
mother culture, the argument for church planting becomes pretty thin.
If it simply to be "churched", well technically there's no shortage of
churches, so there's not a strong argument there. What I think is
feasible, is somewhere in the middle ground, which is why I think the
2nd gen is a twilight generation, a church that addresses a historical
Asian theology and a restorative place to repent for cultural sins and
bring out cultural giftings. The outcome of which might be "graduating"
people to participate and contribute to deeper multi-ethnic churches or
healthier ethnic churches, but I think that the ministry directly to
2nd gen should be highly contextualized with the emphasis on the
apostolic, meaning there should be an intentionality to send people
back out, not simply create buildings that draw people in at an
appointed hour for an appointed message.
But more and more, while I am beginning to appreciate the immigrant
church for what it is, I find the notion of 2nd generation churches
able to sustain an exclusive, distinct subculture to be highly
untenable. It seems to me that it leans less towards spiritual health
and reconciliation and more towards comfort and cheap community, both
of which I can't make an argument for with the Gospel I read.