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Minister accused of sexual misconduct remains ordained

A Presbyterian oversight group refused to defrock a Korean American minister following allegations of sexual misconduct, reports Ministry Watch.

The decision came before an investigation by WBEZ of Pastor Min Joshua Chung of the Covenant Fellowship Church on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus.

The church consists of predominantly a Korean American congregation.

Anne Rhee (not her real name) recalled when she began to kiss a male friend from church. She says he then began to force himself on her and pull his pants down until she pushed him off and ran into the bathroom, locking the door until he left. She is convinced she would have been raped if he could.

Rhee told WBEZ she reported the incident to Pastor Chung.

“He said, ‘Your parents are well-respected members of their church, your father’s an elder [at their church],’ ” Rhee recalled. “ ‘If they found out, they would be devastated and … you know how people talk, and I wouldn’t want them to have to go through that.’ ”

Chung discouraged her from reporting the incident to police.

Another woman reported to Chung that she had been raped repeatedly.

“It was very much like, ‘Why do you think you got into this relationship? Why do you think you’re staying for so long?’ ”

Chung is also accused of covering up accusations of sexual abuse against a fellow pastor as well as admitting to inappropriately touching a female congregant for a brief moment.

Chung turned over leadership of the church he founded in 2019 to a team of associate pastors, according to Ministry Watch.

A vote by the Presbyterian oversight group on July 13 to remove Chung as a minister failed to get the necessary 2/3 vote.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Not every religious leader is trained in handling the needs of sexual assault victims… They should assist with reporting to the appropriate authorities and seek referrals to the victim services and professional counseling services!!!

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