칼빈의 목회관과 한국 교회의 과제

Calvin's Thoughts on the Ministry and the Tasks of the Korean Church : Centering on Calvin's Ideas and Works about Social Welfare

This article is investigating into Calvin'thoughts on the Ministry and the Tasks of the Korea Church. Calvin's viewpoint on the ministry should be understood in the Genevan context of the sixteenth century of Europe, because they are the practical places for Calvin's ministry. When we think about Calvin's teachings which we should be taught in the 21st century at the historical moment of 500th anniversary of Calvin's birth, one of the most important thoughts and works of John Calvin can be mentioned as "Churchand the Social welfare." In his ministry Calvin had to meet a number of European people with the sufferings which were raised from wars, diseases and poverty. These situations stimulated Calvin to deepen his thoughts in his Institutes and the Bible Commentaries. Calvin thus argued that" almsgiving"as well as" word of God,""eucharist,"and" prayer,"must be regarded as one of the essential elements of the Church. Finally Calvin applied his ideas about social welfare to his Genevan ministry with two sorts of Deacons. The one deacon is a "procureur"who had the responsibility for the administration of the financial affairs for the poor. The other deacon is called as "hospitallier"who practically visited and comfort the poor and the sick. In "Hôpital Général " and" Bourse française"of Geneva, Calvin practiced his theories. Therefore, I would like to argue that it is important for the Korean Churches to learn about Calvin's thoughts and works on the Church's ministry in relation with the social welfare. The Korean Church should rethink about the comprehensive meaning of ministry. For the Korean Churches, the "almsgiving,"which was carried out by the deacons of the Genevan Church in the 16th century, must be considered as one of the important ministries.