1920년대 한국장로교회 헌법을 통해 본 장로회 정치의 특징 -「朝鮮예수敎長老會政治」를 중심으로-

Abstract

This study focused on the characteristics of Presbyterian politics in the Form of Government of the constitution of the Presbyterian Church of Korea enacted in 1922 and revised in 1929. The Korean Presbyterian Church established presbytery for the Presbyterian Church of Korea in 1907, enacting the creeds and the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church of korea. These were, however, far from a constitution in its complete form covering the doctrines, political forms, disciplines, and service ceremonies. Its constitution was enacted in its complete form at the 11th general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea held in 1922. This constitution consisted of Creeds, Catechism of the Bible, the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church of korea, the Directory of Worship and the Book of Discipline, holding its significance as the first complete constitution in the history of the Korean Presbyterian Church based on the standard documentation system of Westminster. Its the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church of korea followed the example of political form in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church in the USA, whose characteristics include the introduction of eight political principles, distinction of permanent office into two groups, new installation of the deaconess title, new installation of Jejik-hoe(officer's meeting), reinforcement of visitation committee, establishment of hierarchical concepts for each judicatory, and an introduction of the limited term of office for elders and deacons. The constitution of 1922 was revised in 1929 when the revision took place around the Form of Government of the Presbyterian Church of korea. The content and characteristics of the revision include the deletion of the provisions about the interruption of miracles under the influence of Kim Ik-du's revival meeting, new addition of provisions about temporary and semi-employees, new installation of provisions about pastor titles based on their jobs, and actual abolition of the limited term of office for elders and deacons. The Korean Presbyterian Church established a framework for its Presbyterian political system based on church law through the enactment of its constitution in 1922 and its revision in 1929.