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Rev. Dr. Yongchi Rhie is a pastor, teacher, and bridge-builder whose heart is anchored in two
things: faithfully teaching the Word of God and intentionally building sacred, diverse
communities where people don't just feel welcomed, but truly belong.
Yongchi's path to ministry didn't happen in just one time zone. She was born and raised in South
Korea, shaped by her academic studies in the United Kingdom, and called to pastoral leadership
in the United States. This cross-cultural journey has formed her as a bridge-builder, instilling
a profound sense of humility and a deep yearning to cultivate spaces of true, radical kinship
across diverse theological and cultural backgrounds.
Yongchi joins Foundry United Methodist Church as Associate Pastor and Director of Discipleship.
In this role, she leads the congregation in growing as disciples of Christ: helping people
discover their spiritual gifts and calling and step into leadership, both inside these walls
and out in the world.
A Full Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, she
has served congregations across the region for over a decade, including as Senior Pastor of
Arbutus UMC in Arbutus, MD; Associate Pastor of Eden Korean UMC in Towson, MD, and First UMC in
Flushing, NY; and at Washington Grove UMC in Washington, D.C. She is passionate about creating
and reviving vital discipleship pathways - through learning, serving, and leading - that
empower and equip servant leadership.
A Bible scholar with a deep command of biblical language and cross-cultural studies, Yongchi
holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from the University of Sheffield in the United
Kingdom, an M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and a B.A. in Theology
from Methodist Theological University in South Korea. She serves as an Adjunct Professor for the
Course of Study at Wesley Theological Seminary, where she equips lay and pastoral leaders to
teach the Bible faithfully, translating biblical scholarship into accessible and practical tools
for local church ministry.
When she is not pastoring or teaching, you will likely find Yongchi outside - taking a long walk
in nature, lying in the grass, or spending time on the water, whether sitting by the shore,
floating in the ocean, or canoeing. It is in these moments that she rests and just listens.
