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Any duplication, reproduction, or modification of this material without express written consent from Asbury Theological Seminary and/or the original publisher is prohibited. Contact B.L. Fisher Library Asbury Theological Seminary 204 N. Lexington Ave. Wilmore, KY 40390 B.L. Fisher Library’s Digital Content place.asburyseminary.edu Asbury Theological Seminary 205 North Lexington Avenue 800.2ASBURY Wilmore, Kentucky 40390 asburyseminary.edu ABSTRACT A Case Study of the Contemporary Church Renewal Movement in Korea Pil Won Min This dissertation is a study of the church renewal movement that has recently been happening in Korea using a case study approach. The Korean church has said that it is in crisis not only because it has spiritual problems, but also because it lost good social credibilit}' in Korean societ\ . In this situation, several renewal groups and renewing churches have shown up and argued that the Korean church must be renewed. In this study, the contemporar\' church renewal movement in Korea is analyzed and examined through interaction bet\\'een Howard Snyder's renewal theory and the Korean context. This stud\' w ill bring development of the contextual renewal theory for the Korean church considering its religious, cultural, and social contexts. a Chapter 1 , "Characteristics of the Korean Protestant Church" is foundational study for the chapters which follow. Some characteristics of the Korean church which have been formed throughout its history are introduced. In the religious-cultural aspect, shamanistic and Confucian characteristics are studied. In the theological aspect, evangelical and conservative characteristics and a futuristic understanding of the kingdom of God are dealt with. In the socio-political aspect, secularization along with economic growth is discussed. Chapter 2 explores the problems of the Korean church which makes the Korean church aware of a need for renewal and presents the research questions and methods for this study. As a theoretical framework, Snyder's theory of church renewal, particularly its ten marks of a mediating model, is introduced. In chapters 3 and 4, two case study groups are dealt with�the Korean National Association of Christian pastors (KACP) and the Christian Alliance for Church Reform (CACR). These two groups are both representative of the Korean church renewal mo\ ement even though they have different characteristics. Their motivations, goals, acti\ities, and patterns of renewal are introduced. From chapters 5 to 8, four selected churches, Yein, Didimdol, Nadulmok, and Holy Light Kwangsung, are studied as cases of the renewal movement in Korea. The four selected churches are different in many aspects of ministry, but they all have the same recognition of the problems facing the Korean church and they are trying to do their ministry differently from existing churches. They are also studied in terms of their motivations, goals, characteristics, and patterns of renewal efforts. In chapter 9, these six cases are analyzed in four categories; motivation for renewal, theological foundation, goal of their movement, and renewal patterns. In particular, the renewal pattern is analyzed through Snyder's mediating model. Overall, each of these six cases satisfies the pattern Snyder suggests. However, they each have their own strength and weakness. In addition, they have to be uniquely understood in terms of the Korean context. Finally, some new renewal patterns are found beyond Snyder's theory in its unique context. To finish my study, chapter 10 suggests a theory of the renewal pattern of the church in Korea modified from Snyder's theory in Korean context. This theory will provide a tool to evaluate and analyze the renewal movement in Korea and a pattern to follow for the renewal of the local churches in Korea. This theory will be followed along with a general conclusion and future study suggestions. DISSERTATION APPROVAL SHEET This dissertation, entitled A Case Study of The Contemporary Church Renewal Movement in Korea written by Pil Won Min and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy has been read and approved by the undersigned members of the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary Dr. Eunice L. Irwin, Reader Dr. Michael A. Rynkiewich, Reader May 2010 A Case Study of The Contemporary Church Renewal Movement in Korea A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary Wilmore, Kentucky In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Committee Dr. Terry C. Muck, Mentor Dr. Eunice L. Irwin, Reader Dr. Michael A. Rynkiewich, Reader By Pil Won Min May 2010 Copyright 2010 Pil Won Min All rights reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ix CHATER 1: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KOREAN PROTESTANT CHURCH... I A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KOREAN PROTESTANT CHURCH 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE KOREAN CHURCH 6 Religio-cultural Characteristics of the Korean Church 6 Theological Characteristics of the Korean Church 13 Socio-political Characteristics of the Korean Church 16 CHAPTER 2: THE BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY 19 BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM 19 Religious-Spiritual Problem 20 Socio-Cultural Problem 23 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 26 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 28 DELIMITATIONS 29 DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS 30 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 36 METHODOLOGY 46 Research Strategy 46 Library Research 46 Case Study 47 ANALYTIC FRAMEWORK 50 Analysis of Case Study 50 CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY: THE KOREAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN PASTORS (KACP) 53 ESTABLISHMENT OF KACP 53 i 15 Groups Involved in K.\CP 54 Leadership Structure 54 MOTIVATION FOR RENEWAL MOVEMENT 55 Recent Motivation 57 Theological Motivation 58 MISSION STATEMENT 59 Three Main Missions 59 PURPOSE STATEMENT 62 ACTIVITIES OF KACP 63 Recent Practical Activities 63 RENEWAL MOVEMENT PATTERN OF THE KACP 63 SUMMERY AND EVALUATION 73 CHAPTER 4: CASE STUDY: CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR CHURCH REFORM (CACR) 77 ESTABLISHMENT OF CACR 77 MOTIVATION FOR RENEWAL MOVEMENT 78 Problems of the Korean Church 78 Theological Motivation 80 ReUgious-Cultural Elements 81 GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CACR 82 MISSION STATEMENT 86 PURPOSE STATEMENT 86 RENEWL ACTIVITIES OF CACR 87 RENEWAL PATTERNS 91 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION 98 CHAPTER 5: CASE STUDY: YEIN CHURCH 101 ESTABLISHMENT OF YEIN CHURCH 101 MOTIVATION OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 102 Ministry Leadership Problem 102 ii Religious-Cultural Problem 103 Biblical-Theological Problem 104 PURPOSE STATEMENT 105 CHARACTERISTICS 105 A Laity-centered Church 106 Democratic Operation 106 Transparent Finance Operation 107 Independent Ministry 107 Principle of the Minimum Possession 109 Separation 109 Discipline HO RENEWAL PATTERN 110 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION 117 CHAPTER 6: CASE STUDY: DIDIMDOL CHURCH 119 ESTABLISHMENT OF DIDIMDOL CHURCH 119 MOTIVATION OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 120 Secularization of the Korean Church 120 Religious Motivation 121 Biblical Motivation 121 MISSION STATEMENT 122 SEVEN SPIRIT OF DIDIMER 122 PURPOSE STATEMENT 123 VISION OF DIDIMDOL CHURCH 123 FIVE STRATEGIC GOALS 125 CHARACTERISTICS OF MINISTRY 126 Ministry of Calling 126 Ministry of Building 127 Ministry of Sending 1 27 RENEWAL PATTERN 130 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION 134 iii CRAPTER 7: CASE STUDY: KADULMOK COMMLTNITY CHURCH 137 ESTABLISHMENT OF NADULMOK CHURCH 137 MOTIVATION OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 138 Problem of the Korean Church 138 Cultural Element 139 Biblical Motivation: Antioch Church 139 MISSION STATEMENT 140 VISION STATEMENT 140 CHARACTERISTICS OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 141 Seeker Centered 141 Sincere Community 142 Balanced Growth 143 Transformation Inside and Outside 144 CHARACTERISTICS OF LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE 146 RENEWAL PATTERN 147 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION 152 CHAPTER 8: CASE STUDY: HOLY LIGHT KWANGSUNG CHURCH 155 ESTABLISHMENT OF HOLY LIGHT KWANGSUNG CHURCH 155 MOTIVATION OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 157 Problem of Korean Church Leaders 157 Cultural Aspect 158 Theological/Biblical Motivation 158 STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY 160 VISION STATEMENT 162 CHARACTERISTICS OF MINISTRY 164 A Servant Church 164 A Church that Nurtures Competent Intellects 164 A Church that Makes Sense 165 RENEWAL PATTERN 167 SUMMARY AND EVALUATION 170 iv CH.APTER 9: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION 173 MOTIVATION OF THE RENEWAL MOVEMENT 174 THEOLOGICAL/MISSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS 186 GOALS OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 187 PATTERNS OF RENEWAL MOVEMENT 190 Rediscovery of the Gospel and Its Dynamics 190 Existence as an Ecclesiola 193 Small Groups Structure for the Renewal Movement 195 Structural Link with the Institutional Church 198 Commitment to