Moving Beyond the Clerical Paradigm: Practical Theology in the Korean Context

Abstract Over the past few decades, practical theologians in Korea have devised a framework to address important issues, correlating theory and practice and bridging the divide between pastors and lay people to facilitate open communication. However, the clerical paradigm has deep roots in Korean culture and ideology, which, combined with the Confucian patriarchal system, poses a challenge to Korean practical theology. These factors cause practical theology to reflect on its limitations and to move toward a hermeneutical-praxis paradigm by dealing with Christian praxis, connecting church with society for public responsibility, and providing an egalitarian leadership between pastors and lay people.