The Rev. Dr. Jisun Kwak

Recently appointed district superintendent of the Gateway North district of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference, the Rev. Dr. Jisun Kwak brings to her position as DS experience as a pastor, a pastoral counselor, an adjunct professor, and a mother.   

A proud native of South Korea, Jisun received her bachelor’s degree in theology and social work from Yonsei University. She then came to the United States and continued her studies, earning a master’s in both divinity and religion and society at Drew University.  Jisun garnered her Ph. D degree in religion and psychology from the Drew University Casperson School of Graduate Studies.

After serving as Children’s pastor at Hope Korean United Methodist Church and at Arcola United Methodist Church, she became pastor of Mendham United Methodist Church as she was ordained in 1995. This was a part-time post that grew into a full-time position as the church increased in membership. She was then transferred to Thiells United Methodist Church in New York, where she served as pastor for three years and, most recently, was reverend at Centenary United Methodist Church in Metuchen.  Jisun was ordained as an elder in full connection of the United Methodist Church in 1999.

Utilizing her knowledge of psychology, and being interested in helping fellow servants of Christ in need, Jisun has gained extensive experience as a pastoral counselor. She has worked as a full-fledged pastoral counselor at both the Hilltop Counseling Center in Mendham, New Jersey, and with the Pastoral Counseling Service of Northern New Jersey.

Jisun does not only enjoy counseling others, she also loves teaching, and has been educating students since 1997. She has been adjunct professor at the Blanton Peal Graduate Institute in New York and the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey. 

Jisun wrote her Ph.D. dissertation on the experience of the Korean wife and mother in modern-day Korean families. She was a member of the Executive Committee of the Primary Task Team, of the Committee on the Status and Role of Women, of the Board of Ordained ministry of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference and was the vice president of the Korean-American Cross-Cultural Ministry Association of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference.

Jisun was ordained as an elder in full connection of the United Methodist Church in 1999. She has translated two books from Korean into English and from English to Korean.

Jisun is also the proud mother of a beautiful and precious daughter, her dearest heart, Lydia. Jisun felt truly blessed when, in May of this year, she had the honor of attending Lydia’s graduation from Boston University.