Very Reverend Sang Chul Lee
Very Reverend Sang Chul Lee
The Very Reverend Dr. Sang Chul Lee was the 32nd Moderator of the United Church of Canada, (B.D., Th.M., S.T.M., D.D., LL.D.).
Rev. Sang Chul Lee was born in a small farm house in Siberia near Vladivostok, Russia, the eldest son of five children from Do Il Lee and Do Soon Kim on February 29, 1924. He had two older sisters and two younger brothers. When he was seven he moved to Manchuria, where he converted to Christianity from Shamanism while attending a Canadian Mission Board school, as a way to cope with the brutality of Japanese-occupied Manchuria and Korea.
Rev. Lee came to Canada as a graduate student to study theology at Union College, Vancouver in 1961 and returned to South Korea in 1964 after completing his studies. As an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, he was a minister at several churches in Korea. In 1964, the United Church of Canada invited him to lead a parish in Vancouver, specifically in the predominantly Japanese village of Steveston. He arrived in Canada in July 1965 with his wife and three daughters and made Canada his home for the next 52 years. At Steveston United Church, he served a three-point charge comprising English, Japanese, and Korean-speaking congregations, requiring him to preach three sermons every Sunday in three different languages. Later he founded the Vancouver Korean United Church in 1966. He was a long-time minister at the Toronto Korean United Church, serving the large congregation from 1969 to 1988.
Rev. Lee was often described as a pastor, prophet, and pioneer who led a life that affected and influenced many through his vision and faith. He was elected as the President of Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada in 1985. He served as the 32nd Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 1988 to 1990. As Moderator, Rev. Lee lifted up the voices of the isolated and oppressed, tackling issues relating to LGBTQ rights, racial equality, and Indigenous affairs. As the first Asian-born Moderator in the United Church of Canada’s history, his leadership helped shape today’s United Church. He faced many contentious issues, including a rift in the church over the possible ordination of gay and lesbian ministers. Although the Rev. Lee admitted he felt conflicted on this matter, as Moderator, he handled the issue with grace and compassion, urging church members to “live together, struggle together, and grow together.” In addition, he built bridges between our church and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea. Further, Rev. Lee was named Rainbow Chief at the All Native Circle Conference in 1989 and was appointed Chancellor of Victoria University in the University of Toronto from 1992 until 1998.
Rev. Lee’s contributions as a pioneer in the Korean community in Canada are significant. He was the first Chairperson for the Korean-Canadian Association in Vancouver, B.C. This was the first Korean organization in Canada. He was a Board member of the Korean-Canadian Association, Metro Toronto; Chairperson for the Korean Human Rights Council; and involved in the Korean Scholars Association in North America, the North-American Coalition for Human Rights in Korea, the Council for Democracy in Korea, the Canada-Asia Working Group, and the Korean Mental Health Service. In addition, he was a columnist for a Korean Language newspaper and producer for Voice of Hope (a Korean Language Radio Broadcast).
Rev. Lee was a wise and gentle soul, full of humility and grace. Inclusivity, justice, and human dignity were paramount for him. His twinkling eyes, long white beard, and wonderful sense of humour are legendary. Behind his humor and joyful laughter lay an astute mind and a deep belief in the presence of God.
Rev. Lee is a recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Victoria University, Toronto, as well a recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Mount Allison University.
On January 28, 2017, he passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family at his home in Newmarket, Ontario. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Shin Jah, three daughters and their spouses, seven grandchildren and their spouses, and four great grandchildren.
Recommended reading to find out more about his religious journey:
The United Church’s Role: In Mission and Migration
Sources:
The United Church’s Role: In Mission and Migration
THE VERY REVEREND DR SANG CHUL LEE: Obituary
Humble Moderator Lifted Up the Voices of the Oppressed
By Julie Kim