On Monday, November 17 Bishop Hee-Soo Jung and a small delegation of Cabinet members and local church clergy from the East and West Ohio Conferences participated in breaking ground for the new Scranton Memorial Hall and Memorial Church in Seoul.

In his address at the ceremony, Bishop Jung celebrated the work begun 140 years by Mary Scranton and her son William Scranton, who traveled from Ohio to become the first Methodist missionaries to Korea.

“This story is not a chapter frozen in the past. It is a living testimony to what courageous faith can accomplish. And now, once again, we hear the Holy Spirit inviting us to join that journey,” Bishop Jung said.

In his sermon “The Church Contains God’s Story” Bishop Jung-suk Kim, president of the Council of Bishops of the Korean Methodist Church, said, "the church is not simply a place to commemorate past history, but a space to convey God's promises and hope to future generations."

Bishop Seong-bok Kim of the Seoul Annual Conference, spoke of the deep connection between the Korean Methodist Church and Ohio United Methodists and shared, “It seems like the Scranton’s dedication from 140 years ago has come back to life for us today.”

Bishop Jung echoed the deep connection between Korea and Ohio and offered that the Ohio Episcopal Area will walk alongside the laity and clergy of the Korean Methodist Church in the construction of Memorial Hall and Memorial Church and the ministries it will foster.

“Supporting the construction of the Scranton Mission Center in Seoul is not simply financial support or participation. It is an act of honoring our spiritual heritage and renewing our responsibility for mission. It is a statement of faith in which we declare, ‘we remember the missionaries we sent and we continue the work they began,’” Bishop Jung declared.

Spiritual Revivals Happening in Korea and Ohio

Bishop Jung proclaimed that a “sending” church becomes a Spirit-filled church, and a “giving” church becomes a growing church. He emphasized that both the Korean Methodist Church and The United Methodist Church in East and West Ohio are modeling that to the communities they serve.

“Whenever the Church steps into global mission, something powerful happens within us. Mission awakens our imagination. It revitalizes our spirituality. It reignites our calling,” Bishop Jung shared. “Today, East Ohio and West Ohio are moving forward with a shared vision, empowered by the Holy Spirit through Multiply Ohio and Fresh Starts and New Beginnings to establish 100 new worshiping communities. We are investing in emerging generations, building leadership pipelines, and preparing for renewal. In this moment, our partnership with the Korean Methodist Church becomes a spark of spiritual revival for Ohio itself.”

Construction on the 2,200-square-foot Scranton Memorial Hall and Memorial Church should be completed in October 2026. When opened it will offer training in spiritual formation to pastors and laity, teach and collaborate with students and scholars on mission strategy, and nurture multicultural and international partnerships.

View the DangDang News article and click on the English translation.