Young in spirit
Rev. Joshua Yee, pastor of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church. Photo by Tony LaBruno. (Tony LaBruno.com)
Despite Rev. Joshua Yee’s youth, St. Luke’s new pastor has a long and deep pastoral foundation
Rev. Joshua Yee was only 7 years old when he felt called to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather’s and uncles’ pastoral ministries. The Carson child began serving in leadership roles for the youth ministry at the South Bay Presbyterian Church. He went onto becoming the youth and college director, serving in that capacity for nearly a decade.
“That’s always been a theme in my life,” Yee said, chuckling. “Even though I’ve been on the younger side, I’m not seeing that as a barrier. I’m able to use my youth, energy, perspective, and experiences really for the positive.”
Today, at 32, Yee is the new pastor of St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Rolling Hills Estates, a place where an older yet spirited congregation calls home. The entrance to the small cobblestone church is marked by a rainbow flag, symbolizing the tight-knit congregation’s commitment to welcoming people of all sexual orientations. St. Luke’s is part of the Matthew 25 Movement, a growing coalition of more than 200 churches and Christian organizations across the country that have committed to standing with vulnerable communities, such as the homeless and refugees.
“It’s always been about the people and the relationships for me — much more so than doctrine or church structure,” Yee said. “And as much as I appreciate it and have learned so much through seminary and have a strong foundation in theology, I think it always comes down to how we treat people and love people.”
As a third-generation Chinese American raised in the South Bay, Yee grew up largely assimilated into the mainstream culture. Yet, he noticed that the color of his skin often determined how people treated him. These experiences planted a seed, marking the beginning of his quest to dig beyond the prejudices of those who are marginalized — and stand with them.
“Those experiences helped me connect with people who felt on the outside, felt oppressed or discriminated against,” Yee said. “I think that helped me in my own calling to become pastor of a church. I feel I can be a voice or help those who may not feel they have a voice.”
After graduating from Cal State University Long Beach with a double major in religious studies and communication studies, Yee enrolled at Fuller Seminary. He received Master of Divinity in 2012 and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church of USA (PCUSA) in 2014.
Until recently, Yee worked as a board-certified chaplain and manager of the Spiritual Care Department at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. This experience, he said, pointed him back to the power of compassion and connecting with a wide breadth of individuals, regardless of their perceived differences.
“Not a lot of people I met were necessarily Christian or even religious — that again helped me expand my own thought process, my own life philosophy, and understanding about people,” he said. “There’s always a sense of loss in the hospital, whether it’s loss of normalcy, loss of a home, loss of relationships, not being able to be at your daughter’s graduation or being with family. Working through that with people who were in the hospital helped me find the humanity in the relationships.”
At St. Luke’s, where he served as a parish associate pastor for the last several years, part of his mission is to continue the traditions established by his predecessors, such as the annual Easter Egg hunt and the outdoor summer concerts hosted on their campus. St. Luke’s partners with organizations such as Department of Child and Family Services and Harbor Interface Services to provide assistance to marginalized communities and families in need.
Yee plans to begin contemporary worship services to attract younger families. He and his wife Jenna have an 8-month-old daughter, Brooklynn. He is also looking for ways to utilize new technology to connect not only with youth and young adults, but also to assist aging members in making their lives easier to navigate.
“We are tackling racism, homelessness, and even asylum, shelter and sanctuary. The church needs to be a place where we can conversations on these issues,” he said. “We should be paving the way in our communities in fighting for justice and peace, especially in such difficult times.
“Part of my hope is to help care for this congregation as they are … to help nurture them and continue to wrestle with what it means to be Christian, what it means to live out your faith in our neighborhood, our community, and the world.”
Upcoming events at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church include a Christmas Cantata on Dec. 15 at 9:30 a.m.; Christmas Sunday Service on Dec. 22 at 9:30 a.m., and a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. For more information, visit stlukespresbyterian.com.