Korean Protestant Church Research Articles

Missional Discipleship in Post-Pandemic Korea:

The decline in social trust in the Korean Protestant church is a significant social issue that requires attention and action. Despite being more involved in community service than other religions, trust in the church has fallen, and it is essential to understand why. This paper will examine the previous dominant method of discipleship training, which may have contributed to this decline. By using a case study of a Korean church, the study will analyze the effectiveness of the discipleship training and its impact on social trust. Then I will reflect on how the Korean church should respond to today’s situation characterized by VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity) and the pandemic. This paper will suggest a new approach called missional discipleship, which seeks to create a more engaging and inclusive environment that inspires the church to lead and participate in community service.

Social-Spiritual Face: Designing Social Reading Support for Spiritual Well-being

Techno-spiritual practices refer to the use of digital technologies to support various spiritual activities, such as scripture reading. While prior human-computer interaction studies largely focus on understanding techno-spiritual practices in both personal and ministry environments, there is a lack of design research that explores novel design opportunities, based on longitudinal field deployment. As an important techno-spiritual practice, this work focuses on scripture reading and investigates the design space of "social scripture reading," as it is often organized into small groups for successful behavior maintenance. We designed and evaluated BibleCell, a social scripture reading tool that supports personalized reading plans, scripture reading, and social sharing. After the third year of deployment, we performed a two-month user study in Korean Protestant churches to deepen our understanding of techno-spiritual practices in social contexts via in-depth interviews (n = 27). We report the major themes of social techno-spiritual practices, such as social motivators, social interaction patterns, and leadership roles. We discuss our findings using a novel design concept of social-spiritual awareness that considers both the social and spiritual aspects of interactions in social computing systems.

Living with the Enemies: Japanese Imperialism, Protestant Christianity, and Marxist Socialism in Colonial Korea, 1919–1945

During the Korean War, conflicts between right-wing Protestants and radical socialists escalated and erupted into massacres, killing thousands of Korean civilians. Such extreme violence and tumultuous events afterwards—including Korea’s division into two separate states and the Cold War system—eclipsed the imbricated interactions between Protestant Christianity and socialism under Japanese colonial rule. While focusing on Korean Protestantism and socialism to probe their contest and compromise for survival, this article traces the tripartite relationship among the followers of Protestant Christianity, Marxist socialism, and Japanese imperialism as it evolved throughout colonial Korea between 1910 and 1945. These 35 years comprised a period of multiple possibilities for interaction among Korean Protestants, socialists, and Japanese authorities in the changing global environment. The international organizations with which they were associated influenced Korean Protestants and Marxist socialists while facing the common crisis of Japan’s assimilation. Namely, the Korean Protestant churches affiliated with Western missionaries’ denomination headquarters in their home countries and world Christian conferences, while the Korean socialists allied with Moscow’s Comintern and other radical political movements abroad. Within this broader context, these two religious and ideological forces competed for supremacy, cooperated in a joint struggle against the colonial regime, and antagonized each other over their divergent worldviews. By examining their complicated tripartite relationship, this essay comprehensively depicts the dynamic history of the Western-derived religious and political doctrines meeting a non-Western empire in a foreign land.

In Memoriam, In Whan Kim (1946–2021)

It Is With Sadness, Yet In The Hope Of Christ’s Resurrection, That We Announce The Death Of One Of Unio Cum Christo’s Editorial Board Members, Dr. In Whan Kim (1946–2021).We Extend Our Sympathies To His Family, Colleagues, And Friends. Dr. Kim Served At Chongshin Universi- Ty And Seminary And More Recently As President Of Daeshin University And Seminary, Gyeongsan, South Korea. Ordained In The Presbyterian Church In America In 1981, He Served As A Pastor In The United States And Korea. A Trained Old Testament Scholar, He Wrote Many Books And Articles In Korean And English. He Completed His PhD Dissertation, “An Analysis And Evaluation Of The Tithe Practice Of The Korean Protestant Church From The Perspective Of The Biblical Tithe Law,” At The University Of Wales In 2000. A Philanthropist, He Was Awarded The Recognition Of Education By The President Of The Republic Of Korea (2011). He Was Active In Several International Societies, In Particular The World Reformed Fellowship. (For More Information, See “Dr. In Whan Kim (In Memoriam),” Https://wrf.global/about/board-of-directors.) KEYWORDS:

Korean Women’s Speaking in #MeToo Movement

Through the story of Korean Bible Women and the South Korean #MeToo movement today, this paper explores how Korean women’s innate creativity and imagination have challenged the patriarchal and hierarchical standpoints of the Korean Protestant church and society. Furthermore, this paper invites the Korean Protestant Church to confront the reality of women’s struggles and to remember and re-value Korean women’s agency by co-operating and listening to the survivors of sexual violence in the community so that they can participate in God’s ongoing creation by responding #WithYou to the voices of #MeToo in church and society.

김기범(金箕範)의 생애와 목회적 성격에 관한 연구

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the life of Kim Ki-beom, one of the first pastors in Korea, and his pastoral characteristics. Kim Ki-beom, who accepted Christianity at the end of the 19th century, was the leader of the Korean Protestant Church in the early days of his activities centered on Incheon. The enthusiasm, sincerity, and ability of evangelism were recognized by missionaries. As a result, in May 1901, he and his colleague Kim Chang-sik won the honor of becoming the first pastor in Korean Protestant history. But his illness prevented him from continuing his pastoral activities. Sometimes there were conflicts with missionaries and believers. Therefore, Kim Ki-beom was expelled from the Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1912. Since then, his existence has been forgotten among Methodist Episcopal Church. As a result, Kim Ki-beom has not received much attention from Korean churches. This study focuses on constructing Kim Ki-beom’s life based on this. At the same time, this study will investigate the characteristics of Kim Ki-beom’s activities as a pastor.

북한이탈주민과 한국 교회 -윤리적 환대를 향하여

본 논문은 임마누엘 레비나스(Emmanuel Levinas)의 철학을 통해 북한이탈주민과 한국 개신교 교회의 관계성을 분석하고 비평하고자 한다. 구체적으로 대표적인 5개 개신교 교단을 선정하여 북한이탈주민과의 관계성을 조사한다. 본 연구는 교단과 상관없이 한국 교회가 교회-중심적 관점으로 북한이탈주민과 관계를 맺음으로써 탈북민들에 대한 타자화, 정치적 양극화를 강화한다고 밝힌다. 이러한 교회-중심적 태도를 극복하기 위한 대안으로 레비나스의 ‘환대’ 개념을 제안한다. 타자-중심적 관계를 지향하는 레비나스의 환대는 다름과 타자성을 환영하는 윤리적 관계를 형성하며 이는 타자의 호소에 응답하는 책임으로 나타난다. 레비나스의 환대 개념을 통해 교회는 북한이탈주민의 주체성을 환영하게 될 뿐만 아니라 남한 사회의 혐오와 억압의 시선, 구조로부터 이들을 해방시키는 실천을 이어나갈 수 있게 된다.

Dorothy Day’s Spirituality and Its Christian Educational Application

Dorothy Day is unfamiliar to the Korean Protestant Church. However, her name is not unfamiliar to the Roman Catholic Church, the theology of laity, and contemporary spiritual theology. Dorothy Day (1897-1980) was a Roman Catholic journalist and social activist. Through her writings, practical life, and her leadership of the Catholic worker lay movement, she gave a new model of spirituality for those of us who live in modern times. In this study, I will deal with key aspects of the spirituality of Dorothy Day and explore its relevance for Christian education. Her spirituality through her devoted life suggests to us a new paradigm, practical spirituality in context. Not only did she see inner spirituality as a personal mystical experience, but she also emphasized the collective power of community as Christ’s body in this earthly world. On this point, we can find several contact points in Day’s practical spirituality which should apply to Christian education. Thus, in this study, I will explain the characteristics of her spirituality and find points to apply to Christian education. The following is the structure of the study. After introductory part( chapter I), in chapter II, I will briefly summarize Dorothy Day’s life and spiritual journey. In chapter III, in more detail, I will explore the key aspects of Dorothy Day’s spirituality. In chapter IV, I will try to apply Dorothy Day’s spirituality to the Christian educational fields.

신비주의적 영성의 개신교적 적용에 관한 연구 - 아빌라의 테레사의 기도 이해를 중심으로

기도는 모든 기독교인들에게는 가장 중요한 주제이다. 한국 개신교의 경우 그 어 느 나라보다 기도를 많이 하고 있는 상황에서 기도에 대한 신학적인 성찰은 상대적으 로 빈약한 것이 현실이다. 기독교의 맥락에서 참된 기도란 어떻게 이해되어야 하는 가? 기도에 대한 신학적인 이해는 무엇인가? 이런 물음과 함께 본 논문의 연구 목적 은 한국 기독교 영성의 핵심을 이루는 기도에 대해 신학적으로 성찰하는 데 있다. 이 를 위해 16세기 스페인 영성학파 중 한 사람인 아빌라의 테레사(Teresa of Avila, 1515-1582)의 기도이해를 중심으로 논의를 전개한다. 테레사는 그리스도교 영성의 한 획을 그은 인물로서 신비적인 내적 체험과 기도에 대한 깊은 이해를 통해, 당시의 그 리스도교를 새로운 방향으로 개혁한 인물로 평가되고 있다. 테레사의 기도이해는 다 양한 기독교 전통과의 대화와 비교 연구라는 맥락에서 한국 개신교의 기도이해와 영 성의 발전에 좋은 참고가 되리라고 생각한다. 그의 강렬한 신비체험과 진지한 성찰 및 개혁적인 삶은 한국 개신교회에 큰 도전을 준다. 특히 그의 신비주의적 영성은 한국 개신교회의 통성기도 중심의 영성을 보완하는 데 도움을 줄 수 있을 것이다. 본 논문의 전반부에서는 테레사의 대표저작 중 하나인 『생애』 11장에서 22장까지 에 나타나 있는 그의 기도이해에 대해 살펴본다. 이 책은 테레사가 하나님께 바친 기 도와 그 와중에 겪은 여러 신비체험을 진솔하게 기록한 일종의 영적 고백록이다. 테 레사는 기도 도중 체험한 신비체험을 직접 표현하기가 불가능하였으므로 ‘내면의 정 원’이라는 비유를 사용하여 설명한다. 테레사는 영혼의 정원에 물을 주는 과정을 물, 정원, 관개(irrigation)와 같은 비유를 사용하여 보다 자세히 설명한다. 즉 테레사는 물 을 줄 수 있는 방법을 네 가지로 설명하는 데, 이것 바로 기도의 네 가지 단계 또는 등급을 의미한다. 이 기도의 네 단계를 통해 점차 능동적인 기도에서 수동적인 기도 로 발전하며, 하나님과의 합일을 이루어 기쁨을 누리게 된다. 본 논문의 후반부에서는 아빌라의 테레사가 제시한 신비주의적 기도의 영성을 한 국 개신교의 맥락에 적용하는 문제를 다룬다. 한국 개신교를 대표하는 영성은 통성기 도의 영성이라고 말할 수 있는데, 개인의 회개와 청원 및 기복적인 간구로 이루어진 통성기도의 형성을 테레사의 신비주의적 기도의 영성이 어떻게 보완할 수 있는지에 대해 논한다. 결론에서는 본 문문의 논의를 요약하고 논문의 의의와 한계 및 연구 과 제를 제시한다.

Korean Protestant Churches Inculcated in Confucian Habitus and Hereditary Pastoral Succession

Korean Protestant Churches Inculcated in Confucian Habitus and Hereditary Pastoral Succession

시민성에 대한 한국 개신교의 이해 분석과 기독교사회윤리적 답변

본 연구는 한국 사회의 한국 개신교(기독교)가 드러내고 있는 시민성을 빅데이터로 분석하면서, 시민 사회에서 한국 개신교가 윤리적으로 나아갈 방향에 대해서 제시한다. 우선 본 연구는 서구 사회에서 시작된 시민성이 어떻게 발전되어 왔는지에 대해서 살피면서 시민성의 기본 가치에 대해서 고찰한다. 이후 종교(기독교)가 공적이성의 측면에서 그리고 시민종교의 차원에서 시민성을 어떻게 드러내고 있는지에 대해서 고찰하고 있다. 한편 한국 개신교(기독교)가 이러한 시민성을 건강하게 발전시키지 못한 이유를 근본주의적인 경향을 통해서 살펴보면서, 현재 한국 사회에서 한국 개신교가 드러내고 있는 시민성에 대해서 빅데이터를 중심으로 살펴보고 있다. 한국 개신교는 특정 부분에서 부정적인 차원에서 시민성이 드러나지만, 서구 사회가 발전시킨 공적 종교의 차원에서 시민성은 드러내지 못하고, 오히려 한국 사회에서 부정적인 이미지를 드러내고 있다. 이러한 현상을 극복하기 위해서 본 연구는 사회윤리적인 대안을 제시하는데, 종교의 모습을 소극적으로 드러내는 차원에서는 롤스의 공적 이성의 측면에서 덕을 발전시켜 낼 것을 주장하였고, 적극적인 차원에서는 평화의 환대의 삶을 살아가기 위한 공동체적 내러티브를 실천할 것을 촉구한다.

루터의 종교개혁과 한국교회의 과제

This thesis is written while keeping in mind the world the worldwide panic due to the pandemic of COVID-19 today. This study looks at Luther’s Reformation from a socio-political and economic situation, and then from a religious standpoint. How does of the Luther’s Reformation succeed? The answer to this question does not only fucus on Luther, the center of the reform, but also the perspective of those who made it possible, especially the common people: Why do they agree with and join Luther’s Reformation? COVID-19 is causing people to struggle in the midst of anxiety and panic around the world that no one has ever experienced in any era. It demands more than ever before the reform and good influence of the Korean Protestant Church. Unfortunately, however, Korean Protestant churches are being regarded as a group of hatred that worry people with a religion that is out of date in this society and do not help at all in this sudden crisis. Here, we once again give the value of Luther’s Reformation from a religious perspective and consider the theological alternative for the future of the Korean church today.

한국 사회의 혈연주의와 한국 개신교의 세습

한국 사회의 혈연주의와 한국 개신교의 세습

Re-imagining Peace and Reconciliation between South and North Korea in the Missiological Perspective

This study intends to find reconciliation, justice, and peace between South and North Korea in the missiological perspective. This year(2020) marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean War and the 20th anniversary of the June 15 Inter-Korean Joint Declaration. However, a complete end to the War is not yet achieved. Otherwise, North Korea has blown up a joint liaison office that is symbolized as a communicational place between North and South Korea. In this crisis on the Korean Peninsula, we need to find a moral imagination to achieve peace and reconciliation. There are two opposite (the Conservative and the Progressive) opinions about peace and reconciliation at the Korean Church. Although the Conservative and the Progressive Korean Protestant Church have different approaches to build relationships with North Korea, they must respond to a cooperative way for reunification. For this reason, I attempt to rethink about peace and reconciliation in the Korean Peninsula by understanding sociological, theological, and missological perspectives. First, there are three different sociological methods for North Koran studies: 1) A Totalitarian Approach, 2) An Immanent Approach, and 3) a Micro Approach. Especially, “An Immanent Approach” was developed by focusing on the emic approach (‘study how North Koreans think’). Contextual theology is similar to an immanent approach because it considers the significance of a particular culture. However, contextual theology has emphasis on Christian faith in the Christian worldview. Second, in order to find peace and reconciliation in Korean Peninsula, I discuss the theological and missiological concepts that are the Jubilee, forgiveness, embrace, the alternative community, Kingdom of God, and Kyum-Hu (humility). Without forgiveness, embrace, and humility, it is impossible to make authentic reunification in Korea.

Seeking Solidarity between Protestant and Catholic Churches for Social Justice in Korea: The Case of the Korea Christian Action Organization for Urban Industrial Mission (Saseon) (1976–1989)

The Korea Christian Action Organization for Urban Industrial Mission (Hanguk-gyohoe-sahoeseongyo-hyeubuihoe (Saseon)) was an organization which devoted itself not only to the Korean democratization movement against the military dictatorship, but also to the movement for the improvement of the quality of life of laborers, farmers, and the urban poor from 1976 to 1989. Saseon, a joint organization of Protestants and Catholics, trained activists dedicated to democratization and the people’s right to life movements. The Protestants and Catholics of Saseon believed that participation in social movements was missionary work building the Kingdom of God on Earth, and that they could set a good example of solidarity with a common goal of social justice and a mission for the poor which transcended their theological differences. This paper will illuminate the cooperation between Korean Protestant and Catholic churches toward the common goal of social justice, focusing on the case of Saseon.

Building the Church and Missionizing in a ‘Religiously Indifferent’ Country: Korean Protestant Churches in Czechia

Czechia could be labeled as country of an indifferent approach to religious ideas, as religious faith is considered a private issue, and the role of religion in the public sphere is low. This article summarizes the first attempt to research Korean Protestant churches active in current Czechia. A total of fourteen churches is briefly overviewed stating that the churches are not successful in gaining new members throughout the Czech population. Also, a clear distinction cannot be drawn between diaspora and missionary churches, but rather mixed types can be observed. The findings show that the churches do not accommodate their mission strategies according to the religiously indifferent milieu in Czechia, mostly because the missionaries are not aware of this situation. Moreover, language is identified as the main barrier in communication. We conclude by stating that this topic is poorly understudied and difficult to follow due to its dynamic yet closed nature.

한국 개신교회의 상황에서 고찰하는 James K. A. Smith의 예배신학

한국 개신교회의 상황에서 고찰하는 James K. A. Smith의 예배신학

초대교회의 급진적 포용주의와 성소수자

This article deals with the issue of sexual minorities, which is currently one of the most pressing issues among Korean protestant churches. For Christians, the scripture is a touchstone for faith and practice, and the extreme anti-homosexual stance of current Korean protestant churches is based on several anti-homosexual texts in the Bible. To begin, this article clarifies the hermeneutical principles that need to be considered when dealing with the problems of sexual minorities in terms of the Bible. It then goes further, providing a critical exegesis of the specific biblical texts that have provided the basis for justifying the widespread homophobia in protestant churches in Korea.<BR> This study’s exegetical work starts with critical analyses and reinterpretations of the anti-homosexual texts in the Old and New Testaments. Then, it tries to provide common and healthy understandings of sexual minorities today for Christians, based on the interpretation of the creation stories in Genesis 1 and 2. In the Bible, no text that refers to sexual orientation as such, for instance, LGBT, could be found. Instead, the study found several texts that only seem to prohibit same-sex sexual intercourse. Among them, none were attributed to Jesus, leaving about 10 phrases that are frequently cited by Korean churches to justify their anti-homosexual stance (Gen. 1:27-28; 2:18-25; 19:1-29; Levi. 18:20-23; Judg. 19:1-30; Deut. 23:17; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12; 22:45; 2 Kings 23:7; Rome. 1:18-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:33; Jude 5-7), regardless of whether those texts really deal with homosexuality as such. In particular, the Sodom and Gomorrah story and the sacred code in the book of Leviticus are dealt with among the Old Testament. In the New Testament, Paul’s mentions of homosexual behaviors in the letters to the Romans and Corinthians are examined. Finally, the study tries to apply radical inclusivism appearing in Galatians 3:28 to LGBT people today.

A Study on Users’ Participation and Perception in Architectural Design of Korean Protestant Church

A Study on Users’ Participation and Perception in Architectural Design of Korean Protestant Church

Falling and Rising: Korean Protestant Preaching and the Possibility of Apophatic Theology

This article proposes that the Korean Protestant Church, which has lost its dynamism and is declining, needs a theological reformation. Greatly influenced by Puritan theology, Korean Protestantism has deteriorated into a largely individualistic and consumerist faith. Its credibility has collapsed as it pursued power and turned away from the other. This article identifies Evagrius’ negative theology as a promising theological corrective for the Korean Protestant church. Evagrius’ mystical theology remains largely unknown but his ethical and devotional moral vision provides a viable model for the Korean Protestant Church, which stands at a crossroad today.