교회 청소년 신앙교육에서 민주시민교육의 활성화 방안

Abstract

In the sense that the church is a public institution with a mission to maintain publicity in addition to its community function, members of the church should be educated as believers with proper civic consciousness based on Christian faith in helping and building up the kingdom of God. Therefore, the church should support democratic civic education for church members who are also a member of democratic society, so that the individuals who are educated with the main content of civic education will achieve the vision of God’s kingdom in the world. Adolescence is a time when high level thinking ability is formed, and a time when self-identity is established. As an important turning point in the formation of faith identity, it is very important to correctly educate and balance the faith of adolescents at that time. However, the youth in our society do not have the proper opportunities to cultivate social responsibility, morality, and citizenship in a social atmosphere that prioritizes the educational environment and personal interests of the entrance examination. Christian youths also often fail to receive the opportunity for civic education in connection with Christian public responsibility, as the faith education is concentrated on the personal salvation-oriented faith training and the educational activities of the church. The development of personality, morality, and citizenship of a person within faith education is a core competence to be cultivated during adolescence, which is an important turning point in the formation of faith. To do so the church needs to promote the necessity of democratic civic education during juvenile education and should be open to expanding the composition of educational content within the curriculum. Although there is a growing importance of democratic civic education in the Christian faith education within the church today, there is a considerable lack of research that otherwise suggests academic discourse and practical alternatives to local churches. This study first examines the concept of democratic citizenship education in general and the necessity of democratic citizenship education in youth education. Secondly, this paper looks at the meaning of discipleship, civil work, and the relationship of democratic civic education in connection with the viewpoint of formation of public faith. Finally, the research examines the necessity of democratic civic education in the Christian faith education of the church and suggests alternatives; 1) establishing a clear vision of democratic citizen education within the subjects of church education; 2) strengthening the professional capacity of the teachers and to strengthen the participation capacity of the youth; 3) developing various practical education programs; 4) establishing cooperative governance related to democratic civic education.