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A Democratic Leadership of the Ministry and Professional Ethics for the Ministers

  • The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
  • Abbr : 기사윤
  • 2010, (20), pp.7-40
  • Publisher : The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology

Kang, Won Don 1

1한신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Today the Protestantism in Korea confronts a serious crisis of confidentiality. In order to overcome such a crisis, I think, it is crucial to establish a democratic leadership of ministry and professional ethics for ministers. In consideration of it I would like to present my opinions on such themes from the perspective of ethics in ministry. Church ministry is a wide scope of practice of the church community as a whole to serve the world according to the concept of mission Dei, therefore covers much wider areas of activities than the traditional pastorate. Ethics in ministry make reflections on institutional formation of the ministry on the one hand, give guidelines on ministerial virtues and obligations in form of professional ethics for ministers on the other. In this sense ethics in ministry deepen and widen the traditional form of the clergy ethics and the pastoral ethics. From the viewpoint of ethics in ministry I would like to deal with three emergent tasks which are closely connected with one another: 1) to argue for professional ethics for ministers; 2) to suggest some principles to overcome the authoritarianism prevailing in church communities and to establish a democratic leadership of the ministry; 3) to articulate some principles to found a collegium of ministers for meeting the needs of professionalization and diversification of the ministry in the world of today. Firstly, I believe that ministers should make efforts to acquire such character and virtues as holiness, love, trustworthiness, altruism, prudence etc. It is necessary to design a code of conduct for ministers. Secondly, I think that a democratic leadership of the ministry should be rooted in the insight that the church is the body of Christ and that it is a charismatic community. In it there is no hierarchy among the gifts of the Spirit but organic connectedness and cooperation between charisma-bearers. Therefore a ministerial leadership should be honest to the principle of koinonia as well as the principle of conciliar formation of the church. Thirdly, I suggest that the collegium of ministers should be founded on the principle that the autonomy of professionals should be respected and that all the colleagues should work together in a responsible partnership.

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