Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea
| Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin) | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Calvinist |
| Theology | Reformed Evangelical |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Associations | International Conference of Reformed Churches |
| Region | South Korea, USA, worldwide |
| Origin | 1952 South Korea |
| Separations | Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) |
| Congregations | 1577 |
| Members | 362,000 total, 230,000 communicant baptised members |
| Ministers | 2,300 [1] |
| Kosin Presbyterian Church in Korea | |
| Hangul | 대한예수교장로회(고신) |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 大韓예수敎長老會(高神) |
| Revised Romanization | Daehan yesugyo jangnohoe Gosin |
| McCune–Reischauer | Taehan yesugyo changnohoe Kosin |
The Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin) also called Korea-pa - is a Evangelical Reformed and Presbyterian denomination in the Republic of South Korea, but congregations are spread in North America and in many other countries.
History
The church was established by pastors who had resisted the shrine worship and had been imprisoned by the Japanese. After liberation they organized the KyungNam Presbytery in Pyungyam. Three pastors KoRyu Seminary but the Presbyterian Church refused to recognize this seminary. Founders of KoRyu Seminary and BupDong presbytery established later, in September 11, 1952 the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea(Kosin).[2]
On December 1960 it was united with the mainline Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong), but it lasted until 1963 when the church withdrew from the union and returned to its original form and continues to this day. Only 150 churches remained with the Presbyterian Church(Hapdong). In 1976 a split occurred in the church, the Presbyterian Church in Korea (KoRyuPa) was founded, but one part of this reunited with the Kosin church. The Kosin group developed steadily. The denominational headquarters is located in Seoul, South Korea. This consist a variety of offices, like General Secretary, publishing house, Department of Church Education, the Mission Training Institute.[3]
In 2002 it celebrated its 50th anniversary.[4]
Separations
- In 1965 the Presbyterian Church in Korea (KoRyuPa) was formed.
- In 1976 the Presbyterian Church in Korea (Ko-Ryu-Anti-Accusation)
- In 1980 the Korea Jesus Presbyterian Church separated from the Koshin church.
Theology
The Presbyterian Church in Korea (Kosin) is a Reformed church, and affirms the historic Presbyterian Confessions:
Statistics
The Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin) group has 34 Presbyteries form a General Assembly, 1577 churches and 230,000 baptized and 350,000 communicant and non-communicant members and 2,300 ordained pastors. There's no women ordination.[6]
Institutions and Seminary
- The Kosin University was started in the 1950s. It was authorised by the Korean Ministry of Education in 1970. Now has more than 4,300 students and 221 professors and 22 departments.
- Korea Theological Seminary has 400 full-time students and was founded in 1946. It offers M.Div degrees authorised by the Ministry Education and a Th.M.[7]
- Kosin University Hospital is called the Gospel Clinic, presently has over 1,100 beds.
- In Kosin University Graduate School they offer PHD's in Theology and Medicine and Public Health.[8]
Missions
- foreign missions - the church has 220 missionaries in 46 countries
- home missions - the Committee of Evangelism is cmmitted to plant churches across South Korea and there 30 chaplains to the Korean military, the Committee of Evangelism in Rural Areas is in charge of planting churches in rural areas
International organisations
The Kosin group is a member of the International Conference of Reformed Churches. In mission field they work closely with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in the USA. The Presbyterian Church in Korea (Koshin) has sister church relations with the following churches:
- Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated)
- Orthodox Presbyterian Church
- Reformed Church in Japan
- Canadian and American Reformed Churches
- Free Reformed Churches of Australia [9]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.kosin.org/kosin/htmls/pck.htm
- ^ http://pck.or.kr/Eng/History/MajorH.asp
- ^ www.reformiert-online.net/ Republic of Korea
- ^ http://www.bbk.gkv.nl/korea/708/
- ^ http://www.reformiert-online.net/adressen/detail.php?id=1397&lg=eng
- ^ www.kosin.org/kosin/htmls/pck.htm constituency
- ^ https://www.kts.ac.kr/
- ^ www.kosin.org/kosin/htmls/pck.htm
- ^ http://www.bbk.gkv.nl/korea/708/