Korean Presbyterian Church Research Articles

The Influence of Korean Presbyterian Church Architecture on Worship and Faith Formation

According to statistics, there are more than 35,000 Presbyterian churches in Korea. Due to this high number, people can surmise that there are various types of church architecture. However, surprisingly, it is easy to find commonalities. The majority of the churches were built for practical purposes and are more like educational spaces or performance venues than religious venues. The Korean Presbyterian Church architecture emphasizes both the practical aspect and public aspect rather than the aesthetic and theological aspect. The worship space filled with pews in the shape of a rectangle has an impact on this style of worship which centers around sitting, listening and appreciating rather than diversifying worship ceremonies. These influences led to the false notion that worship was successfully achieved by listening to a sermon similar to lectures in an educational institution. Under these circumstances, members were unable to experience holistic faith formation through various worship ceremonies, and experienced a worship pattern of listening, taking notes, and studying every week. This repeated passivity was engraved in the body and mind of the saints, leading to the failure of the church to actively participate in its role in society. In this article, I will insist that the spatial arrangement and the creation of the worship environment from an aesthetic point of view can enrich worship and eventually add integrity to the Christian faith formation.

A Theological Study of Julian of Norwich’s Hopeful Words “All Shall Be Well”

This article analyzes the perspective in Julian Norwich's words, “All Shall Be Well” through the lens of the Korean Presbyterian Church, specifically its focus on sin and repentance as a practical interest. Examining the concept of sin that is emphasized in practice, I compare John Calvin’s theology of sin with Julian’s to reconsider a comprehensive understanding of sin for helping Korean Christians on their spiritual journey.

대한장로교회 신경의 변천을 통해 본 한국장로교회의 신앙고백에 대한 인식

This study examines the changing process of the Korean Presbyterian Church’s 12 Articles of Faith and their current state in the constitution of each denomination of the Korean Presbyterian Church, thus investigating the perceptions of the confession of faith in the Korean Presbyterian Church. Enacted in 1907, the Korean Presbyterian Church’s 12 Articles of Faith was changed to the Joseon Presbyterian Church’s 12 Articles of Faith in 1922 and the Joseon Presbyterian Church's Creeds in 1934. The latter saw partial changes, including phrase revisions and the addition and deletion of words in the revision process. After Korea took back its independence, each denomination of the Korean Presbyterian Church, in most cases, made a revision according to modern spelling based on the Joseon Presbyterian Church's Creeds in 1934 and included them in their constitutions, which have lasted until today. The Presbyterian Church in Korea(Kosin) deleted the Korean Presbyterian Church’s 12 Articles of Faith from its revised and proclaimed constitution in 2011. The Presbyterian Church of Korea(Tonghap) reduced the foreword and deleted the approval rite in the constitutional revision process in 1971. Also deleted from the 12 Articles of Faith was the phrase about the punishment of non-believers on Judgment Day. Currently, the Korean Presbyterian Church’s 12 Articles of Faith is included in the Constitution without any explanation of its historical origin and revision. Therefore, it is necessary to help understanding by attaching an explanation for this. And after enacting a confession of faith, specific efforts are also needed to use it universally.

미국 남장로회 선교사 김기수(Keith R. Crim)의 한국선교: 대전스테이션 활동(1954 -1965)을 중심으로

This paper investigates the missionary work of Keith R. Crim at the Daejeon Station of the Korea Mission of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (the Southern Presbyterian Church) by examining primary sources such as the minutes of the Korea Mission, missionary letters, and other historical materials. It aims at reviewing his role in establishing the Daejeon Station and his educational work at the Taejon Presbyterian College while clarifying his mission theology. This paper historically reconsiders the significances of the missionary work of the Korea Mission of the Southern Presbyterian church in the 1950s and the 1960s while reviewing Crim’s distinctive theological positions – accepting historical criticism of the Bible, avoiding theological fundamentalism, and emphasizing ecumenical movements – within a theologically conservative tradition of the Southern Presbyterian mission. It seeks to interpret the significance and limitation of the Southern Presbyterian missionary works to the Korean church and society in the 1950s and the 1960s – at the time of a radical social change of Korea and the great schism in the Presbyterian church.<BR> Keith R. Crim emphasized the necessity of evangelical work comforting and caring for laborers suffered from the poor working conditions in the rapid industrial development of Korea. For the Korean Church, he highlighted a scholarly interpretation of the Bible while avoiding the fundamentalist literalism, and emphasized the biblical inspiration as well as staying away from theological liberalism. He prescribed ecumenicalism to treat the great schism of the Korean Presbyterian Church while maintaining love and unity in Christ.

초기 한국 장로교 대구·경북지방 조사의 역할과 활동

초기 한국 장로교 대구·경북지방 조사의 역할과 활동

A History of the Early Missions of the Korean Presbyterian Church, written by Kyung-Woon Min

A History of the Early Missions of the Korean Presbyterian Church, written by Kyung-Woon Min

한국 장로교회의 초기 일본 선교

한국 장로교회의 초기 일본 선교

A Study of the Acceptance and Accommodation of Calvinism in the Korean Presbyterian Church

This research delves into the acceptance and accommodation of Calvinism in the Korean Presbyterian Church, concentrating on the Pyungyang Mission Station of Chosun-ya-so-kyo (Korean Presbyterian Church) in the 1900s to 1930s. It has been suggested that Chosun-ya-so-kyo did not fully introduce Calvinism during this early period of Korean mission because of its historical and cultural limitations. Based on materials such as church history textbooks and academic journals, however, this study argues that Chosun-ya-so-kyo clearly accommodated Calvinism as its theological foundation. In particular, the mission station’s theology education institution developed theological analysis of Calvinism through three perspectives: forging missionaries, Korean conservative theologians, and liberal theologians. Thus, the Korean Presbyterian Church adopted Calvinism as its theological groundwork.

일제 말기의 기독교 합동 운동 : 일본기독교조선장로교단을 중심으로

본 연구는 일제 말 조선의 교회의 변질을 합동 운동이라는 관점에서 파악하고자 한다. 일제 말기 기독교에 관한 기존의 연구는 일제의 종교 정책에 대하여 순응한 기독교는 변질되었고, 저항한 기독교는 고난을 받았다는 관점에서 이루어졌다. 그러나 여기에는 식민지 조선에서 생활했던 일본인 기독교인의 관점이 결여되어 있기에 교회의 변질을 일본 기독교에 대한 예속으로 판단하기도 한다. 이에 일본 기독교인의 활동과 조선 기독교와 식민지 정책에 대한 인식을 검토하고자 한다. 조선기독교연합회는 조선인 개신교 교파 및 일본인 교파의 연합체였으며 이로 인해 일본 기독교의 내셔널리즘이 조선의 교회로 이식되는 기회가 만들어졌다. 교파 합동 운동에는 일제의 지도 방침뿐만 아니라 조선인 기독교 지도자들 간의 갈등을 고려함으로 조선혁신교단의 갑작스런 출현과 종언을 설명할 수 있다. 조선예수교장로회는 변칙적인 수단이나마 일본기독교단 조선교구와 합동을 이루어 일본기독교조선장로교단을 형성하였다. 이것이 가능하였던 것은 일본인 교회의 협력이 있었기 때문이었다. 이 합동 교단을 부정하는 움직임이 장로교회 내부에서 있었지만, 그것은 장로교회를 지키기 위한 운동이라고 보기 어렵다. 그리고 이러한 합동 운동은 기독교의 본질이 교회 안에서 실현된 것이라기보다는 배타적인 내셔널리즘의 발현이며 기독교가 권력과 결탁된 결과라고 말할 수 있다.

John Calvin’s Ecumenical Theology and a Theological Perspective on Ecumenical Movements in Korean Church: Focusing on Korean Presbyterian Church

John Calvin’s Ecumenical Theology and a Theological Perspective on Ecumenical Movements in Korean Church: Focusing on Korean Presbyterian Church

The Characteristics of Presbyterian Politics in the Constitution of the Korean Presbyterian Church in the 1920s: With a focus on the Form of Government

The Characteristics of Presbyterian Politics in the Constitution of the Korean Presbyterian Church in the 1920s: With a focus on the Form of Government

한국장로교회 동사목사 직제의 기원과 변화 연구

한국장로교회 동사목사 직제의 기원과 변화 연구

1930년 이전 한국장로교회 복음주의 신학연구

1930년 이전 한국장로교회 복음주의 신학연구

1930년 이전 한국장로교회 복음주의 신학연구

1930년 이전 한국장로교회 복음주의 신학연구

한국장로교 합동·통합 분열에 대한 재고

한국장로교 합동·통합 분열에 대한 재고

예전적교리교육에 대한 연구: 한국교회 예배의 공공성 회복을 위하여

예전적교리교육에 대한 연구: 한국교회 예배의 공공성 회복을 위하여

A Suggestion on a Principle and Structure of Baptismal Liturgy according to Analysis of the Book of Worship in Korean Presbyterian Church

A Suggestion on a Principle and Structure of Baptismal Liturgy according to Analysis of the Book of Worship in Korean Presbyterian Church

Unity and catholicity in the Korean Presbyterian Church: An ecumenical Reformed assessment

I attempt to find the main causes of the serious disunity in the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK), which started as one church but is now divided into more than 100 denominations, as well as a solution to promote the unity of the PCK. This attempt starts with an exegesis of Ephesians, with special reference to Ephesians 4:1�16, to understand the biblical principle on this matter. This article draws on a mature ecclesiology and a mature sense of unity as key concepts. After that, the history of the PCK disunity is briefly described, dealing with four major schisms. Based on this historical investigation, the disunity in the PCK is assessed. In addition, the weak sense of unity and weak ecclesiology of the PCK, which played a role in its disunity, are discussed in view of the confessions of faith, the ministry of the word and the Lord�s Supper, and ecumenical efforts in relation to national and international ecumenical organisations. Lastly, contributory suggestions based on the mature sense of unity are offered to the PCK in particular and the Reformed family and all Christian churches in general.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: In my ecumenical Reformed intradisciplinary assessment of unity and catholicity in the PCK, which started as one church but is now divided into more than 100 denominations, I identify the main causes of serious disunity in the PCK, namely a weak sense of unity, immaturity and secularisation.

Lee Sang-Gyoo's A History and Theology of the Korean Presbyterian Church Before and After the Liberation

Lee Sang-Gyoo's A History and Theology of the Korean Presbyterian Church Before and After the Liberation

Theological Conflicts and Division of the Korean Presbyterian Church in the Post - Liberation Era

Theological Conflicts and Division of the Korean Presbyterian Church in the Post - Liberation Era