An Asian Lutheran, that got to be rare!

Friend sent me this sermon, the quality of the sound is a bit poor, and it took me by surprise. First, it was an interesting and very stimulating sermon with lots of hidden sublime messages. The ending was a bit weak, but then this guy was apparently preaching in a Lutheran congregation (ELCA). Second, this is an Asian guy and by his last name he maybe Korean. Third, as a Korean, I am not sure why he is not pursuing ordination within the PCUSA denomination.

Still, the sermon is quite good. He has great potential. But, I do wish him the best of luck in a very racist denomination. C'mon, honestly, with 96% white demographic one can't but think this is a racist denomination. I know that not all of them are racist but merely biased preference toward white color. I know that the ELCA is doing lots of work to attract Hispanics, but with all honesty what denomination is not trying to court Hispanics. The Hispanic demographic is the fastest growing demographic and every mainline denomination knows that without the Hispanic demographic the mainline church will keep on dwindling. So if you are Hispanic and you speak Spanish, all the denomination will be courting after you so play your cards right.

It is still hard to believe that the ELCA is close to 97% white. Rural America is more diverse than that. The ELCA and all of the other Lutheran sects have the lowest number of minorities. I know three Asians, who have left the ELCA and one left the LCMS, because they couldn't get a first call and after three years they were asked to reapply to the whole process of entering the ELCA call process, apparently that is the rule in the ELCA - not sure what the rule is at the LCMS. So, they all left the Lutheran traditions and went to other denominations and in their first year they all found churches to pastor. So, I really want to wish this guy the best. But my advise to him is to start looking for another job because if one is not white or Hispanic, one will have a real hard time getting hired as a pastor. The only other possibility is if this guy has some amazing and incredible background like living among the poorest in the world or fighting against oppression to the point of being endangered to lose one's life or being eccentric-punk for Christ or a guru for the "emerging" denomination or some other stuff. This is a very exclusive denomination; they are quite "gringo." He has a better chance to become Scandinavian than to become an Asian pastor in the ELCA.

http://www.pmlc.org/files/prestonmeadow/files/Sermon%202010-10-2.mp3

He really needs to change denomination. Be an Episcopalian, you have a better chance at becoming a priest than becoming a pastor in the ELCA. And with all honesty, we, the Episcopalians, are always looking to steal good candidates from other denominations and traditions (e.g., 'Father Oprah').