Choi Hee An

The Reverend Dr. Choi, Hee An joined the School of Theology in 2003. Dr. Choi’s research and teaching focus on practical theology, gender and cultural studies, leadership, and postcolonial studies.

Her most recent book, A Postcolonial Relationship: Challenges of Asian Immigrants as the Third Other (State University of New York Press, 2022), critically examines the problems of current US relations from an Asian immigrant perspective and provides a new understanding of the complications that Asian immigrant group experience as the “third other.” She dismantles Black/white and native/alien binary concepts from the position of Asian immigrant perspective and explores the deeper understandings of postcolonial relationships that Asian immigrants face. This book addresses the current structure of sociopolitical binary paradigm, investigates the unique challenges of Asian immigrant positions, analyzes the reality of their third otherness, and explores the possibilities of transforming binary relationships into postcolonial relationships based on ethical and theological religious traditions and practices in an Asian immigrant context.

She is the author of A Postcolonial Leadership: Asian Immigrant Christian Leadership and Its Challenges (State University of New York Press, 2020) that explores how Asian immigrant leaders, including Christian leaders, exercise leadership and confront challenges in the United States. She is also the author of A Postcolonial Self: Korean Immigrant Theology and Church (State University of New York Press, 2015) and Korean Women and God: Experiencing God in a Multi-religious Colonial Context (2005, Orbis). With Katheryn Pfisterer Darr, she is also the co-editor of Engaging the Bible-Critical Reading from Contemporary Women (2006, Fortress).

Dr. Choi has conducted many research projects such as Women and Leadership, Female Clergy Spiritual Growth, Immigrant Church and Women, Women’s Retention Study II, United Methodist Salary Study, Multicultural Pedagogy, and others. She has developed several educational and spiritual programs to support clergy, lay leaders, and seminarians for multicultural/immigrant church ministry. Her current teaching is deeply involved with leadership, postcolonial theology, immigrant policy, gender, and cultural studies. As an ordained minister in the PCUSA, she has actively engaged with the Korean immigrant church and ministry as well. Dr. Choi has served as Faculty-in-Residence and received the Boston University Residence Life’s Award for Outstanding Service in 2013.

Publications

Books

A Postcolonial Relationship: Challenges of Asian Immigrants as the Third Other, State University of New York Press, 2022

A Postcolonial Leadership: Asian Immigrant Christian Leadership and Its Challenges, New York: State University of New York Press, 2020

A Postcolonial Self: Korean Immigrant Theology and Church, New York: State University of New York Press, 2015

Engaging the Bible: Critical Readings from Contemporary Women. Choi Hee An and Kathe Darr eds., Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2006
(Recommended by Comment, Massachusetts Bible Society as one of the Best Religious Books, 2007)

Korean Women and God: Experiencing God in a Multi-Religious Colonial Context. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 2005

Articles and Book Chapters

“To Mask or To Unmask, That is the Question: Facemasks and Anti-Asian Violence During COVID-19,” co-authored with Eun-Kyoung Othelia Lee. Journal of Human Rights and Social Work, 2021

“Challenges of Korean Immigrant Leadership in the Church,” International Journal of Practical Theology Fall 2019

“Relational Spirituality, Mature Alterity, and Spiritual Service among Ministry Leaders: An Empirical Study,” co-authored with Steven Sandage, Amy West, and Chance Austin Bell, Pastoral Psychology April 2019, Vol. 69, Issue 2, 127-142

“Not everyone is a leader, but everyone can be a leader together,” Focus, Boston University School of Theology, 2018

“Journeying with Clergy Women Relational Spirituality, Mature Alterity, and Spiritual Service among Ministry Leaders: An Empirical Study:  Exploring Self-Care in Community,” Co-authored by with Susan Hassinger, and Carole Bohn. Wellsprings, GBHEM, 2016

“Faith-Based Community Support for Korean American Older Adults,” co-authors by Choi Hee An and Eun-Kyoung Othelia Lee, in Social Work and Christianity: An International Journal, Volume 40, Number 4, 2013

“East Asia Literature Korea,” in the Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. Herausgeber: Hans-Josef Klauck, Volker Leppin, Bernard McGinn, Choon-Leong Seow, Hermann Spieckermann, Barry Dov Walfish, Eric J. Ziolkowski eds., Volume 7, Berlin, Boston: The Publishing House Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. De Gruyter, 2013

“Sixth Sunday of Easter,” in Preaching God’s Transforming Justice-A Lectionary Commentary, Year B Featuring 22 New Holy Days For Justice. Ronald J Allen, Dale P. Andrews, and Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm eds, Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013

“Sixth Sunday of Easter,” in Preaching God’s Transforming Justice-A Lectionary Commentary, Year A Featuring 22 New Holy Days For Justice. Ronald J Allen, Dale P. Andrews, and Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm eds, Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012

“Sixth Sunday of Easter,” in Preaching God’s Transforming Justice-A Lectionary Commentary, Year C Featuring 22 New Holy Days For Justice. Ronald J Allen, Dale P. Andrews, and Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm eds, Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011

“Gender, Culture, and the Bible,” in People’s Bible, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, Forthcoming Spring 2008

“The Church and Immigration,” The Progressive Christian, September/October 2008 Issue

“Theology and the Bible,” in Chalice Introduction to Theology, St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, Spring 2008

“Re-Imagining Theological Reflection on God From the Context of Korean Women” Feminist Theology, Vol. 16, Issue 3, May 2008, Sage Publications.

“Minjung Theology,” in The Hope of Liberation in World Religions, Texas: Baylor University Press, Spring 2008

“Transforming Power in the Lives of Women as Surrogates: The Dialogue Between African American and Korean Christian Women,” New York: Union Theological Seminary Quarterly Review, October 2004

Interviews

Interviewed by The Boston Globe (Rich Barlow), “Where Faith and Gender Intersect” April 9, 2005

Newsletter

Editor, Anna Howard Shaw Center Newsletter, Boston University School of Theology, 2003-present