Chongshin University proposes solution for layperson theological education amid pastoral supply shortage

The Korean church is facing the challenge of an imbalance in the supply and demand of pastors, in addition to a decrease in church members. At the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong), Park Seong-gyu, President of Chongshin University, pointed out that the gap in the church field could widen as the decrease in prospective pastors coincides with the increase in retiring pastors.

President Park stated that 76% of current senior pastors are scheduled to retire by 2039, and while the number of senior pastors scheduled for retirement reaches 8,529, the pool of assistant pastor candidates is only 3,466. He predicted that this gap could lead to a 'dead cross' around 2029, noting that the shortage of pastors could affect not only individual churches but also presbyteries, the General Assembly, and mission fields. Statistics from the Presbyterian Church in Korea (HapDong) also showed that applicants for evangelist trainees (gangdosas) decreased by 7.5% from 600 to 555, and evangelists (jeondosas) decreased by 6.2% from 10,817 to 10,148.

In particular, rural churches in provinces are facing a greater burden as they struggle with the difficulty of finding successor pastors combined with the absence of assistant ministers. In this situation, providing systematic theological education to laypeople who are already serving within the church is being mentioned as a realistic alternative. From a reporter's perspective, since it is difficult to fill the immediate gaps in the field through only the training of pastors, a structure to strengthen the ministry capabilities of laypeople seems necessary as well.

The Chongshin University Distance Lifelong Education Center operates a 100% online theological education curriculum utilizing the Academic Credit Bank System. Chongshin University explained that the courses, which include Old Testament, New Testament, Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, Missiology, and Practical Theology, are designed to be taken alongside professional work. Director Jo Gi-hyeon stated, "In the midst of the crisis caused by the rapid decrease in the number of pastors in the future, raising laypeople armed with correct theology will be a key to protecting the church together."

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