The Pastor's Page
Rev. Eunice Kim, Pastor

Rev. Eunice Kim was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, the youngest of five children. Throughout her youth and young adulthood, she learned invaluable life lessons from her spiritually strong mother, which influenced her faith journey and call to pastoral ministry.

 

After graduating high school, she attended Ewha Women's University in South Korea where she earned a Bachelor of Political Science. Following graduation, she worked as a middle school teacher and as a magazine editor. And in 1987, she moved to the United States and earned an MEd in Elementary Education from The City University of New York.

 

Rev. Kim brings a diversity of experience to her ministry in the United Methodist Church having served both in the United States and abroad for 35 years. South Korea from 1974-1987. And multiple churches across New York State: Brooklyn (1987-1989), Queens (1989-1999), Buffalo (1999-2004), Syracuse (2004-2011), Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial UMC in Binghamton (2011-2015), Williamson UMC (2015-2016), Wolcott Faith UMC (2016-2018), and Fleming Federated Church (2017-2018). During this time, she served in a variety of clerical roles and in college campus ministry. She also volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, Bible study leader, voice and bell choir member, youth leader, and in Conference and District roles.

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In 2003 she served with a mission team that helped establish a new church in Kazakhstan and established the ecumenical youth center at Wolcott Faith UMC.

 

Rev. Kim served as Campus Ministry Director for over 15 years for the University at Buffalo, SUNY Buffalo State College, Syracuse University, Onondaga Community College, Binghamton University, Broome Community College, and Davis College. In addition, she also worked as an ESL teacher.

 

In 2014, God led Rev. Kim to pursue graduate studies in theology. She began a Master of Divinity at Drew University and completed her studies at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School where she received her M.Div. in 2017. After graduation, she was commissioned as a provisional elder and served in that capacity for a year, concurrently, at churches in Fleming and Wolcott, New York.

 

In July 2018, God called Rev. Kim as pastor to First United Methodist Church of Cortland. She is the church's first female and Korean American pastor. In June 2019 she received ordination as an elder to serve as a minister, to lead, teach, and provide pastoral guidance in United Methodist Church congregations. 

 

Cortland First United Methodist Church offers a variety of ministries for children, youth, and adults. Pastor Eunice is passionate about sharing God’s love and grace through mission and ministry, and growing disciples through coaching and mentoring. Currently she also serves as a College Board member (Upper New York Conference) and as a District level SPPRC member (Finger Lake District).

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Rev. Eunice Kim is married to Rev. Hyun Joon Kim, a United Methodist pastor concurrently serving four Upper New York Conference UMC churches in East Homer, Truxton, McGraw, and Marathon. Eunice and Hyun Joon have a married daughter, Jenny, a marketing data analyst. Jenny and her husband Patrick are parents to two children, Halle and Henny. 

 

Rev. Kim's interests include nature walks, gardening, traveling, visiting museums and historical sites, and attending opera and music concerts.