Table Of ContentREVITALIZING THE WESLEYAN CLASS MEETING IN THE KOREAN
METHODIST CHURCH : A MISSION-ORIENTED APPROACH
: % ^ s l-t ^ £ 3 .
A Professional Project
Presented to
the Faculty of
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirement for the Degree
Doctor of Ministry
By
Dongsik Park
April 2015
©2015
Park
All RIGHTS RESERVED
This professional project completed by
Dongsik Park
has been presented to and accepted by the
faculty of Claremont School of Theology in
partial fulfillment of the requirements of the
Doctor of Ministry
Faculty Committee
Namsoon Kang, Chairperson
K. Samuel Lee
Dean of the Faculty
Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook
May 2015
ABSTRACT
REVITALIZING THE WESLEYAN CLASS MEETING IN THE KOREAN
METHODIST CHURCH : A MISSION-ORIENTED APPROACH
by
Dongsik Park
This study is profoundly focused on class meeting, significantly important in the
Methodist tradition. It is very obvious that class meeting in the Methodist Church in
Great Britain and America has lost its identity, and has ceased to function as it should.
In current days, the Korean Methodist churches have been also struggling with the same
issue. Therefore, this study will deal with the revitalization of class meeting in the
Korean Methodist Church. First, I will introduce the development and significance of
class meeting in the Methodist history, and expose the causes of the declination of class
meetings. Based on my research, I will provide revitalizing methods for the class
meeting in the Methodist churches in Korea. Among these methods, I will consider that
the Mission-oriented methodology would be the most concrete way to achieve
revitalization of the class meeting. For my case study, I will apply my practical
proposals to Chong-kyo Methodist Church, the first founded church by a missionary from
the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1900. Chong-kyo Methodist church also
experienced the declination of class meeting. Since I was placed in charge of the Class
meeting in Chong-kyo, I have tried to revitalize the class meeting for the past five years
by focusing on mission-oriented methodology. This project will present how the class
meetings in Chong-kyo have been completely revitalized.
KEYWORDS: Class Meeting, Revitalizing, Declining-, Mission-oriented, Korean
Methodist Church
SUMMARY
The class meeting has been a significant part of service to the community in the
Methodist Church. The class meeting has played a vital role not only in the early
Methodist Church in England, but also the Methodist Church in the United States and
Korea. However, the class meeting in the Korean Methodist Church declined even
before but especially after 2000. Because of the importance of the class meeting in the
Methodist Church, I argue that many churches should become sensitive to the seriousness
of the declination of the class meeting should feel the need to devote more study and
research to this phenomenon, and should make serious efforts to revitalize that important
aspect of congregational life in the Methodist Church.
For the Study, I divide this project into two main sections: first, I clarify the
causes and problems of the declination of the class meeting in the Korean Methodist
Church. Second, I suggest a plan for its revitalization, pointing out the causes of the
declination. 1 also suggest a proposal for a new form of the class meeting, a form that is
based on a deeper understanding of the practical and spiritual benefits of the class
meeting. My purpose in undertaking this study is to revitalize the class meeting in the
Korean Methodist Church.
In chapter 1,1 state the purpose of the study and, discussion of the thesis about
why the Korean Methodist Church encountered problems in the class meeting program,
and will state the reasons for the declination of the class meeting. I state previous
studies about this Mission-oriented concept with a special focus on Wesley’s study.
Then I present essential definitions of the class meeting, revitalization of class meeting,
and Mission-oriented concept. Furthermore, 1 present the audience and the target in this
project, and the scope and limitations of the study.
In chapter 2,1 discuss the importance of the class meeting in the Methodist
tradition and the missiological meaning of the class meeting. This chapter presents the
formation process for the class meeting, focusing on Wesley's idea of sanctification that
included three significant doctrines. Moreover, 1 retain Wesley's mission-oriented
concept and missional understanding of the class meeting. In this part, I classify three
mission-oriented concepts: salvational, social, and servant. I discuss how the tradition
of the class meeting has influenced the United Methodist Church and the Korean
Methodist Church as it has been established in both Methodist Churches.
In chapter 3, the main issue — the cause of declination of class meeting in Korean
Methodist Church -- will be addressed. First, I study the causes of declination of the
class meeting of the early Methodist Church in England and the United Methodist Church.
I address the theories of David Watson and Kevin Watson on this subject. Second, I
consider three main internal causes of the decline in the Korean Methodist Church: 1) the
absence of an effective leader for the class meeting, 2) the deficiency of Wesley’s
sanctification, personal spirituality, and community spirituality, and 3) the lack of social
participation and missiological work that Wesley emphasized. Third, I study the two
main external causes for the decline, based on current circumstances: 1) the influence of
women's social advancement and 2) the issues of a social value system and the times that
cause changes of residential areas and maximization of individualism.
In chapter 4 ,1 suggest the practical alternatives and plans for the revitalization of
the class meeting in the Korean Methodist Church. First of all, it will require 1)
cultivation of an effective leader for the class meeting leader, 2) empowerment of
personal sanctification and spiritual leadership, and 3) and reinforcement of missiological
class meeting based on Wesley’s theory. The chapter will emphasize offering and and
will explain how to organize the class. Furthermore, I propose ways of revitalization in
terms of general issues, and the practical alternatives developed for a new style of class
meeting in Chong-Kyo Methodist Church where I have served for nine years. I will
address the historical background of Chong-Kyo Church and reasons for the need of
change; will address the success of the new class meeting since the changes; and will
introduce the specific process of initiating the new organization of the class meeting over
the past 5 years. At the end of this chapter, I present the evaluation of the church and an
analysis of the effectiveness of the new class meeting.
At the conclusion, chapter 5 is a summary of the whole process of this project
and the results, along with suggestions for leader's educational curriculums as a way to
promote the class meeting. Finally, I conclude with suggestions for the missional and
future-oriented alternative of the class meeting, which I believe should be adapted by
each church.
I expect that this project will contribute to the revival of the class meeting within
Korean Methodist churches.
s. CI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
I. ^1 -
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................1
A. 3
Meaning and Purpose of Study ....................................................................................................1
B. tflfl- s.^1
Discussion of the Problem ...........................................................................................................3
C. S.^r
Discussion of the Thesis ................................................................................................................7
D.
Proceeding Studies .......................................................................................................................10
E.
Definitions .....................................................................................................................................14
1. ^3]
Class Meeting .........................................................................................................................14
2. 4=-3]$H^
Revitalization of Class Meeting ..........................................................................................16
3. #3ILA}-tf
Mission-oriented Concept .............................................................................................17
F. tfltf
Audience & Target .......................................................................................................................18
G.
Scope and Limitations .................................................................................................................19
H. Jlf- 3J ^1-SLl-
Outline of the Chapters and Flow of the Argument ...............................................................21
II.
The Missiological Meaning and importance in Methodist Tradition ........................................23
a. ^-eljaSI ^ 4 3 4 - § ^
The Significance and Formation Process of the Methodist Class Meeting ............. 24
IV
Class Meeting and Wesley’s Idea of Sanctification ...............................................................29
c. # ^ 512} 4^1 s]n]4 ^ 514^
The Mission-oriented Concept and Missional Meaning of the Class Meeting ..............35
D. #e}5l3l 42)2] *i-f-ol n)^-IiI2]4 42)6]) nl ?1 W~
The Impact of Methodist Class Meeting on the Korean Methodist Church and the United
Methodist Church ...........................................................................................................43
III. ^ ^elH sl 4 2 )2) 2]s)
Cause and Analysis about Declination of the Class Meeting in the Korean Methodist Church
........................................................................................................................................................46
A. #2]H 5l 42}2] 2)S)
Declination of the Class Meeting in the Methodist Church .................................................46
1. 3l7] #e)lIL2] 4 2 )2] 2)£)2)- 31 o]
The Cause of Declination of the Class Meeting of the Early Methodist Church 46
2. 4 ^ 2 ) 2)5H)
Theories Regarding the Declination of the Class Meeting ............................................49
b. D-4 #5)222) . ) ] ]*]
4 2 6 4
The Main Internal Causes of the Declining Korean Methodist Church Class Meeting.... 53
1. ^ 4 $ # H #2) 4 4 4 #
The Absence of an Effective Leader for the Class Meeting .........................................58
2. 4 4 4 4 4 4 1 4
The Deficiency of Spirituality and Sanctification ........................................................60
3. 42)444 414 4^4 44 14
The Lack of Social Participation and Missiological Work ............................................62
C. 4 4 4 4 4 4 # 4 ^ 4 4 4 4 2)1
The Main External Causes of the Declining Korean Methodist Church Class Meeting... 65
1. 441-4 43 a) ##4) 4a £^1
The Influence of Women’s Social Advancement ...........................................................65
2. 444 7f4#^4 4444 4a
The Issue of Social Value System and the Times ...........................................................73
IV. 4 4 # 4 :e4 4 s)6) ^ 42)- wj-6]-34 4 4 4 tflo> 44
The Plan for the Revitalization and Practical Alternative Proposal of the Class Meeting in
the Korean Methodist Church ....................................................................................................81
A. 3 3 # 3 ^ 3 4 3 3 t 3 3 3 3
The Revitalization of the Class Meeting in Korean Methodist Church ...........................81
1. 3 3 3 4 4 3 *}£*}$ 3 3
Cultivation of an Effective Leader for a Class Meeting .............................................81
2. 7fl33 3 3 3 3 3 70>S(.
Empowerment of Personal Sanctification and Spiritual Leadership ..........................85
3. 3)43 37233-oj] 4 3 3 372. 4 3 5 -3 7js*
Reinforcement of Missiological Class Meeting based on Wesley’s Theory ............87
4. 3 3 3 3 3 1 3 4
General Issues and Proposal for Revitalization ...........................................................90
B. 372*1333 3 5 -4 4 3 3 4 4 3 3 4 3 3 : 432323«- 4 3 ° .^
New Class Meeting as a Practical Proposal to Achieve Evangelistic Goals in Chong-kyo
Methodist Church ...........................................................................................................92
1. 43272.3 4 3 3 3 4 3 - 43-3 €-2-4
The History of the Class Meeting in Chong-kyo Church and its Need for Change ..92
2. 3 3 3 43-3 3 -4 4 4 3 5 .4 4 3 3 3 3
Beginning of the New Class Meeting in Response to the Change of the World ......95
3. 3 ^ 4 4 3 € 3 3 331 3-3
New Organization and Progress of the Class Meeting ................................................99
4. 3-3 € 33- 3 3 3 72
Evaluation .....................................................................................................................104
v. 33
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................117
a. 3 4 3 4 -S -4
Summary of Results ............................................................................................................117
B. 472723 4 3 1 -3 3 3 *-9 33-3-
The Key Points for the Revitalization of the Chong-kyo Church ....................................120
c. 4 3 € 3 3-1- 33- 3 3
Suggestions for the Promotion of Class Meeting .............................................................121
3-72.4*1
p tL i_l
Bibliography ....................................................................... 126
VI
