Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the WNCC: In Muk Kim

By: Jim Pyatt, WNCC Archivist & Historian

In Muk Kim

In Muk Kim was the first Asian-American to be elected as a delegate (clergy or lay) to Jurisdictional Conference from the WNC Conference.  He served in our conference’s delegation to Jurisdictional Conference in 1992 and 1996, and in the delegation to both General and Jurisdictional Conference in 2000. 

A member of Greensboro Korean UMC, he served as that church’s lay delegate to Annual Conference for a number of years.  Additionally, he served as a member of the Greensboro District Committee on the District Superintendency (1990-2001), the WNC Committee on Equitable Compensation (1987-99), and the General Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns (1992-96).  He also provided leadership as President of the Korean United Methodist Men of the Southeastern Jurisdiction (1991). 

Professionally, Mr. Kim is a clinical lab scientist at Alamance Memorial Hospital, Burlington.

Be sure to read the other biographies written by WNCC Archivist & Historian Jim Pyatt:
Rev. M. B. Lee McCrary, the first woman to become a full clergy member of the Western North Carolina Conference. 

Rev. Dolores Barus Queen, the first woman to serve as District Superintendent in the Western NC Conference.

Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer, the first (and to date, the only) woman to serve as Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference.

Mrs. Jettie Morrison, a key figure in the Women's Society of Christian Service and the integration of The United Methodist Church in 1968.

Bishop L. Scott Allen (May 4, 1918-September 18, 2004), the first (and to date, the only) African-American to serve as Bishop of the Western North Carolina Conference.

Mrs. Effie Miller (September 17, 1930-September 1, 2008), a leader in the Western North Carolina Conference and the United Methodist Church, especially with regard to the United Methodist Women.

The Rev. Dr. J. C. Peters (July 10, 1925- July 2, 1998), the first African-American to serve as a District Superintendent in the Western North Carolina Conference.

Mr. Clarence Winchester,  a leader in the North Carolina Conference (Central Jurisdiction) and in the WNC Conference.

Dr. Isaac Miller (September 26, 1920-November 1, 2008), a leader in Higher Education and in the United Methodist Church.