Dr. Christine Hong

According to Louisville Seminary President Dr. Michael Jinkins, the design of a faculty position combining worship and evangelism was a creative response by the seminary to meet the needs of the church.

"I applaud the imagination and vision of our dean, faculty and trustees who are seeking in the creation of this teaching position to address the concerns and hopes we all have for the future of the church," said Jinkins. "We believe that Dr. Hong is a perfect fit for this new position. Faculty members and students were impressed by Dr. Hong's intercultural engagement and exceptional interpersonal skills, her imagination, creativity, liveliness and sense of joy, her broad range of disciplinary knowledge (which I think we can credit to her Ph.D. in practical theology) and her deep identity as a pastor. She stands out as one of the most creative young people in our church today."

Hong received her doctorate in practical theology (specifically in religious education) from Claremont School of Theology (Claremont, Calif.), her Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary (Princeton, N.J.), and her Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and communications from the University of Washington (Seattle, Wash.).

"I am delighted to join the esteemed faculty at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary," said Hong, who is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church. "I look forward to being part of the community and life of the school, particularly in the classroom, where I feel privileged to explore God's call alongside future colleagues in ministry."

Hong serves as co-convener/Interreligious Table and co-convener/national Muslim and Christian Dialogue for the National Council of Churches. She was also the interfaith outreach coordinator for New Vision Partners, special assistant to the director for the Center for Global Peacebuilding, and a social media specialist for Claremont School of Theology. She currently serves on the executive council for Religions for Peace (U.S.A.). Hong's book, Identity, Youth, and Gender in the Korean American Church, will be published by Palgrave Pivot later this year.