Brutal language used in disruption of service
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, July 25, 2005
A translation of the Korean-language service June 26 at First Presbyterian Church in Torrance, Calif., captures some of the bitterness, name-calling and unheeded pleas for peace that revealed deep and angry resentments.
According to a member of the majority, whose translation of the service was requested by The Layman Online, brutal language was used by members of the minority faction when they intruded on the service and tried unsuccessfully to have General Assembly Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase take over the pulpit. Ufford-Chase later said he regretted his involvement in disrupting the service.
The video of the service without translation clearly shows that the minority faction noisily protested the service by having their representatives from the Presbytery of Hanmi, the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii and the denomination mill around the chancel area, interrupting prayers and singing and attempting to physically grab the microphone.
But the transcript depicts an even more volatile setting. The translator quotes members of the minority faction, while outside the sanctuary, calling one majority member an “S.O.B.” and referring to others as “bastards.”
The translator’s transcript also includes a number of quotes from the Torrance majority in which they repeatedly appealed to peace and urged the intruders not to disrupt the service.
With a membership of 2,700 at the end of 2004, First Presbyterian in Torrance was the largest Korean congregation in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The congregation voted 781-144 earlier this year to leave the PCUSA. Both the majority and the minority claim that they own the property, a dispute that is being argued in Los Angeles Superior Court.
The Rev. Philip Park, pastor of the majority, opened the worship service. According to the translator, Park said, “Let us prepare our hearts for worship. And let us pray that we may have a peaceful worship this morning. Pray for orderliness and for God’s grace. Let’s all pray aloud.”
The translator added his own observations: “Prayer led by Rev. Park for peace and unity; shouting in the background by intruders in the pews; followed by organ playing. AC [joint synod-presbytery administrative commission] moderator giving a disruptive speech.”
According to the translator, the Rev. Song Kyu Pak, another minister serving the majority, went to the pulpit and said, “We have guests from the denomination that have nothing to do with us.” Noting that this was a point at which minority faction members attempted to forcibly grab the microphone, the translator quoted Pak as saying, “Let’s all sing hymn number 91.” The translator also noted that the “AC moderator joins in.”
Following the hymn, the translator quoted Pak as referring to Superior Court Judge David Yaffe as saying that the majority could not bar the minority from use of the building for its own worship services.
“Judge Yaffe ruled that we worship as we will, and that, if these people want to have their own worship, we both should agree upon a proper time to accommodate them besides our regular worship time,” Pak said, according to the translator. “If you intrude on our worship like this when Judge Yaffe did not even sign the ruling, know that you all are legally liable. We are taking pictures and video recording everything. Please do not disrupt our worship service. Please do not disrupt our holy worship service to God. This is a temple where holy God resides. Please do not disrupt our worship service in God’s temple. You are committing illegal act. We are worshiping legally based on what the judge ruled. You are breaking the law. You will give account to your actions later. We will continue to lead our worship. You cannot commit such atrocity if you believe in God and call yourselves Christians. We invite you to participate in our worship service. We welcome you all to participate in our worship service. We welcome you all who came this morning. Let’s all give a round of applause to everyone who came to our worship service this morning. We welcome you all in Christ’s love. We welcome you all, however, I will preside over the service. Now I will lead worship service. Let’s begin our worship with silent meditation.”
The translator said that plea was followed by members of the opposition “grabbing microphone; yelling and shouting to disrupt … Opposition leaders yelling their people not to participate in the worship service.”
Pak was quoted as continuing the call to worship by saying, “We welcome these guests, but I will preside over the service. Therefore, please do not disturb our worship service … again, we will begin our worship. Let’s sing one more hymn. We’ll sing hymn 91 once more.”
After the hymn, the translator said Pak continued: “Let’s all clap to God’s glory. To our God who is worthy to receive our worship, our precious Lord, we give all glory and honor. We have seats in the front. All those who are in the back standing, please come to the front and let’s rearrange our sitting properly. The place would look better if all of you in the back standing can come to the front and fill in the front seats. Please come to the front from the back. And we will begin our worship shortly. We expected this and we responded well under the given circumstances. I thank you. Please do not be startled. I thank all the elders, especially retired elders. Let’s all begin our worship service with silent prayer as we listen to organ playing.”
The translator described the events: “Rev. SK Pak asks Rev. Philip Park to preside. Call to worship by Rev. Park. Hymn singing led by Rev. Philip Park as the intruders are walking up to the podium. Opposition people are crowding around Rev. Pak to entrap him.”
Following the sequence of events in the order that they were arranged for the production of a DVD that was previously sent to The Layman Online, the translator noted what was happening outside just before the 11 a.m. service began.
“People waiting to march into church. Man (our side): ‘What is your membership number?’ Taller man in dark glasses from opposition: ‘Go out there.’ Shorter man in glasses from opposition: ‘Hey, you S.O.B.! S.O.B.! S.O.B.!’ Two men from opposition are restraining him. Man: ‘How old are you?’ SMO [opposition member]: ‘Don’t talk to me S.O.B.”
The translator continued his description: “Opposition group is marching in along with some of our people coming to worship. Our people and some of theirs are looking at the billboard we put up, asking them to be peaceful and telling them that they are welcome so long as they don’t make any disturbance, in which case they will be accountable for their actions.”
“Opposition people are intruding on podium,” the translator said, describing the scene after minority faction members entered the sanctuary. “Opposition leaders are crowding around pastor, demanding an answer. Voices [from opposition]: ‘Are you refusing us worship?’ Rev. Pak stands up. Elder Paul Kim (AC chairperson): ‘You are right. What you are saying is that you are refusing us worship, right?’ Other voices. Rev. Pak standing up again. Rev. Pak: ‘You are welcome to participate in our worship.’ Majority elder Peter Ki Sung Lee: ‘We told you clearly that we will lead worship.’ Argument going back and forth. Opposition member conversing with our lawyer. Elder Paul Kim (AC chairman): ‘We followed a proper procedure to gather here …”
The translator quoted Pak: “‘These individuals …’ (Microphone is grabbed.) ‘Let’s sing hymn 91. Hymn 91.’ Yelling from the opposition. Rev. Pak: ‘According to Judge Yaffe, we need to enter into agreement to decide when they can come and worship.’ Clapping. ‘This is the temple, where Holy God is. Please do not disturb worship in God’s temple. We will deal with all [legal matters] later on. But for now we will worship. If you believe in God and call yourselves Christians, you cannot commit this act. I welcome all who came today. Let’s begin our worship with silent prayer.’ Yelling; organ begins.”
Translator: “Man 1 and 2 arguing. Opposition man clowning around. Man in dark glasses (opposition): ‘Which bastards are congregation members? Which bastards?’ Man on our side: ‘Listen, deacon. We are civil people.’ People are walking in from the parking lot. The lady passing out bulletins is from the opposition. They had bulletins all prepared. Ufford-Chase laughing out loud while worship was going on, only to be shushed by the AC moderator.”