Young Korean American United Methodist clergy in the New York Annual Conference are playing soccer as a way to stay physically and mentally fit, share information about ministry and take care of their families.
In recent years, United Methodist clergy have been able to rest their bodies, but not their minds or spirits. Many Korean American clergy are serving Korean American churches and other faith communities in The United Methodist Church during a very difficult time.
In the midst of this difficult journey, there is a soccer club where Korean American pastors can come together for exercise, fellowship, support and encouragement.
An interview with the soccer club coaches
The New York Conference Korean Pastors' Soccer Club is owned by Jesus and coached by Head Coach, Rev. Jinwoo Kim. The First coach is Rev. Daeho Choi, and the assistant coach is Rev. Seabuek Lee. Here is what they shared about the club:
How was the Korean Pastors' Soccer Club started?
The Korean American Pastors' Soccer Club was started as a way to fellowship with pastoral colleagues and is comprised of Korean American pastors in the New York Annual Conference. The team was founded on September 13, 2022, when they organized their first friendly game with pastors from the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.
How many members are there, what are their qualifications, and how often do they practice?
Although we serve together in The United Methodist Church in the New York Annual Conference, and even with pastors from the neighboring Greater New Jersey Annual Conference across the Hudson River, we have few opportunities to meet, so we started a soccer club for healthy ministry and fellowship.
The Korean American Pastors' Soccer Club is a fellowship and requires membership. However, membership is open to anyone. The only requirements are that the pastor be a member of the New York Annual Conference, have a desire to play soccer, and be physically fit enough to play for five minutes. Being a pastor is a full-time job, so it's not always easy for everyone to get together, but we practice and meet regularly, avoiding big church events like Advent and Lent.
Why do young pastors seek out soccer clubs?
The reason why members are interested in joining the club is because they have to attend various meetings within the church, district and annual conference, and it is a way to relieve the fatigue and stress of pastoring three or four churches. In particular, unlike a regular soccer club, Korean American pastors come together under the umbrella of The United Methodist Church to play soccer and empathize with each other and give each other strength, so it fills a need that each other has been thirsting for.
There are many more exercises that Korean American pastors can do individually, such as swimming, walking, hiking and golfing, but it's hard to experience the joy of sweating and teamwork together. The appeal of soccer is that it’s a team sport where people don't just get together to play because they like soccer – playing with ministry colleagues is another driving force.
Finally, Korean American pastors, who often live far away and minister in different cultures, even in the same conference, participate in soccer clubs because the opportunity to come together to exercise and sweat, followed by the fellowship of a meal and conversation, allows them to connect with other pastors in similar circumstances and affirms that they are not alone.
What is the connection between soccer and faith?
I think there are more connections between playing soccer and practicing faith as a pastor than you might think. First of all, when you play soccer, you have a team of people and each person has their own position. Whether you're ministering in a local church, district or conference, you're on a team, and whether you're ministering in a local church, district, or conference, your pastor or bishop will assign you a position based on your gifts.
In soccer teams, people are placed according to their athletic ability, and in ministry, people are placed according to their gifts. This doesn't mean that one position is more important than the other; they are equally important. The same is true for gifts.
In fact, athleticism declines significantly with age. We’ve already had two injuries in the soccer club. Pastoral ministry is always about ministering to people who are physically, mentally or spiritually injured, just as soccer is about praying for each other's recovery, building fellowship and bringing the team together. In the same way, pastoral ministry is about praying for members who are physically and mentally ill, building fellowship and bringing the body of Christ together.
Finally, practicing and playing soccer is a time to have a healthy mind and body and to build strength and stamina to continue to play as a heavenly athlete who ministers on earth.
How has soccer affected the pastors' personal lives?
While some members of the New York Korean Pastors' Soccer Club are not yet married, most are married and have families. When the soccer club meets, they invite their families to join them for a barbecue or to play soccer with their children, and the spouses of the pastors have a time of fellowship with each other, and the children have a time of fellowship with the other children.
The club also meets at various locations, not just at a stadium or church in New York City, and visits the actual churches where the members pastor, and shares ministry-related stories together, so that the members can feel that they are all running together toward God's holy will, even though they may have been called to different places.
The soccer club members have created a group chat room to share not only soccer and health stories, but also pastoral resources, such as premarital counseling and Confirmation class materials, to expand their ministry to one another.
What are the challenges of running a soccer club?
It hurts me that Korean American pastors are living with invisible physical and mental illnesses. More than just a gathering to play soccer for health and enjoyment, I think the care and prayer of Korean American pastors for each other is what keeps the club going.
Pastors often hear about someone's pain, but they rarely have the time and space to share their own pain and stories. I'm grateful that the soccer club is a place where we can share the things that are hard to talk about with anyone, even close friends and family members, and where we can rejoice, grieve, struggle and pray together. If the soccer team can help each member achieve a healthy ministry and a happy family, I am satisfied.
What is the vision of the New York Korean Pastors Soccer Club?
I hope that the culture of a healthy soccer club where we can be healthy in body and mind, share information related to ministry, and take care of our families will be passed on to other Korean American pastors. In the future, I pray and hope that there will be Korean pastors' soccer clubs not only in the New York Conference, but also in other conferences, and that there will be regional soccer tournaments organized by the Korean General Conference when the Korean General Conference is held.
The Rev. CheonEui Oh is an ordained United Methodist minister who serves as the manager of Korean/Asian Leader Resources. He can be reached at coh@umcom.org.