PREACHING FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND ANTI-DISCRIMINATION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE KOREAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (1990-2012) A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Division of Religion of the Theological School of Drew University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree, Doctor of Philosophy Committee Chair: Heather Murray Elkins, Ph.D. Professor of Worship, Preaching, and the Arts Nam Joong Kim Drew University Madison, New Jersey May 2016 Copyright © 2016 by Nam Joong Kim All Rights Reserved. Dedication To my loving parents And To my beloved family. Abstract Preaching for Social Transformation and Anti-Discrimination in the Context of the Korean Presbyterian Church (1990-2012) Ph.D. Dissertation by Nam Joong Kim Graduate Division of Religion Drew University Theological School May 2016 In South Korean society, due to the historic lack of experience of living with people of different ethnicities, a series of human rights violations as well as ongoing incidents of discrimination—sexism, racism, classism, xenophobia, and ethnic-centrism—has regrettably emerged as the source of major social problems and cultural conflicts. In this preaching is challenged to shift its focus to emancipatory biblical perspectives and interpretations of humanization, respecting cultural diversity and differences in the text as well as in the larger globalized context. Overall, Korean Protestant Christianity, especially Korean Presbyterian churches, concentrate on evangelizing Koreans and on individual salvation and missionary activities with seemingly little interest in social concerns and social justice issues. Many South Koreans have a negative attitude toward the Korean Protestant churches today due to overemphasis on church offerings; no help for life problems in public sphere; too many churches; and a perceived over- influence of religion. This dissertation provides insight into this cultural view and analysis of the impact of economic globalization on Korean Protestant Christianity, especially Korean Presbyterian churches beginning in 1990. This research project outlines the history of this relationship between Korean Protestantism and the negative impact of economic globalization on structures of discrimination then explores the possibility of transformative preaching and practice for social transformation and anti-discrimination. To achieve this purpose, two African- American preachers, Gardner C. Taylor and Gary V. Simpson, and two Korean Presbyterian preachers, Hae-sung Kim and Kuk Yom Han, are introduced and compared as models of transformative preachers and transformed congregations. One of the primary foci of this dissertation is to establish connection between this emancipatory perspective of liberation and humanization and the ways in which the tradition of African-American preachers can be essential resource for both Korean congregations and seminaries who are committed to becoming communities of liberation formed through transformative preaching. Central to this thesis is the Minjung Theology of the Wanderer, which is a critical principle of emancipatory biblical hermeneutics. The Wanderers, a global concept of Minjung, beyond the particular Korean context, questions who the marginalized and the oppressed are today, and then invites us to see global migrant slaves in the context of the economic globalization of the twenty-first century. This Wanderer identity, combined with Dr. E. Kim’s methodology of trans-contextual preaching leads to a proposal of how to embody transformative preaching and practice into the public square for social transformation and anti-discrimination. Finally, this research project proposes four alternative homiletical strategies—prophetic preaching, preaching inconvenient truths, preaching as transformative storytelling, and transformative preaching and technology. These strategies are to be interwoven, in order to communicate the Gospel and generate communities of faith and preachers who participate with the God who is judging, restoring, suffering, delivering, and transforming all humans and creatures, all worlds, and all life. Black preaching and Minjung theology understand that Jesus rejected all forms of discrimination and violations. It is essential for Korean Christians to be reminded of the never ending cycle of violence and discrimination that we have experienced as a nation in the past and work to prevent others, global wanderers, from experiencing that suffering for far too long. Social transformation and anti-discrimination are not new tasks for preaching and congregational life, but it is a never-ending mission until God’s will be done on earth. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements---------------------------------------------------------------------------------ix Chapter I. Discrimination Issues and South Korea in the Context of Globalization A. Statement of the Problem--------------------------------------------------------------1 B. Scope of Research---------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 C. Methodologies-------------------------------------------------------------------------10 D. Arguments and Contributions--------------------------------------------------------14 II. Understanding Issues Related to Discrimination in South Korea A. Race-based Discrimination in South Korea ----------------------------------------16 B. Human Rights Violations in South Korea: Migrant Workers---------------------27 C. Gender-based Discrimination in South Korea--------------------------------------32 D. Social Displacement and Human Rights Violation: Foreign Brides-------------36 E. Multicultural Families: Limited Language, Education, and Self-Esteem-------37 III. Assessment of the Korean Presbyterian Church from the1990s through 2012 A. Brief Portrait of Current Korean Protestantism------------------------------------43 B. The Korean Presbyterian Church from the1990s through 2012-----------------44 C. Decline of Membership---------------------------------------------------------------55 D. Lack of Christian Leadership in the Korean Public Sphere and Social Movement -----------------------------------------------------------------------------56 E. Critical Evaluations of Korean Preaching-------------------------------------60 1. Pentecostal Movement and Blessing-Oriented Preaching-------------------62 2. Church Growth-Oriented Preaching--------------------------------------------63 3. Fundamentalism of Korean Preaching Neglecting the Context-------------64 4. Conservative Moralism of Korean Preaching---------------------------------65 IV. Prophetic Voices in the Public Sphere in South Korea A. The Rev. Dr. Hae-sung Kim, Male Presbyterian Pastor and Activist----------69 1. Rev. Kim’s Preaching------------------------------------------------------------74 2. Transforming Preaching on the Basis of Christian Gospel------------------76 vii 3. The Integrating Witness of Preaching and Preacher’s Life--------------80 B. The Rev. Kuk Yom Han, Female Presbyterian Pastor and Activist-------------82 1. Sexual Discrimination in Korean Preaching-----------------------------------83 2. Gender-based Discrimination in Korean Society-----------------------------91 V. Transformative Preaching in the Public Square/Concord Baptist Church of Christ A. Prophetic Voice in Preaching/Pastoring--------------------------------------------96 B. The Definition of Black Preaching-------------------------------------------------102 C. African American Preachers and Preaching: Gardner C. Taylor and Gary V. Simpson---------------------------------------------------------------------106 1. A Brief Biographical Overview: Rev. Dr. Gardner Calvin Taylor--------107 2. Civil and Social Contributions-------------------------------------------------110 3. Taylor’s Methodology of Preaching and His Preaching Style-------------112 4. Rev. Dr. Gary Simpson: Preacher as Teacher, Teacher as Preacher------118 5. Gary Simpson’s Theology of Preaching and His Purpose of Preaching--122 6. Gardner Taylor and Gary Simpson as Social Transformers----------------125 VI. Preaching for Social Transformation and Anti-Discrimination in Society A. Theology of the Wanderer and Emancipatory Biblical Interpretation--------129 B. Preaching from the Perspective of the Theology of the Wanderer-------------143 VII. Preaching Methodology and Strategies for Social Transformation and Anti- Discrimination A. Trans-Contextual Preaching Methodology---------------------------------------153 B. Alternative Homiletical Strategies in the Context of Globalization-----------160 1. Prophetic Preaching---------------------------------------------------------------161 2. Preaching Inconvenient Truth---------------------------------------------------164 3. Preaching as a Way of Storytelling---------------------------------------------165 4. Effective Media Usage in an Age of Globalization---------------------------170 Concluding Remarks-------------------------------------------------------------180 viii Acknowledgements I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Professors of the Theological School of Drew University, who supported and encouraged me over the past years, including Dr. Heather Murray Elkins, Dr. Gary V. Simpson, Dr. Wesley Ariarajah, Dr. Jesse Mann, and Prof. Katherine Brown. I extend special appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Heather Murray Elkins for her sincere guidance, imagination, creativity, mercy, and unwavering encouragement. Her sincere guidance enabled me to form my own position on this research project. Without her