이중직 목회 허용정책에 대한 고찰

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to provide a practical-thelogical review of the bi-vocational ministry acceptance policy. Since the late 1990s the number of churchgoers has declined, and the church finances have also become low, making it difficult for the church leadership to survive financially. Consequently, the number of bi-vocational pastors has rapidly increased. Many denominations of the Korean Church have banned bi-vocational ministry. More and more pastors are suffering financially today, since many of them serve in churches with small congregations. A large number of pastors are forced to take a second job in order to survive financially, causing the number of bi-vocational pastors to continuously increase. There are three types of bi-vocational ministry: the vocation type, the livelihood type, and the exhausted type. The vocation type refers to having another profession while serving for a church. Livelihood type pastors are those who work in places outside the church due to financial problems. Many pastors today belong to the livelihood type. Finally, the exhausted type pastor is one who has chosen to serve in a financially independent state rather than depend on the money they receive from the church, in order to avoid further conflict with the congregation. Under these circumstances, this study on whether or not to accept bi-vocational ministry are highly demanded. The identity and ethical aspects of the livelihood type pastors should also be discussed accurately. The Korean churches should provide concrete policies related to bi-vocational ministry on the church and denomination level. Traditionally, the Korean Church has regarded full-time service in a church as the only type of ministry. Under these circumstances, it is not an easy matter whether or not to acknowledge bi-vocational ministry as a type of ministry. A newly planted church is usually unable to support itself financially. Thus, a systematic measure of whether or not to accept bi-vocational ministry as full-time ministry needs to be devised. The denominations in Korea hold different positions on whether to accept bi-vocational ministry or not. There are positive and negative aspects of bi-vocational ministry. One of its positive aspects is that it helps pastors understand better the lives of church members, thus providing a great advantage for them when ministering or writing a sermon. With bi-vocational ministry it is also possible to serve for a church without relying on the salary paid by the church. The negative aspect of bi-vocational ministry, on the other hand, is that can cause confusion of the pastor’s identity. It is also difficult for a livelihood type pastor to have a professional job. Under the current rapidly changing situation of the Korean Church, bi-vocational ministry needs to be further discussed from a perspective that surpasses its positive aspects - financial independence and evangelism - and tradition. Theological systems and theories must be provided in order to deal with problems that may arise in terms of job ethics and pastoral ethics.