<p><span style="color: #006dd7;" data-ke-size="size23"><b>LGBTQ groups raise funds for expelled Korean pastor</b></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #6164c6;" data-ke-size="size20"><b>Methodist pastor was expelled by a Church court on Dec. 8 for blessing gay people during a festival in 2019</b></span></p><div class="figure-img" data-ke-type="image" data-ke-style="alignCenter" data-ke-mobilestyle="widthOrigin"><img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/bfa1642e779970db9b571f0557ea3c5bb979b781" class="txc-image" data-img-src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/bfa1642e779970db9b571f0557ea3c5bb979b781" data-origin-width="1100" data-origin-height="740"></div><p>South Korean Methodist pastor Lee Dong-hwan has been expelled for allegedly sympathizing with homosexuality. (Photo: Facebook via Korea Herald)</p><div class="figure-img" data-ke-type="image" data-ke-style="alignCenter" data-ke-mobilestyle="widthOrigin"><img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/479bc99edab01caa4f1a0bc432aa01e4c25aca3a" class="txc-image" data-img-src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/479bc99edab01caa4f1a0bc432aa01e4c25aca3a" data-origin-width="171" data-origin-height="171"></div><p>By<span> </span><a style="color: #00aeef;" href="https://www.ucanews.com/author/uca-news-reporter" target="_top" class="ke-link">UCA News reporter</a></p><p>Published: December 11, 2023 08:28 AM GMT</p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">Groups campaigning for LGBTQ+ rights in<span> </span><a style="color: #00aeef;" href="https://www.ucanews.com/directory/country/korea/16?utm_source=in-pg-referral&utm_medium=in-pg-referral&utm_campaign=in-pg-referral&utm_id=in-pg-referral" target="_top" class="ke-link">South Korea</a><span> </span>have started a fundraising campaign for a Methodist pastor who was expelled from his church for allegedly blessing gay people at a festival, reports say.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">Groups including the South Korean Coalition for Anti-Discrimination Legislation and Rainbow Jesus — a group consisting of Christians in the LGBTQ+ community — will support<span> </span>Lee Dong-hwan<span> </span>"all the way,"<span> </span>the Korean Herald<span> </span>reported on Dec. 10.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">The groups are conducting a fundraiser for the fees required for the judicial process within the Korean Methodist Church (KMC).</span></p><div class="figure-img" data-ke-type="image" data-ke-style="alignCenter" data-ke-mobilestyle="widthOrigin"><img src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/ef6b5878122e028d8549d6d442d92b005dc2a92f" class="txc-image" data-img-src="https://t1.daumcdn.net/cafeattach/1Bg5E/ef6b5878122e028d8549d6d442d92b005dc2a92f" data-origin-width="1280" data-origin-height="234"></div><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">Many churches in South Korea require such fees, and Lee has to pay 7 million won (US$5,300) in order to appeal his case, the report said.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">A judicial committee ruled that Lee be expelled, the highest punishment the KMC can mete out, on Dec. 8.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">The committee claimed Lee had violated a church law that states one shall not "agree or sympathize with homosexuality."</span></p><blockquote><span data-ke-size="size20"><b>"Today’s ruling is something to be angry about"</b></span></blockquote><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">Lee received a two-year suspension from the KMC for blessing a same-sex couple in 2019 and founded Christian LGBTQ+ rights group, Q&A, in April of last year.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">He told reporters after the committee's decision that it was expected and vowed to continue engaging with the church.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">“It was an expected result, and I approached the trial with the mindset of making a statement to the denomination, but in the end, the sentence was excommunication,” Kyunghyang Shinmun<span> </span>reported him as saying on Dec. 8.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">“Nevertheless, I will not give up on talking to you. Today’s ruling is something to be angry about, but let’s not focus our hearts on hatred,” he added.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">“We will be with Pastor Lee until the end,” the LGBTQ groups said in a statement on Dec. 10.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">Kim Eun-seon, an LGBTQ activist, said their fight for justice for the pastor and their community will continue.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">“After Pastor Lee was sentenced to be excommunicated, we held the first service in honor of Human Rights Sunday. I am very upset that the church members and pastor are suffering. </span></p><p style="text-align: start;"> </p><p style="text-align: start;"><span data-ke-size="size20">But we pledge to embrace each other and fight for these rights,” Kyunghyang Shinmun<span> </span>reported him as saying.</span></p>
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