한국교회학교의 위기의 내적인 요인 심층분석

Abstract

Korean churches grew so rapidly that there would be no other examples like that in the world church history. And now they are falling down as if they had wings. There are many factors contributing to the declines of churches in Korea. Of course, there is a natural factor of demographic declines. (i.e. the marriage rate and child birth rate are constantly declining in Korea these days.) However, there are also inner factors that cause the churches decline. They are negative images about churches and Christianity in general, people loosing their religious tendency, and secularization of churches that reflect consumerism of church members. This study examines the internal factors that contribute to the declines of church education in Korea through in-depth interviews with local church education staff. This article asserts that the lack of philosophy for the educational ministry is the key factor that causes the church education decline. A leader’s lack of educational philosophy brings the lack of experts of education and which also cause the teachers’ lacking competences and this is consequences of poor family education at home. This study is a qualitative study through a series of in-depth interviews that try to read unspoken reality of local church education ministry that could not be examined a mere quantitative study. This qualitative study is originally based on the quantitative study conducted by a research team led by Dr. Youngjoo Hahm in 2015 with the support of the Korea Evangelical Theological Society. This study confirms that the research team’s research results and the suggestions for the improvements are valid and practical. In conclusion, the author suggests three recommendations for the effective future church education. First, to receive a regular evaluation and consultation from a reliable research center and consulting group; second, to provide practical training for the teacher’s expertise; third, to evaluate and improve the current seminary’s curriculum for more effective training of educational staff. There is a saying that ‘crisis is an opportunity.’ It is crisis of the church education, but it is the best opportunity for changes as well.