Meet our Pastors
SUN JOO LEE
She was given to the Lee’s family in Chun-Chon, Korea, as the fourth blessing, followed by the fifth child, in her family. She has had tremendous joy in learning and endless curiosity, and ambition. She majored in Art and Early Childhood and Special Education and Theology. She wanted to be a designer so she came to New York from South Korea. Yet, she was ordained as an elder in the United Methodist Church in 2020. She currently serves as a pastor at the New Room Parish since July 1, 2023, and enjoys serving the young and old, the weak, the poor, the helpless, and the lost in the world. She is excited to grow every day with church members whom she serves toward Christian perfection. She enjoys interpreting Bible as well as artworks, reading, and hiking. Her first-received and favorite verse in the Bible is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV) "16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." |
REV. DR. CHINMA UCHE
Rev. Dr. Chinma Uche was born in Ogwuama, Ahiara, Imo State, Nigeria into an Anglican home where she participated in church activities with her siblings. Her parents brought them up with a focus on service to their community, and she learned very early that she wanted to be an educator. She holds Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mathematics, a Doctor of Philosophy in Biomathematics (Epidemiology), and a Master of Divinity degree in United Methodist Studies, with a focus on Religion and Social Justice. Pastor Uche’s marriage into a Methodist family, with a late and beloved Methodist clergy father-in-law, drew her to worship at North United Methodist Church (NUMC) in Hartford, Connecticut where she served in the Education and Prayer Ministries. Pastor Uche's work is partly guided by God's message to her through 2 Cor 1:3-4 which reads: "3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, 4 who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God." Pastor Uche has benefitted from the love and kindness of many people. She is privileged to serve in many advisory boards to address social justice issues and give back to the community. Pastor Uche served United Methodist Church of East Berlin from July 2021 to June 2022, after which she was appointed to the New Room Parish of the Connecticut district of the NYAC where she still serves. Pastor Uche is blessed with a wonderful family, a supportive husband (Dr. Uche Uche) and four wonderful adult children (Chinaza, Chiemerie, Chibuikem and Chinedum). Her daughter-in-law (Caitlin) and three grandchildren are added blessings for which she is enormously grateful to God. They remind her daily that with God all things are possible. |