Leadership Summary
Rev. JW Park was appointed as the first Asian American District Superintendent in 229 years of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. JW was the Dean of Cabinet for four years and has been serving the Central Maryland District for the last eight years. His motivation and high emotional intelligence provide a professional environment for working with a diverse population. JW’s ministry focus is making disciples of Jesus Christ, bringing harmony/reconciliation among the people. He has a high interest in racial harmony, inclusiveness, and justice issues. JW has extensive experience working with multi-racial congregations through cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments. He is astute with financial management.
Ministry Experience
Fairhaven UMC, Gaithersburg: 7/2001 – 6/2013
Emmarts UMC, Woodlawn: 7/1996 – 6/2001
Dorguth Memorial UMC, Baltimore, and Trinity UMC, Odenton: 7/1992 – 6/1996
Trinity UMC, Odenton: 7/1991 – 6/1996
United College Ministry in Nothern Virginia: 2/1990 – 6/1991
Education
Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, M.Div.
Phillips University, Enid, OK, MBA
Hankook University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, South Korea, MBA.
KyungGi University, Seoul, Korea, BA.
Professional Experience
A clergy member of Baltimore Washington Annual Conference.
Ordained as a deacon in 1992 and as an elder in 1995.
Elected as the General Conference delegate in 2012 and 2016.
Elected as a reserved delegate for the General Conference in 2020.
Elected as the NEJ Jurisdictional Conference delegate in 2020.
Chaired the Committee on Episcopacy in the BWC.
Served the NEJ Finance Committee.
Member of the NEJ Korean-American Mission Council.
Served as the President of the National Association for Korean-American UM Pastors Serving
Cross-Racial and Cross-Cultural Appointment.
Served in the conference Board of Ordained Ministry for twelve years.
Served member of the Conference Trustees.
Bishop’s Retreat Committee
Annual Conference Worship Committee
President of Korean Caucus of Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Served the District Committee on Ordained Ministry for sixteen years.
Family
JW’s wife, Rev. Dr. HiRho Park, is also an ordained clergy of the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference. He has a daughter, Felicia Park, and she is married to Jesse Baker. He has a canine daughter, Mandoo (Dumpling in Korean).
Hobbies and Interests
Cooking, reading, meeting with people, working on a car, caring for animals, traveling
Contact Pastor Park
Email: jwpark@stmatthews-bowie.org