Ecclesiologyand membership trends in the South Korean churches

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the reasons for the recent membership decline in the South KoreanChurches (SKCs) as well as the existing problems facing the Churches. It investigates thepathological pattern in the Churches and its fundamental roots. The study proposes analternative solution that could remedy the problems and promote healthy growth withinthe Churches.Two issues are taken into consideration:1) In general, the SKCs' explanations of the recent membership decline areinadequate. The reasons for the decline cannot be found by simply examiningstatistics. The problems are at a much deeper level and the decline requires acomprehensive examination.2) The Churches' remedial actions are also inadequate: they are both short-sightedand, in practical terms, ineffective, as well as theologically unfaithful. A newdirection for healthy growth should be proposed.This study focuses on the assumption that the reasons for the recent decline inmembership of the SKCs are closely related to the distortion of the Churches' dominantecclesiology, which has produced various ecclesial pathologies and has resulted in theChurches' loss of credibility in society. This study thus pays attention to the ecclesiologyof the Churches.Chapters II and III analyse the dominant ecclesiology of the SKCs within their historicaland contextual background. The analysis shows that problems relate to the SKCs'uncritical accommodation of the American churches' dominant ecclesiological models.This implies that the SKCs urgently need the construction of a contextual ecclesiology.This study hypothesises that a practical theological methodology can construct arelevant contextual ecclesiology. Hence, the central thesis of the study is: thedevelopment and application of a sound practical theological methodology will lead tothe development of a biblical and contextual ecclesiology ('practical theologicalecclesiology') which will explain the growth and decline in the SKCs and indicate a newdirection for healthy growth.Chapter IV presents a theoretical basis for this study: it discusses a practical theologicalecclesiology by means of a four-phased practical theological methodology. This consistsof descriptive, explanatory, normative, and strategic phases.Subsequent chapters address the four phases and analyse the growth of the SKCs:emphasis is placed on the fact that the dominant ecclesiology of the SKCs hasencouraged the Churches to accommodate contemporary culture and dominantideologies, whether secular or religious, without proper critical, theological reflection.This accommodation has undermined healthy growth and resulted in a numerical decline.Finally, this study recommends 'a trinitarian praxial ecclesiology' as a new direction forthe SKCs. This will play a critical, constructive role in promoting the healthy growth ofthe Churches.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University