Columbia Professor Christine J. Hong Publishes New Memoir, Waking Up Ghosts

Columbia Theological Seminary is pleased to celebrate the publication of a new book by Dr. Christine J. Hong, Associate Professor of Educational Ministry, Waking Up Ghosts: Making Peace with Ancestors. Library Journal gave the memoir a starred review calling it, “…searching, lyrical memoir explores ancestry, faith, and the difficult work of giving voice to what families leave unspoken.”

Part memoir, part spiritual exploration, Waking Up Ghosts reflects on the intersections of Korean ancestry, Christian faith, loss, memory, and healing. Drawing from her experiences as a Presbyterian minister, scholar, and daughter of the Korean diaspora, Hong explores the inherited grief and resilience that shape family and community across generations.

The book traces a deeply personal journey that began after the birth of her daughter and the death of her last maternal grandparent. As she revisits family stories and the spiritual traditions her ancestors left behind, Hong wrestles with questions of belonging, displacement, faith, and liberation. The result is a powerful narrative that invites readers to consider how we carry the histories of those who came before us and how healing can emerge through honest engagement with that inheritance.

Known for her scholarship on decolonizing faith, justice education, and the reimagining of ancestral stories within the Korean diaspora, Dr. Hong brings both theological depth and lyrical storytelling to this important new work. “My hope is for everyone to find ways connect with their ancestors,” said Dr. Hong. “There’s wisdom and healing to be found for both us and them. We are a community immemorial across the portal of life and death.”

For readers seeking a thoughtful exploration of faith, memory, identity, and community, Waking Up Ghostsoffers a compelling invitation to confront what has been inherited and to imagine new possibilities for repair and renewal.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hong on this significant achievement.

Waking Up Ghosts: Making Peace with Ancestors, published by Broadleaf Books (2026), is available beginning November 17, 2026.

ISBN: 9798889838173 EBOOK ISBN: 9798889838180