Rev. Duk K. Kwon began his life and faith journey in his native Korea. In his early teen he received a call to life-long ministry from God. After high school, he entered Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul and studied for four years for his Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) degree and then Master of Theology (M.Th) degree from United Graduate School of Theology at Yonsei University.

Upon coming to the United States to further his theological training, he earned his Master of Divinity degree (M.Div) from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois and was ordained as Deacon and Elder in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

From 1993 to 2000, Rev. Kwon served as District Superintendent of the Elgin District in the Northern Illinois Conference. He also served pastoral appointments at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Carol Steam, and First United Methodist Church in Barrington.

From 2000 to 2004, he served as Mission Superintendent of the North Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church’s Korean Mission where he helped establish fourteen new churches throughout the multi-states in the Midwest.  He also served in many leadership capacities on various church related Boards and Agencies at the local, regional and national levels.

In 2003, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (his alma mater) honored him with “Distinguished Alum Award” during its 150^th Anniversary.

Rev. Kwon was recently the pastor at North Shore United Methodist Church in Glencoe.

Rev. Kwon’s family includes his wife, Myung Za, a registered nurse; his elder daughter, Sarah who resides in San Francisco, California; and his younger daughter, Rachel, a third year medical student at Rush Medical School in Chicago; and Phebe, a twelve year old Bishon dog