[Post-Religion Era]⑥ "Church is a Place for Souls Parched, Still the World's Hope"

Interview with Park Sung-kyu, President of Chongshin University
Shock of First Underenrollment at Theological Graduate School Last Year
Growing Disappointment in Religion Explored
Church and Society Support Roles... Need to Improve Treatment of Pastors
Money Cannot Fill the Vacuum in Hearts
Hope More People Learn About the Gospel

Editor's NoteIn most religions, there is a noticeable decline and aging of prospective clergy. While this is a natural phenomenon due to population decline, the influence of an era that values materialism is also cited as a major reason. How does the religious community perceive and respond to this phenomenon? Furthermore, how does religion exist in our society today, and what impact does it have? We take a closer look at the inner workings of Catholicism, Buddhism, and Christianity.

The beginning of Protestantism in Korea is considered to be the Sorae Church established in Hwanghae Province in 1883. The brothers Seo Sang-ryun and Seo Gyeong-jo, who traveled between Manchuria and Korea, reportedly founded it on their own without missionary assistance. Protestantism took root in earnest when missionaries Horace Underwood, Henry Appenzeller, and Mary Scranton set foot on Korean soil in 1885. Missionary Underwood laid the foundation for Yonsei University and Severance Hospital, Appenzeller established Paichai School, and Scranton founded Ewha Hakdang, the predecessor of Ewha Womans University. Most traditional schools and hospitals bear the marks left by missionaries. The church also played a significant role in independence. Among the 33 national representatives, 16 were Christians. Korean Protestantism grew remarkably alongside the Miracle on the Han River on this foundation. However, recently, the decrease in the number of pastors has put the Korean church in crisis. We asked Park Sung-gyu, president of Chongshin University, about this. Chongshin University is a seminary representing the Presbyterian Church of Korea, the largest Protestant denomination in Korea.

Sungkyu Park, President of Chongshin University
Photo by Seomideum

- Your first year as president is coming to an end. How do you feel?

▲I feel a strong sense of responsibility. The sharp decline in the school-age population means that 50% of universities could close within 10 years, which is a heavy burden. Last year, the Chongshin Theological Graduate School failed to fill its quota for the first time since its establishment.

- The theological graduate school filled its quota this year after last year's shortfall. Was there any special effort involved?

▲Increasing the number of seminary students is not easy, but surprisingly, applications increased by about 100. It is by God's grace. I earnestly asked each of the 160 presbyteries in the denomination to send at least one student, and invited pastors in charge of high school and college youth ministries to actively recommend those with pastoral gifts. Before becoming president, I pledged to provide scholarships to all seminary students. It is difficult to do all at once, but the goal is 30% in the first year, 50% the following year, and 100% by the end of my four-year term. As word spread, good news seems to have come. This year alone, about 2.2 billion KRW in donations have been received.

- Last year's shortfall was the first in the school's history. In the past, there was a saying that retaking the entrance exam once or twice was normal at Chongshin University...

▲It was a huge shock. I thought Chongshin would be an exception, but we recorded a shortfall of 52 students. However, we did not accept all applicants. We rejected 30. Within the seminary, a prayer movement has arisen due to the shock of last year's shortfall.

- Interest in religion and the rate of seminary applicants are decreasing. Why do you think this is?

▲Interest in religion is still quite high among those over 50, but it drops sharply from the 40s and younger. Due to the influence of postmodernism, the idea that there is no absolute truth has spread, leading to decreased reliance on faith. I also believe disappointment from unmet expectations placed on religion, including Christianity, has had an impact. Becoming a pastor means living a life bearing the cross, so spiritual fervor is necessary, but the enthusiasm for revival in the Korean church has cooled. The reluctance to engage in emotional labor is also a major reason.

- What do you mean by emotional labor?

▲Compared to the baby boomer generation, which had many siblings, today's MZ generation often grew up as only children. Their basic capacity to handle emotional conflicts differs from before. Pastoral work involves enduring and internalizing many difficulties, so it can be very challenging. Expecting compensation proportional to the effort is also a difficulty. After graduating from seminary and joining a church, the remuneration is very low. There are many criticisms that "if assistant pastors are not paid well, it is hard to increase seminary students," but care for assistant pastors is very insufficient. Also, as anti-Christian sentiment grows stronger, the burden of becoming a church leader is not small.

- What do you think society expects from Protestantism? What role does it actually play?

▲I think society wants it to serve the community, such as through charity and welfare, being a good neighbor. In fact, Protestantism is said to handle 49% of social welfare in the religious sector. Christians often do good deeds quietly without publicizing them, so their practical role is not well known, but it is substantial. About 70% of people who have pledged organ donation are Protestants. Pastors engage in various ministries such as delivering free milk to check on the elderly to prevent lonely deaths and serving migrant workers. In Baeneumsil Village in Jinan, Jeonbuk Province, a pastor who studied the Saemaul Undong (New Village Movement) and rural guidance entered the village and transformed it into a better place to live, increasing the proportion of believers from 20% to 80%. I believe that genuine service to society should be expanded.

- It is hard to find spiritual leaders. Past leaders have been embroiled in negative issues such as hereditary succession.

▲Historically, many outstanding leaders appeared in early Christianity, but as it matured, leadership seems to have dispersed among various leaders. There are still many excellent people, but it is true that some fall into temptation. They should live lives that serve as models differentiated from the world, but this is a regrettable point. Humans are very weak beings. Even I, as a pastor and president, face temptation daily. Overcoming it well is important, but even if one starts well, the problem is that it fades over time. Walking with God is the most important.

- Some people reject pastors and want to practice faith alone.

▲Dr. Lee Oi-ryeong once responded to criticism asking, "You are an intellectual, so why do you practice faith alone at home and make a show of believing in Jesus by going to church?" by saying, "If you are hungry, you go to a restaurant; if bored, to a theater; if sick, to a hospital. When your soul is starving, the place to go is church." Regarding criticism of the church's negative aspects, he said, "Are all restaurants delicious? Are all doctors masters? Are all movies masterpieces? Not all churches are spiritual, but still, for those whose souls are dry, the only place to go is church." It makes no sense to say you will not go to a hospital because a doctor misdiagnosed you. The church remains the hope of the world.

- How can the church be the hope of the world?

▲Healing that the world cannot provide is possible in the church. When I was pastoring in Busan, a woman in her 40s with alcohol dependence came. She was on the verge of divorce and suffering from suicidal impulses, but after starting to attend church, she quit drinking through the power of faith, something she had struggled to do despite great effort. Her suicidal impulses disappeared, and her marital relationship improved. There are countless such cases. The church has this social healing power. I myself lost my father at age 10 and suffered from severe childhood depression, which improved after attending church. A Sunday school teacher visited me every week for a year. Although not quantifiable, the church plays a major role in preventing suicide and divorce and supporting society.

- Already, frontline churches say it is difficult to find evangelists.

▲The number of seminary students has drastically decreased. The quota was 800 per year in the past but is now 343. There are 12,000 churches in our denomination alone. If we consider half of them have the capacity to hire evangelists, that is 6,000 places, but there are no evangelists to go. The same applies to assistant pastors. Not to mention rural areas, even within the metropolitan area, the number of churches is about 5,000, which is not met. Even combining all three years of seminary students, there are only about 1,000. If this continues, small churches will find it difficult to find senior pastors within 10 years. I consider filling the quota a mission and raising seminary students as leaders of revival the highest goal.

- How are the working conditions for evangelists and pastors?

▲Evangelists affiliated with the seminary generally receive less than 1 million KRW per month. It is better if the church covers tuition, but many do not. Assistant pastors' salaries vary widely but at most about 36 million KRW per year. It is not a 9 to 6 job like a regular office. If a congregant is dying in the middle of the night, pastors must visit. It is a constant tension. Yet many congregants think, "Pastors should not be well-fed and comfortable." I understand the intention, but forcing poverty will not change the situation.

- What efforts are being made?

▲We reduce burdens through scholarship support and emphasize improving treatment and awareness whenever possible. This is something the entire Korean church must work on together. In my time, seminary education was mostly theoretical, and we learned by facing challenges in the field. However, the MZ generation often does not know well and sometimes refuses to serve if they lack confidence. Therefore, seminary education needs to be supplemented with more practical pastoral content. We are preparing this by collaborating with seminary professors. Also, we plan to introduce various pastoral fields so seminary students can prepare for future ministry. For example, inviting instructors who have experimented with running orchestras, managing village libraries, operating cafes, or helping farmers in rural areas while pastoring. We are also considering an 'UnderCare' program where the senior pastor closely guides the seminary student's spiritual life and church ministry for one year.

- Lastly, any message you would like to share?

▲The scientist and mathematician Pascal said that every person has a vacuum in their heart that cannot be filled with money, fame, or pleasure. Only God, whom we meet through Jesus, can fill that vacuum. Over more than 40 years of ministry since 1983, I have met many people who overcame depression and suicidal impulses through the gospel. I hope more people come to know the gospel and live happy lives. For that, pastors who preach the gospel are absolutely necessary.