Our History – 우리의 역사
The early 2000s – 2000 년대 초반
In 2003, a young gay man named Daniel Payne came to South Korea to work as an English teacher. He struggled with issues of faith, having been raised in the fundamentalist Christian tradition of the Freewill Baptist Church in his native Florida, USA. Yet, as he encountered gay people in the bars and clubs, and on the streets, he met people who suffered the same wounds and hurt he had experienced. Something stirred within him: ‘Something should be done!’ – so he went back to North America and got some further theological education in Canada, at the Atlantic School of Theology.
2003 년 Daniel Payne이라는 젊은 게이 남자가 한국에 와서 영어 선생님으로 일했습니다. 그는 고향인 미국 플로리다 주에 있는 Freewill 침례 교회의 근본주의 기독교 전통에서 제기된 신앙 문제로 어려움을 겪었습니다. 그러던 중 술집과 클럽, 거리에서 그 자신이 경험한 상처와 똑같은 상처로 고통 받는 동성애자들을 만났습니다. 뭔가가 그 안에서 움직였습니다. '뭔가 해야 해!' 그래서 그는 북미로 돌아가서 캐나다의 대서양 신학 대학에서 신학 교육을 받았습니다.
In 2003, a young gay man named Daniel Payne came to South Korea to work as an English teacher. He struggled with issues of faith, having been raised in the fundamentalist Christian tradition of the Freewill Baptist Church in his native Florida, USA. Yet, as he encountered gay people in the bars and clubs, and on the streets, he met people who suffered the same wounds and hurt he had experienced. Something stirred within him: ‘Something should be done!’ – so he went back to North America and got some further theological education in Canada, at the Atlantic School of Theology.
2003 년 Daniel Payne이라는 젊은 게이 남자가 한국에 와서 영어 선생님으로 일했습니다. 그는 고향인 미국 플로리다 주에 있는 Freewill 침례 교회의 근본주의 기독교 전통에서 제기된 신앙 문제로 어려움을 겪었습니다. 그러던 중 술집과 클럽, 거리에서 그 자신이 경험한 상처와 똑같은 상처로 고통 받는 동성애자들을 만났습니다. 뭔가가 그 안에서 움직였습니다. '뭔가 해야 해!' 그래서 그는 북미로 돌아가서 캐나다의 대서양 신학 대학에서 신학 교육을 받았습니다.
2011
Daniel Payne came back to Korea and worked again as an English teacher. This time, he met up with other gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people who felt the need to meet in a Christian community. On November 4, 2011, they held their first worship service as the Korea Rainbow Christian Fellowship (KRCF). Six people attended! During this time, finding a church home was very difficult. As soon as churches found out that they were affirming of sexual minorities and were not trying to convert them or ‘heal’ them, the Fellowship found doors slammed in their faces! They ended up meeting in a spa, then in a nightclub, and eventually in a music studio in the Haebangchon district in Korea. During this period, there was growth in the congregation as people, Korean and expatriate alike, came to understand that they too could be part of a Christian community. It was also during this time that Daniel became ‘The Reverend Daniel Payne’, an ordained pastor with the Progressive Christian Alliance (ProgCA), and the Fellowship changed its name to ‘Open Doors Community Church’.
2011년
다니엘 페인은 한국에 돌아와 영어 교사로 다시 일했습니다. 이번에 그는 게이, 레즈비언, 양성 애자, 트랜스 젠더 등 다른 사람들과 만남을 갖고 기독교 공동체에서 만날 필요성을 느꼈습니다. 2011 년 11 월 4 일, 첫 번째 예배를 한국 레인보우 크리스천 펠로우쉽 (KRCF)으로 개최했습니다. 6 명이 참석했습니다! 이 기간 동안 예배 드릴 장소를 찾는 것은 매우 어려웠습니다. 이 단체가 성소수자들을 지지하고 그들을 개종 시키려 하지 않는다는 것을 알게 되는 순간, 기존 교회들은 모두 면전에서 그들을 박대한다는 것을 깨닫게 되었습니다! 그들은 스파에서, 나이트 클럽에서, 그리고 마침내는 한국의 해방촌 (Haebangchon) 지역에 있는 한 음악 스튜디오에서 만남을 가졌습니다. 이 기간 동안, 한국인과 외국인 모두가 기독교 공동체의 일부가 될 수 있다는 사실을 알게 되면서 교회는 성장하기 시작했습니다. Daniel이 Progressive Christian Alliance (ProgCA)의 안수 목사가 되었고, Fellowship이 그 이름을 'Open Doors Community Church'로 변경한 것도 이 시기였습니다.
Daniel Payne came back to Korea and worked again as an English teacher. This time, he met up with other gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people who felt the need to meet in a Christian community. On November 4, 2011, they held their first worship service as the Korea Rainbow Christian Fellowship (KRCF). Six people attended! During this time, finding a church home was very difficult. As soon as churches found out that they were affirming of sexual minorities and were not trying to convert them or ‘heal’ them, the Fellowship found doors slammed in their faces! They ended up meeting in a spa, then in a nightclub, and eventually in a music studio in the Haebangchon district in Korea. During this period, there was growth in the congregation as people, Korean and expatriate alike, came to understand that they too could be part of a Christian community. It was also during this time that Daniel became ‘The Reverend Daniel Payne’, an ordained pastor with the Progressive Christian Alliance (ProgCA), and the Fellowship changed its name to ‘Open Doors Community Church’.
2011년
다니엘 페인은 한국에 돌아와 영어 교사로 다시 일했습니다. 이번에 그는 게이, 레즈비언, 양성 애자, 트랜스 젠더 등 다른 사람들과 만남을 갖고 기독교 공동체에서 만날 필요성을 느꼈습니다. 2011 년 11 월 4 일, 첫 번째 예배를 한국 레인보우 크리스천 펠로우쉽 (KRCF)으로 개최했습니다. 6 명이 참석했습니다! 이 기간 동안 예배 드릴 장소를 찾는 것은 매우 어려웠습니다. 이 단체가 성소수자들을 지지하고 그들을 개종 시키려 하지 않는다는 것을 알게 되는 순간, 기존 교회들은 모두 면전에서 그들을 박대한다는 것을 깨닫게 되었습니다! 그들은 스파에서, 나이트 클럽에서, 그리고 마침내는 한국의 해방촌 (Haebangchon) 지역에 있는 한 음악 스튜디오에서 만남을 가졌습니다. 이 기간 동안, 한국인과 외국인 모두가 기독교 공동체의 일부가 될 수 있다는 사실을 알게 되면서 교회는 성장하기 시작했습니다. Daniel이 Progressive Christian Alliance (ProgCA)의 안수 목사가 되었고, Fellowship이 그 이름을 'Open Doors Community Church'로 변경한 것도 이 시기였습니다.
2013
The World Council of Churches held its General Assembly in Busan, Korea, and Open Doors Community Church (ODCC) joined with other affirming churches in meeting with LGBT persons who were attending the Assembly, and in marching against the World Council of Churches’ continued inability to officially accept sexual minorities as full members of the international Christian church. During the General Assembly, members of ODCC met with representatives of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), the first denomination in the world to officially be a spiritual home for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer Christians. After discussions, ODCC was admitted as an Emerging Church of MCC, and became ‘Open Doors Metropolitan Community Church’ (ODMCC).
2013 년
세계 교회 협의회 (World Council of Churches)가 한국 부산에서 총회를 열고 열린 문 공동체 교회 (ODCC)는 총회에 참석하고 성적 소수자들을 공식적으로 국제 기독교 교회의 정회원으로 받아 들이기 위한 노력을 경시한 세계 교회 협의회 (World Council of Churches)의 계속된 무능력에 대항해 행진하는 LGBT 사람들과 만남으로써 다른 확증 교회들과 연계했습니다. 이 총회에서 ODCC 회원들은 게이, 레즈비언, 양성애자, 트랜스젠더 / 트랜스 섹슈얼, 그리고 퀴어 크리스천들의 영적 고향이 될 세계 최초의 교단인 MCC (Metropolitan Community Churches) 대표들을 만났습니다. 토론 후 ODCC는 MCC의 신흥 교회로 인정 받아 'ODMCC (Open Doors Metropolitan Community Church)'가 되었습니다.
The World Council of Churches held its General Assembly in Busan, Korea, and Open Doors Community Church (ODCC) joined with other affirming churches in meeting with LGBT persons who were attending the Assembly, and in marching against the World Council of Churches’ continued inability to officially accept sexual minorities as full members of the international Christian church. During the General Assembly, members of ODCC met with representatives of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), the first denomination in the world to officially be a spiritual home for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer Christians. After discussions, ODCC was admitted as an Emerging Church of MCC, and became ‘Open Doors Metropolitan Community Church’ (ODMCC).
2013 년
세계 교회 협의회 (World Council of Churches)가 한국 부산에서 총회를 열고 열린 문 공동체 교회 (ODCC)는 총회에 참석하고 성적 소수자들을 공식적으로 국제 기독교 교회의 정회원으로 받아 들이기 위한 노력을 경시한 세계 교회 협의회 (World Council of Churches)의 계속된 무능력에 대항해 행진하는 LGBT 사람들과 만남으로써 다른 확증 교회들과 연계했습니다. 이 총회에서 ODCC 회원들은 게이, 레즈비언, 양성애자, 트랜스젠더 / 트랜스 섹슈얼, 그리고 퀴어 크리스천들의 영적 고향이 될 세계 최초의 교단인 MCC (Metropolitan Community Churches) 대표들을 만났습니다. 토론 후 ODCC는 MCC의 신흥 교회로 인정 받아 'ODMCC (Open Doors Metropolitan Community Church)'가 되었습니다.
2014 – 2015
As can happen with people, Daniel’s spiritual views evolved, and he found the traditional expressions of Christianity insufficient for the direction in which his beliefs were going. At this time, a new person began attending ODMCC who would play an important part in its continuing history.
누구에게나 일어 날 수 있듯이, 다니엘의 영적 견해가 진화 했으며, 기독교의 전통적인 표현이 자신의 신념이 나아갈 방향에 대해 부족하다는 것을 알게 되었습니다. 이 때에 이 교회의 계속되는 역사에서 중요한 역할을 할 새로운 사람이 ODMCC에 참석하기 시작했습니다.
Craig Bartlett came back to Christian life and practice after being away for 17 years – in fact, his walking away from church coincided with his move from Canada to Korea to be an English teacher. He began attending ODMCC in May 2014, attracted by its ‘progressive’ stance. An agreement was reached that Craig would share in the worship leadership of ODMCC with Daniel, after which Craig decided to enter the discernment stage for ministry within the Progressive Christian Alliance. He was ordained as a pastor of the PCA in October 2015, and his ordination was confirmed by laying on of hands within the fellowship of ODMCC on November 20, 2015. During this period, Craig was officially received into the process of ministry preparation in MCC as a person ‘in formation’.
Craig Bartlett은 17 년 동안 멀어졌던 크리스천의 삶과 실천으로 돌아 왔습니다. 실제로 그는 캐나다의 교회에서 목회직을 물러나면서 한국으로 와 영어 선생이 되었습니다. 그는 2014 년 5 월 ODMCC에 참석하기 시작했으며, '진보적인 입장'에 매료되었습니다. 크레이그가 ODMCC의 목회 리더십을 다니엘과 공유 할 것이라는 합의에 도달 한 후, 크레이그는 프로 그레시브 크리스천 얼라이언스 내에서 사역 하기로 결정했습니다. 그는 2015 년 10 월에 PCA의 목사로 성임 되었고, 그의 안수는 2015 년 11 월 20 일 ODMCC의 교제 안에서 사역을 시작하였습니다. 이 기간 동안 크레이그는 MCC의 사역 준비 과정에 정식으로 받아 들여졌습니다.
As can happen with people, Daniel’s spiritual views evolved, and he found the traditional expressions of Christianity insufficient for the direction in which his beliefs were going. At this time, a new person began attending ODMCC who would play an important part in its continuing history.
누구에게나 일어 날 수 있듯이, 다니엘의 영적 견해가 진화 했으며, 기독교의 전통적인 표현이 자신의 신념이 나아갈 방향에 대해 부족하다는 것을 알게 되었습니다. 이 때에 이 교회의 계속되는 역사에서 중요한 역할을 할 새로운 사람이 ODMCC에 참석하기 시작했습니다.
Craig Bartlett came back to Christian life and practice after being away for 17 years – in fact, his walking away from church coincided with his move from Canada to Korea to be an English teacher. He began attending ODMCC in May 2014, attracted by its ‘progressive’ stance. An agreement was reached that Craig would share in the worship leadership of ODMCC with Daniel, after which Craig decided to enter the discernment stage for ministry within the Progressive Christian Alliance. He was ordained as a pastor of the PCA in October 2015, and his ordination was confirmed by laying on of hands within the fellowship of ODMCC on November 20, 2015. During this period, Craig was officially received into the process of ministry preparation in MCC as a person ‘in formation’.
Craig Bartlett은 17 년 동안 멀어졌던 크리스천의 삶과 실천으로 돌아 왔습니다. 실제로 그는 캐나다의 교회에서 목회직을 물러나면서 한국으로 와 영어 선생이 되었습니다. 그는 2014 년 5 월 ODMCC에 참석하기 시작했으며, '진보적인 입장'에 매료되었습니다. 크레이그가 ODMCC의 목회 리더십을 다니엘과 공유 할 것이라는 합의에 도달 한 후, 크레이그는 프로 그레시브 크리스천 얼라이언스 내에서 사역 하기로 결정했습니다. 그는 2015 년 10 월에 PCA의 목사로 성임 되었고, 그의 안수는 2015 년 11 월 20 일 ODMCC의 교제 안에서 사역을 시작하였습니다. 이 기간 동안 크레이그는 MCC의 사역 준비 과정에 정식으로 받아 들여졌습니다.
2016 – 2018
With Craig’s ordination, Daniel made the decision to withdraw from the leadership of ODMCC in March 2016, meaning that Craig officially became its pastor and leader. Daniel moved back to the United States in August 2016 with his newlywed husband, and became the Director of Faith Formation at Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church in Harvard, Massachusetts, USA.
Craig의 안수로 Daniel은 2016 년 3 월에 자신의 ODMCC의 리더십을 철회하겠다는 결정을 내 렸습니다. 이는 Craig가 공식적으로 목회자이자 지도자가 되었음을 의미합니다. 다니엘은 신혼 남편과 함께 2016 년 8 월에 미국으로 돌아 갔고 미국 매사추세츠 주 하버드 유니버설 교회 (Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church)에서 신앙 형성 담당 이사가 되었습니다.
In April 2017, ODMCC made the decision to move back to the Itaewon area of Seoul, where a significant proportion of the LGBT community is found in Seoul, and began meeting at a club called the LINK on Sundays. All the while, it continued to join together in worship, to make its presence known at the Korea Queer Culture Festival (KQCF), Seoul’s Pride festival, and to join other affirming churches and organizations in standing up for the full inclusion of sexual minorities in the church and society at large in the Republic of Korea.
2017 년 4 월, ODMCC는 LGBT 커뮤니티의 대부분이 위치한 서울에 있는 이태원 지역으로 이전하기로 결정했으며, 매주 일요일 LINK라는 클럽에서 만남을 갖습니다. 그 동안은 계속해서 예배를 가져오고 있고 서울의 프라이드 페스티벌인 KQCF (Korea Queer Culture Festival)에 참석하면서 그 존재를 널리 알리고 대한민국의 교회와 사회에서 성적 소수자를 지지하는 다른 교회 조직들과 합류했습니다.
With Craig’s ordination, Daniel made the decision to withdraw from the leadership of ODMCC in March 2016, meaning that Craig officially became its pastor and leader. Daniel moved back to the United States in August 2016 with his newlywed husband, and became the Director of Faith Formation at Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church in Harvard, Massachusetts, USA.
Craig의 안수로 Daniel은 2016 년 3 월에 자신의 ODMCC의 리더십을 철회하겠다는 결정을 내 렸습니다. 이는 Craig가 공식적으로 목회자이자 지도자가 되었음을 의미합니다. 다니엘은 신혼 남편과 함께 2016 년 8 월에 미국으로 돌아 갔고 미국 매사추세츠 주 하버드 유니버설 교회 (Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church)에서 신앙 형성 담당 이사가 되었습니다.
In April 2017, ODMCC made the decision to move back to the Itaewon area of Seoul, where a significant proportion of the LGBT community is found in Seoul, and began meeting at a club called the LINK on Sundays. All the while, it continued to join together in worship, to make its presence known at the Korea Queer Culture Festival (KQCF), Seoul’s Pride festival, and to join other affirming churches and organizations in standing up for the full inclusion of sexual minorities in the church and society at large in the Republic of Korea.
2017 년 4 월, ODMCC는 LGBT 커뮤니티의 대부분이 위치한 서울에 있는 이태원 지역으로 이전하기로 결정했으며, 매주 일요일 LINK라는 클럽에서 만남을 갖습니다. 그 동안은 계속해서 예배를 가져오고 있고 서울의 프라이드 페스티벌인 KQCF (Korea Queer Culture Festival)에 참석하면서 그 존재를 널리 알리고 대한민국의 교회와 사회에서 성적 소수자를 지지하는 다른 교회 조직들과 합류했습니다.
April 29, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018, was a very special day in ODMCC's history, as its pastoral leader, the Rev Craig Bartlett, was ordained as pastor in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). The presider and preacher for the ceremony was the Rev John Fowler, Formation and Leadership Coordinator for MCC in Australasia. We were also blessed with a solo musical contribution from Ms Jayleen Yu, longtime member of the Camarata Chorale and Chamber Singers. A representative of ODMCC, the Rev Catherine Christie (Overseas Partner, the United Church of Canada), and the Rev Park Jinyoung (Pastor, Rodem Community Church) also participated in the Rite of Ordination.
Sunday, April 29, 2018, was a very special day in ODMCC's history, as its pastoral leader, the Rev Craig Bartlett, was ordained as pastor in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). The presider and preacher for the ceremony was the Rev John Fowler, Formation and Leadership Coordinator for MCC in Australasia. We were also blessed with a solo musical contribution from Ms Jayleen Yu, longtime member of the Camarata Chorale and Chamber Singers. A representative of ODMCC, the Rev Catherine Christie (Overseas Partner, the United Church of Canada), and the Rev Park Jinyoung (Pastor, Rodem Community Church) also participated in the Rite of Ordination.
2019-now
The status of our meeting place in Itaewon, the LINK, required us to make a sudden change in our meeting place. Consequently, we moved in January 2019 to the 'L Space' near the Miasageori Intersection, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. We had access to two excellent rooms - a hall for larger worship services, and a room for smaller gatherings.
After some time there, Rev Craig decided to pursue a teaching opportunity in Vietnam, and ODMCC decided to change its status from an Emerging Church to an Oasis Spiritual Community*. This allowed for greater flexibility in meeting time and place, which suited the community better.
Rev Craig found it necessary to return to Korea in March 2020, and during the spring and summer, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide, he met with members of the community who were interested in re-starting Open Doors as an Emerging Church. As a first step, we started meeting twice a month on Wednesdays at a study café in Seoul. When the 'August bump' in COVID cases occurred, we decided to begin meeting online, which we do now. Although out numbers are small, we currently have a committed core of people who wish to work together to grow and strengthen this community so that it may be a functioning congregation within the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
We hope you'll join us in this exciting task, full of possibility.
'I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?' (Isaiah 43:19a, NRSV)
* More detail on the Oasis Network is available on http://www.mccoasis.org/.
The status of our meeting place in Itaewon, the LINK, required us to make a sudden change in our meeting place. Consequently, we moved in January 2019 to the 'L Space' near the Miasageori Intersection, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. We had access to two excellent rooms - a hall for larger worship services, and a room for smaller gatherings.
After some time there, Rev Craig decided to pursue a teaching opportunity in Vietnam, and ODMCC decided to change its status from an Emerging Church to an Oasis Spiritual Community*. This allowed for greater flexibility in meeting time and place, which suited the community better.
Rev Craig found it necessary to return to Korea in March 2020, and during the spring and summer, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide, he met with members of the community who were interested in re-starting Open Doors as an Emerging Church. As a first step, we started meeting twice a month on Wednesdays at a study café in Seoul. When the 'August bump' in COVID cases occurred, we decided to begin meeting online, which we do now. Although out numbers are small, we currently have a committed core of people who wish to work together to grow and strengthen this community so that it may be a functioning congregation within the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.
We hope you'll join us in this exciting task, full of possibility.
'I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?' (Isaiah 43:19a, NRSV)
* More detail on the Oasis Network is available on http://www.mccoasis.org/.