Welcome to InterVarsity's Asian American Ministries
An open letter to the authors of Deadly Viper Character Assassins and Zondervan Publishing from the national directors of various Asian American ministries parachurch organizations:
December 1, 2009
To Mike Foster, Jud Wilhite, and the leaders of Zondervan Publishing,
We know that there has been much discussion — both gracious and divisive — about Deadly Vipers Character Assassins. We don’t have much to add, but we felt compelled to write a brief note of thanks. We can only assume that the decision to remove the books from distribution was a costly one, given the time, creativity and expense that went into the project.
But as leaders in the Asian American Christian community, we are also grateful that you would take such a speedy and decisive step to reconcile with another part of Christ’s body, as well as redeem our witness to the wider world.
Please let us know if we can be of any help to you in the future, and may God continue to bless your ministries.
Gratefully,
James Choung, national director, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s Asian American Ministries
Melanie Mar Chow, campus minister/leadership team/campus and staff administration, Asian American Christian Fellowship
Tommy Dyo, national director, Epic Movement (Campus Crusade for Christ’s Asian American Ministries)
Kenji Kobayashi, campus minister/leadership team, Asian American Christian Fellowship
Ken Kong, director, Southeast Asian Committee; director, The Navigator’s Southeast Asian Ministries
Victor Quon, campus minister/leadership team/student & staff leadership development, Asian American Christian Fellowship
Tom Steers, national co-director, The Navigators’ Asian American Ministries
Margaret Yu, national director of leadership development, Epic Movement (Campus Crusade for Christ’s Asian American Ministries)
Below is Zondervan's response:
Dear James,
Jason and I have shared the open letter from the national directors of the various Asian American ministries with our president and CEO, Moe Girkins. She in turn has forwarded it to the various members of the Zondervan Leadership Team who report to her.
When I read the letter, my immediate response was gratitude for such a fine and gracious response to our decision to pull the book Deadly Viper Character Assassins. It was right that our Asian American brothers and sisters call us to account for a book that made insensitive and inappropriate use of Asian American imagery. I am sorry and embarrassed that it was necessary, but I thank you for doing so. Once Moe and I had carefully examined the book, it was very clear that the right thing to do was to pull the book and apologize for it.
I believe the outcome here at Zondervan has been positive and will have beneficial effects on Zondervan’s publishing ministry in a variety of ways.
Moe joins me in expressing our appreciation for your open letter. Thank you for recognizing our desire to do what was right.
Cordially,
Stan Gundry
Executive Vice President and Editor-in-Chief
ZONDERVAN
