Bethesda UMC Embraces Diversity

Bethesda United Methodist Church (BUMC) welcomes the church’s first Asian American pastor, Rev. Dr. HiRho Park on July 1. She will serve as the church’s lead pastor and at her side will be Rev. Scott Bostic, the church’s first African American pastor who has served at BUMC for the last three years as the Associate Pastor. Together they hope to lead this active, service-minded congregation into a new era of ministry, one where people of all ages, races, and ethnicities can come together to serve God and make a difference in the community and beyond.

After getting her bachelor’s degree in South Korea, Rev. HiRho received her Master of Divinity degree at Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, OK. She went on to earn an International Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology from Boston University. After a number of pastoral appointments in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the UMC, Rev. HiRho began serving as Executive Director of Professional Development including digital education with the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education & Ministry, a position she held for 15 years. Most recently, she served as the Vice President of International Relations and Advancement at Huree University, the only Methodist-related school in Mongolia. Here is how Rev. HiRho summed up her life’s work: "I am an example of someone whose life has changed due to my experience living in the United States, where diversity has historically been a serious agenda. That has fueled my passion for creating diversity, equity, and inclusion within institutions – a passion for creating opportunities and leading institutional changes that allow people to realize their full potential."

BUMC is a reconciling congregation that welcomes faith seekers of all sexual orientations and gender identities to participate fully in the ministries of the church (BUMC Welcoming Statement). The church has thriving ministries for all ages including children, youth, and young adults. The congregation has a long history of service and partnerships with community non-profits. Current outreach efforts center around the areas of gun violence prevention, racial justice, foster care and hunger ministries.