Dear Elder Jim Lorenz,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to provide you with a comprehensive overview of our recent discussion this morning, with the intent of ensuring transparency and clarity in our communication.
This year, I made the conscious decision not to take any vacation time-off in order to maximize the time I could spend with my family in Korea. I've been looking forward to attending the annual KSCCA (Korean SDA Church Council of North America) event, which is scheduled to take place in Wonju, Republic of Korea, from September 20 to September 27, 2023.
I'm pleased to inform you that my request for an 'Out of Conference Trip' has been approved by Jose Marin, the Executive Secretary of NCC (Northern California Conference). Furthermore, I have plans to extend my stay in Korea by adding personal vacation days from September 28 to October 18.
This extended stay in Korea is particularly significant to me as it allows me to spend time with my father and celebrate his 94th birthday, which occurred in July. Additionally, I intend to introduce my son, who recently got married, to our extended family, relatives, and acquaintances during this trip. He is currently serving in the US Army and has taken leave to join me in Korea during the proposed extension.
However, a recent issue has arisen. I received an email from Julie indicating that she couldn't approve my vacation request due to the fact that the A/P Coordinator did not give their approval. She suggested that I inquire with the A/P Coordinator for the reasons behind their decision.
Interestingly, the A/P Coordinator mentioned that my vacation duration was considered too lengthy for approval and recommended that I reduce it by two Sabbaths, presumably due to concerns raised by someone within the Korean church community.
This situation is puzzling because I had previously discussed my intended time-off with the leadership boards of each church, and they were aware of my plans. I had also made arrangements for guest speakers to cover my absence during this period.
It's worth noting that you may have already received or heard about the recent letter requesting a transfer of pastors from the Korean church. I believe this issue is closely related to the current dispute surrounding my vacation request.
On a positive note, the English church has expressed their desire to have me continue as their pastor for as long as I wish, especially given the circumstances.
I sincerely appreciate your time and attention in reading through this narrative outlining the vacation dispute I am currently facing. My belief is that pastors should be able to enjoy their allotted vacation time, unless there are specific scheduling conflicts with Conference events such as Constituency Meetings, Mark Blue, or other church-related activities.
In summary:
The 'Out of Conference trip has been approved (September 20 - 27).
The extension of my personal time-off hasn't been approved (September 28 - October 18).
I am actively working to resolve this dispute, and it would be a great relief to have the opportunity to enjoy my personal time-off without any further complications arising from Conference approval.
Sincerely,
Dong Hun Shin
Pastor of Rohnert Park and Rohnert Park Korean District