2017 Alumna Navigates Faith and Culture with Heart and Mind

It has been a year of transition in many ways for 2017 M.Div. alumna Rev. Bomi Kim. After becoming ordained as a provisional member in the North Georgia Conference in The United Methodist Church and getting married in summer 2020, she began serving as Associate Pastor at McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church in Powder Springs, Georgia, this last September. 

Bomi and her husband are primarily working from their parsonage home, a convenient 5-minute walk from the church. Some of her areas of ministry include Communications, Women’s Ministry, and Newcomers’ Ministry. The pandemic, she noted, seems to have little affected newcomers wanting to check out the church, even as virtual meetings have become the norm. Small groups continue to thrive, and Bomi is looking forward to engaging with mothers of preschoolers this year—especially as she is expecting her own first child this coming May.

Bomi is Korean and came to the United States in 2014 to attend CST. When Bomi first joined the church, the congregants introduced her to the old tradition of “pounding,” in which congregants shower a new pastor with gifts. The word originates from gifting a pound of food such as sugar, flour, or coffee. Bomi explained: “When a new pastor comes, they celebrate and welcome them, giving them tissue, detergent, condiments, and just little goodies. I received really good Southern hospitality.”

Bomi has been discovering some of the cultural and theological opportunities and challenges of ministering at a primarily Caucasian, theologically traditional, Southern church. The rich spectrum of theological experiences she has had in Korea and the United States is intentionally informing her work: “I’m really thankful for what I learned and experienced at CST,” Bomi explained. “I grew up in conservative churches [in Korea], so I can understand these people too. I’m learning and navigating what kind of pastor I can be for [this congregation].”

Bomi’s experiences at McEachern Memorial have also prompted her to consider what aspects of her own early spirituality she may have been neglecting as her theology has become more progressive over the years. In progressive faith communities in California, she noted, having an emotional religious experience may not always be understood or affirmed, and people can sometimes lean into cynicism or an overemphasis on a purely intellectual faith. Bomi described her congregation as inspiringly dedicated, prayerful, and faithful:

“They are very passionate about sharing good news with the world,” Bomi said. “It reminds me of my first encounter of and love of God [in which] something happened that I cannot explain. My heart being warmed. Tears came and I was so in love with God. As I grew up and experienced more theological knowledge, I’ve appreciated other perspectives in thinking about God. But sometimes I feel like I’m losing that previous experience, and now I’m trying to combine them. [This community is] helping me. We can learn from them.”

Although Bomi is now serving in a culture different from her own in various ways, her connections across the country and the world—especially with other United Methodist ministers and fellow Asian women clergy and theologians—have served as a nurturing, grounding force for her. She is grateful to be located near Emory University where she has close friends, some of them former classmates from Methodist Theological University in Seoul. She also stays in touch with CST professors: “Sometimes if I have a question, I‘ll email them or Facebook message them, and they are happy to help me,” Bomi said. “That is such a blessing to me.”

This year Bomi is looking forward to getting to know her congregation further, incorporating more of her training in eco-justice into her ministry, and caring for her baby-to-come.