The Future of Korean Ethnic Churches in Australia

The Future of Korean Ethnic Churches in Australia

I. Introduction

The Korean Ethnic Church in Australia has two important roles as a responsible ambassador of Christ. Firstly, the church must take responsible concern for the ministry of 2nd generation Korean Christian for their needs of worship and pastoral care. Second responsibility with urgency is to formulate a functional Immigration Theology, with methodology of evangelism and pastoral care of ethnic churches.

As a 2nd generation Korean-Japanese-Australian, the most serious concern I had was the future of Korean ethnic church in Australia, as I have witnessed numerous “silent exodus” of 2nd generation Christian youth from the Korean Ethnic Churches. Some leaves to joins English speaking Korean youth services but as they get married and form a family, the Korean youth service can no longer accommodate their need as a church. Some becomes part of Australian church, but many could not sustain or integrate within Australian churches either due to silent cultural and social barriers. Some of them come back to their parent church(“Boomerang effect”), but at the end, many leave the church community all together.

In respect to current circumstances, I will focus on this essay in respect to 2nd generation Korean Christian youth in Australia with the question “Do we really need Korean Ethnic Church in Australia?” hoping to better understand the situation and future direction we must accomplish.

II. Background

In order to understand and make faithful judgment on Korean Ethnic Churches, it is necessary to familiarize with unique church composition with so diverse sense of values and nontraditional pastoral needs. To do so I will first explain brief necessary background and cu...

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... Press, 1992), (Korean Translations) 101.

Robert E.Park “Human Migration and the Marginal Man” (University of Chicago, The American Journal of Sociology, No.6, 1928), 881.

Gordon D. fee, God’s Empowering Presence –Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul, (Massachusetts , Hendrickson Publishers, 2005), (Korean Translations), 770.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s of Korean’s research show 156,865 Korean Diaspora(inc. Citizenship, Permanent Visa, long-term Students, Resident over 90 days.)in Australia at 2013.

http://mofa.go.kr/countries/southasia/countries/20110810/1_23052.jsp?menu=m_40_20_20 on 10/5/2014.

Stanley J.Grenz, The Theology for the community of God, (Downers Grove, Dm B.Eerdamans Publishing Co. Michigan, 1994), ( Korean Translations), 101.

Jimmy Long, Emerging Hope, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2004), (Korean Translations), 42.