Thesis (Th. M.)--Calvin Theological Seminary, 2004. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-108).

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1996. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-153).

Thesis (MTh (Practical Theology and Missiology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The church as a living organism is expected to grow. In the Great Commission in the book of Matthew 28:19-20 it is revealed that the desire of Jesus is that His church should increase. Growth therefore is an integral part of the church. There has been an incredible obsession with church growth strategies and methods that churches have never experienced before. South Korean churches have not been left out in this quest for church growth models. Church growth theories from the Fuller Seminary in America were introduced and applied between 1970 and 1980 and strongly affected many South Korean churches. The question for discussion here is not whether the church should grow, but in what ways growth occurs and by what means. It is God’s desire that his church grow. This is clearly demonstrated in scriptures. Various models have been put forward to examine the growth of the church, but as with all models, they have their limitations. This study focuses on Loren B. Mead’s model of church growth and its application in Korean churches. The aim of this study is to analyze and evaluate church growth theories found and followed in South Korean churches, which have affected the church in order to provide a more valid understanding. It seems that the Korean church’s failure to understand the balance between quantitative and the qualitative growth could be attributed, at least in part, to a misunderstanding of church growth theories. This study presents a desirable church growth model which promotes not only quantitative growth, but also effective and continual growth. Loren B. Mead’s model of growth is introduced which deals with four different forms of growth: numerical growth, maturational growth, organic growth, and incarnational growth. Chapter one of this study covers the background to the entire study and lays the conceptual framework of the study. Background of the Korean churches is surveyed, the aim of the study is highlighted, and the problem statement outlined, the motivation of the study introduced, and above all the hypothesis is spelt out. The methodology and the delimitation of the study are also covered in this chapter. Chapter two presents an overview of church growth models. A working definition is offered after considering various definitions of church growth. This chapter also considers the different backgrounds of major church growth movements. A theological and biblical basis of church growth is also covered in this chapter; types of church growth and the factors that contribute to the various types of church growth are also covered in this chapter. The chapter concludes with an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the various church growth models. Chapter three covers the empirical study. Qualitative data collected through the means of questionnaires from three South Korean churches is analyzed; laying the foundation for further work in Chapter five. Chapter four is an intensive study of Loren B Mead’s church growth model, namely numerical growth, maturational growth, organic growth, and incarnational growth. The uniqueness of this model is also discussed in a comparative form with other church growth models. Chapter five presents practical guidelines for South Korean churches for church growth, drawing inspiration from the literature study, the empirical data and primarily from Loren B. Mead’s model of church growth “More than Numbers” outlined in his book (1993). Chapter six forms the conclusion of the study. The major contributions of the study are highlighted and several suggestions are offered for practical applications of church growth in South Korean churches, and some suggestions for further research are also offered.

Thesis (DTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2000 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Many people are taking a keen interest in the growth of the Korean Church, and many research results are appearing. However, when dealing with the growth of Korean churches, account should be taken of the fact that this growth can only be fully understood and explained when studied against the historical background of the church's suffering in Korea. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the effect of the japanese colonial rule in Korea and in particular the impact caused by the introduction of a central element in japanese national religion, namely Shintoism. Resistance to the Shinto shrine ceremonies resulted in the church being persecuted in various ways, and this had an effect on the life as well as the growth of the Presbyterian Church in Korea. Chapter one of this dissertation compnses of the introduction, which deals with the research problem, purpose of the research, hypothesis, delimitations of the research, assumptions, definition of terms and proposed outline of the study. Chapter two provides a historical overview of the context of the Korean Presbyterian Church under japanese colonial rule (1910-1945), so as to gain an understanding of the historical background of the Korean Presbyterian Church. The history of the Korean Presbyterian Church up to 1945 can be divided into four different periods, according to certain significant events as phases in its life: the rise of the Church (1884-1907), the revival of the Church(1907-1912), growing confrontation (1912-1935), and persecution of the Church (1935-1945). These four periods are briefly described and analysed, paying particular attention to the Japanese period. Chapter three presents an analysis of the growth of the Presbyterian Church in Korea under Japanese colonial rule. This is done from a missiological perspective, in terms of the witness and growth of the church. The facts of church growth, the reasons for church growth and problems affecting church growth are discussed. The latter includes the problem of the influence of the traditional Shamanistic faith, the issue of the social involvement of the church and the problem of pro- Japanese attitudes in the church. Chapter four deals with the history and character of Shintoism and the Korean Christians' conflict with it. The first section discusses the types, standardization and liturgical structure of Shrine rites. The second part analyses the resistance of the Korean Presbyterian Church to the imposition of Shintoism which led, on the one hand, to a sharp division within the church, on the other hand, to conflict and subsequent persecution of those who chose to resist Shinto shrine obeisance. Chapter five deals with the witness of faith, on the part of those who resisted the shrine rites. This is done especially by presenting several studies of Korean Christian resistance leaders, and examines their ministry and views in order to determine reasons why they resisted Shintoism. The case studies represent both North and South Korea, as well as Manchuria. In conclusion, chapter SIX exammes the effects of Shinto persecution on the growth of Presbyterian Church in Korea, companng anti-Shinto with the pro-Shinto shrine groups. And the findings reveal that the Shinto shrine issue had certain specific long term effects on the Presbyterian Church in Korea, inter alia, in terms of growth patterns and membership trends. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: DIE IMPAK VAN DIE JAPANNESE KOLONIALE BEWIND OP DIE GETUIENIS EN GROEI VAN DIE KOREAANSE PRESBITERIAANSE KERK Daar heers vandag 'n wye en lewendige belangstelling in die groei van die Koreaanse kerk, met die gevolg dat baie navorsingsresultate nou die lig sien. Maar, wanneer die groei in die Koreaanse Kerke ondersoek word, moet rekening gehou word met die feit dat hierdie groei slegs volledig verstaan en gemterpreteer kan word teen die historiese agtergrond van die kerk se lyding in Korea. Die doel van hierdie verhandeling is om die effek van die Japannese koloniale bewind in Korea te ondersoek en, in besonder, die impak veroorsaak deur die invoer van 'n sentrale element in die Japannese nasionale geloof, naamlik Sjintoisrne. Die gevolg van verset teen die Sjinto - heiligdom seremonies was vervolging van die kerk op verskeie wyses, en dit het die lewe sowel as die groei van die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Korea beinvloed. Hoofstuk 1 sluit in die inleiding wat handel oor die navorsingsprobleem, doel van hierdie navorsing, hipotese, afbakening van die navorsing, uitgangspunte, begripsomskrywing en voorgestelde inhoudsuitreensetting. Hoofstuk 2 bied 'n historiese oorsig oor die konteks van die Koreaanse Presbiteriaanse Kerk onder Japannese koloniale bewind (1910-1945), om sodoende 'n begrip van die historiese agtergrond van die Koreaanse Presbiteriaanse Kerk te bewerkstellig. Die geskiedenis van die Koreaanse Presbiteriaanse Kerk tot 1945 kan in vier verskillende periodes verdeel word volgens sekere betekenisvolle gebeure of stadiums in die lewe van die Kerk: die opkoms van die Kerk (1884-1907), die herlewing van die Kerk (1907-1912), groeiende konfrontasie (1912-1935) en vervolging van die Kerk (1935-1945). Hierdie vier peri odes word kortliks beskryf en ontleed, met besondere aandag aan die Japannese periode. Hoofstuk 3 bied 'n analise van die groei van die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Korea onder Japannese koloniale bewind. Dit geskied vanuit 'n missiologiese perspektief met betrekking tot die getuienis en groei van die Kerk. Besonderhede oor kerkgroei, die redes hiervoor en probleme wat die groei beinvloed, word bespreek. Laasgenoemde sluit in die vraag na die invloed van die tradisionele Sjamanistiese geloof, die sosiale betrokkenheid van die Kerk en die probleem van pro-Japannese standpunte in die Kerk. Hoofstuk 4 handel oor die geskiedenis en karakter van Sjintoisme en die Koreaanse Christene se verset daarteen. Die eerste deel bespreek die tipes, standaardisering en liturgiese struktuur van die heiligdom rites. Die tweede deel ontleed die Koreaanse Presbiteriaanse Kerk se verset teen die afdwing van Sjintoisme wat, aan die een kant, lei tot 'n skerp verdeling binne die Kerk, en, aan die ander kant, tot konflik en die daaropvolgende vervolging van die mense wat gekies het om hul te verset teen eerbetoningsrites in Sjinto heiligdomme. Hoofstuk 5 behandel die geloofsgetuienis van die wat hul teen eerbetoningsrites verset het. Dit geskied veral deur verskeie gevallestudies van Koreaanse Christen versetleiers. Die bediening en die sienswyse van hierdie leiers word ondersoek om sodoende die redes vir hul verset teen Sjintoisme vas te stel. Die gevallestudies verteenwoordig sowel Noord- as Suid-Korea, asook Mantjoerye. Ten slotte ondersoek hoofstuk 6 die effek van Sjinto vervolging op die groei van die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Korea, en vergelyk anti-Sjinto'istiese met die pro-Sjintoistiese groepe. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat die Sjinto heiligdom-geskilpunt sekere langtermyn gevolge vir die Presbiteriaanse Kerk in Korea gehad het, onder andere met betrekking tot groeipatrone en lidmaatskapstendense.

Thesis (DTh)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the reasons for the recent membership decline in the South Korean Churches (SKCs) as well as the existing problems facing the Churches. It investigates the pathological pattern in the Churches and its fundamental roots. The study proposes an alternative solution that could remedy the problems and promote healthy growth within the Churches. Two issues are taken into consideration: 1) In general, the SKCs' explanations of the recent membership decline are inadequate. The reasons for the decline cannot be found by simply examining statistics. The problems are at a much deeper level and the decline requires a comprehensive examination. 2) The Churches' remedial actions are also inadequate: they are both short-sighted and, in practical terms, ineffective, as well as theologically unfaithful. A new direction for healthy growth should be proposed. This study focuses on the assumption that the reasons for the recent decline in membership of the SKCs are closely related to the distortion of the Churches' dominant ecclesiology, which has produced various ecclesial pathologies and has resulted in the Churches' loss of credibility in society. This study thus pays attention to the ecclesiology of the Churches. Chapters II and III analyse the dominant ecclesiology of the SKCs within their historical and 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 a relevant contextual ecclesiology. Hence, the central thesis of the study is: the development and application of a sound practical theological methodology will lead to the development of a biblical and contextual ecclesiology ('practical theological ecclesiology') which will explain the growth and decline in the SKCs and indicate a new direction for healthy growth. Chapter IV presents a theoretical basis for this study: it discusses a practical theological ecclesiology by means of a four-phased practical theological methodology. This consists of 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 has encouraged the Churches to accommodate contemporary culture and dominant ideologies, 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 for the SKCs. This will play a critical, constructive role in promoting the healthy growth of the Churches. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek die redes vir die daling in die lidmaatskap van die Suid-Koreaanse Kerke (SKKe) asook die probleme waarmee die kerke gekonfronteer word. 'n Bepaalde sigbare patologiese patroon word ondersoek. 'n Alternatiewe oplossing vir die probleme word gesoek sodat die SKKe op 'n teologies-gebalanseerde wyse kan groei. Twee sake word onder die loep geneem: 1) Daar word aangevoer dat die SKKe se verklarings vir die daling in lidmaatskap onvoldoende is. Om bloot statisties na die daling te kyk, is geen oplossing van die probleme nie. 2) Die regstellende aksie wat die SKKe aanvoer is ook onvoldoende. Dit is kortsigtig, prakties oneffektief en ontrou aan basiese teologiese beginsels. 'n Nuwe benadering tot gebalanseerde groei word voorgestel. Die studie werk met die vooronderstelling dat die redes vir die huidige daling in lidmaatskap in die SKKe verband hou met 'n teologies verwronge ekklesiologie wat tot verskeie wanpraktyke aanleiding gegee het Die verwronge ekklesiologie het die kerke geloofwaardigheid in die samelewing laat verloor. Die studie gee dus aandag aan die ekklesiologie van die SKKe. In Hoofstukke II en III word die heersende ekklesiologie in die SKKe geanaliseer teen 'n historiese en kontekstuele agtergrond. Die analise toon aan dat die probleme verband hou met die onkritiese akkommodasie in die SKKe van die heersende Amerikaanse kerkmodelle. Die implikasie is dat die SKKe dringend moet aandag gee aan hulle ekklesiologie. Die studie werk met die hipotese dat 'n prakties-teologiese metodologie kan lei tot die ontwerp van 'n kontekstuele ekklesiologie. Die sentrale hipotese van die studie is dus: die ontwikkeling en toepassing van 'n gebalanseerde prakties-teologiese metodologie sal lei tot die ontwikkeling van 'n bybelse en kontekstuele ekklesiologie ("n prakties-teologiese ekklesiologie'). As sodanig sal dit die groei- en kwynpatrone in die SKKe kan help verklaar en die basis le vir gebalanseerde groei in die kerke. Hoofstuk II handel oor 'n teoretiese basis vir die studie: 'n prakties-teologiese ekklesiologie word bespreek aan die hand van 'n vier-fase prakties-teologiese metodologie. Dit bestaan uit beskrywende, verduidelikende, normatiewe en strategiese fases. Die daaropvolgende hoofstukke handel oor die vier fases. Die groei in die SKKe word aan die hand daarvan ontleed. Daar word aangetoon in watter mate die heersende ekklesiologie in die SKKe tot die akkommodering van dominante kultuurpatrone en ideologiee aanleiding gegee het. Sekulere en godsdienstige ideologiee is sonder krities teologiese refleksie geakkommodeer. Dit het gesonde groei in die kerke oor die lang termyn gesaboteer en aanleiding gegee tot die heersende daling in lidmaatgroei. Ten slotte word 'n "trinitariese praxis ekklesiologie" as 'n nuwe metodologiese benadering in die SKKe voorgestel wat 'n krities-konstruktiewe rol kan speel om die kerke weer te help om gebalanseerd te ontwikkel.