The Saemoonan Church (Korean: 새문안교회) is the first organized Presbyterian church in South Korea, established in 1887 by Horace Grant Underwood, an American missionary who also founded Underwood School (now Kyungsin High School and Middle School), Yonhi College (now Yonsei University), and Severance Hospital. This makes the church the oldest established church in South Korea. It is known as the 'Mother Church of Korean Protestantism.'[1][2] Prominent figures in modern Korean history, such as Kim Kyu-sik, Ahn Chang-ho, and Choi Hyeon-bae, have been associated with this church.[3]
| Saemoonan Church | |
|---|---|
 6th Chapel (2019) | |
| Location | Jongno-gu, Seoul |
| Country | South Korea |
| Denomination | Presbyterian Church of Korea (TongHap) |
| Website | saemoonan.org |
| History | |
| Founded | September 27, 1887 |
| Founder(s) | Horace Grant Underwood |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Lee Sang-hak |
History
editThe Saemoonan Church was founded in September 1887 when Horace Grant Underwood baptized one person and appointed two elders in an organization of fourteen Koreans.[4] Over the years, it has gone through 6 different chapels, constructing the latest chapel from 2014 to 2019.[5]
The current senior pastor is Lee Sang-hak, who took over in 2017.[6] He was previously senior pastor at Pohang Cheil Church.[7]
6th Chapel (2019)
editArchitect Lee Eunseok, an authority in religious architecture, designed the building.[8] The design of the chapel attracted attention from media due to its unconventional design like a mother's arms spread wide, and with much community space.[8][9][10]
It is known that during the construction process, the church significantly modified the initial design proposed by the architect.[8] Ironically, the unique external facade that remained from the architect's original plan led to the building's international recognition.[8] There are opinions that the heavily modified interior spaces do not match the external impression. In the architectural community, there are views that the building would have had higher completion if it had been built according to the original plan, and others are relieved that at least part of the original design was retained, preventing any detriment to the cityscape.[10]
The sixth chapel has received multiple accolades in the architecture community, both domestically and internationally.
- In 2019: It became the first church building to win the Cultural Architecture category of the Architecture Master Prize.
- In 2020: It was a finalist for the Building of the Year in the renowned architectural webzine ArchDaily.
- In 2020: It received the Jury Award in the Religious Architecture and Memorials category of the Architizer A+ Awards.
- In 2021: The chapel's curved surface graced the cover of Phaidon's published collection, 'The World's Best Architecture'.
Controversies
editControversy in the pastor appointment process
editRev. Lee Sang-hak, Senior Pastor of Pohang First Presbyterian Church, received a call to serve as the pastor of Saemunan Church, often regarded as the mother church of Korean Protestantism. He made the decision to accept this call and leave Pohang First Presbyterian Church without informing his congregation in advance. This decision left many church members feeling betrayed and shocked, as the pastoral selection process had been conducted confidentially, leading to internal conflicts within the church. While Rev. Lee explained his departure as aligning with "God’s will," many members found it difficult to accept. This incident has highlighted challenges within the pastoral call system in Korean churches and underscored the importance of transparent communication between church leaders and congregants.[11]
Lee Sang-hak's dissertation controversy
editIn 2011, Rev. Lee Sang-hak received his doctorate from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, focusing on “Sin and Salvation Based on the Han Experience of Koreans.” He argued for shifting the Korean church’s traditional judicial model of salvation to an image of healing, a stance that stirred some controversy. Rev. Lee pointed out that overly punitive interpretations of the crucifixion may negatively impact those who have experienced han (deep-seated grief or resentment). Additionally, in one of his sermons, he used the term “illegitimate child” in reference to Jesus’ birth. When parts of this sermon were later reposted with certain segments removed, it sparked further controversy. Saemunan Church has since requested an investigation from the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ 김, 동우 (2019-03-18). "132년 역사 서울 새문안교회, 여섯 번째 새 성전서 첫 예배 (The Saemoonan Church with a 132 year history does its first service in the 6th chapel)". Kukmin Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ 김, 현성 (2019-03-13). "[뉴스파워] 132년 역사 새문안교회, 새 예배당 완공 (The Saemoonan Church with 132 year history completes new chapel)". 뉴스파워 (News Power). Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ 고, 두현 (1997-06-07). "[한국의 교회] (8) '새문안교회'..110년 역사 장로교 '뿌리'". 한국경제.
- ^ ""새문안교회 사료는 한국교회 역사의 증거물" (The documents of Saemoonan Church is evidence of the history of the Korean church)". 종교신문 1위 크리스천투데이 (Christian Today). 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ "광화문 새문안교회 새 예배당 완공 (Saemoonan Church of Ganghwamun completes new chapel)". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ "새문안교회 청빙된 이상학 목사 "제가 떠나는 이유는…"". 미주 종교신문1위 : 기독일보 (in Korean). 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ "[기독공보] 포항제일교회 이상학목사, 새문안교회 담임목사로 (Pastor Lee Sang-hak of Pohang Cheil Church to become senior pastor of Saemoonan Church)". 기독공보. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ a b c d "광화문 '새문안교회'의 실험… 종교 건축의 방향을 묻다 (The experiment of Saemoonan Church - Asking about the direction of religious construction)". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ "교회 문턱 낮춰 도심의 쉼터로! - 새문안교회 새 예배당 완공". www.cts.tv (in Korean). Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ a b "새문안교회 "무거운 짐 진 자들의 쉼터 될 것" (Saemoonan Church will be a resting place for weary people)". Korean Christian Newspaper (기독교한국신문) (in Korean). 24 April 2019. Retrieved 2019-08-14.
- ^ Yu, Young (15 July 2017). "한 대형 교회 목사의 석연찮은 청빙 과정" [The Dubious Appointment Process of a Mega Church Pastor]. News&Joy (in Korean). Retrieved 7 November 2024.
- ^ Lee, Dae Woong (4 December 2020). "새문안교회 이상학 목사, 학위논문 논란 장신대 조사 중" [Rev. Lee Sang-hak of Saemoonan Church Under Investigation by Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary for Dissertation Controversy]. Christian Today (in Korean). Retrieved 7 November 2024.
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