Seeking Justice, Peace and Integration of Creation

Guest post by Meehyun Chung, Chaplain and Professor of Systematic Theology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea

As a scholar of Karl Barth’s theology and the first female chaplain at Yonsei University, I am committed to applying his concept of missio Dei, as I do my chaplaincy work as one of a team of seven, and strive to combine the reformed tradition with a feminist perspective.

First, by way of background, we are working to keep the Christian tradition that is part of our founding spirit alive in various ways. Yonsei University was founded 1885 by North American missionaries. Their work began with an ecumenical mindset and a holistic approach that combined spreading the good news of Christianity with educating and healing people. Today, we are engaged with providing spiritual care in hospitals and University-associated churches, as well as enhancing Christian awareness in various courses and classes.

Here, chapel is not a place for proselytism but a platform for broad-based spiritual education.

While the role of chapel has diminished in many American universities, here at Yonsei its importance has increased. Here, chapel is not a place for proselytism but a platform for broad-based spiritual education. Chapel is a mandatory course for four semesters as a condition for graduation at the undergraduate level, and voluntary at the graduate level. Due to COVID-19, we are conducting all courses and chapel online currently and will be for the foreseeable future. According to a survey of students, respondents answered positively about online chapel service, because it gives them more time for a spiritual pause in this difficult time.  When students were required to be physically present in the chapel, their attitude was more passive. Since participation is a kind of discipline, there is a certain lack of voluntary motivation and some negative feedback. However, there is also positive feedback from students that they were touched by the message and music. Interestingly, the results of a survey of graduates shows that, when asked was what remains most impactful in their education and what was most memorable about campus life, respondents were very positive about chapel.

We participate in the development of the university

In addition to doing education, we conduct services for students, staff, and faculty, offer bible class and spiritual counseling. To underscore Christian ethics in management, we participate in the development of the university as well as performing all official events in a Christian format. We also do research on different interdisciplinary subjects. Finally, we are seeking to encourage sustainability as important to the future of Christianity and spirituality going forward. Holding firm to our roots in the Christian tradition, our work is focusing increasingly on the sustainable development goals defined by the UN, on justice, peace and the integrity of creation as articulated by the World Council of Churches.

In Korea, we have chaplains working in many public places like schools, universities, hospitals, the military, and companies. Most operate from a foundation of their own religious tradition. In Christian schools and universities, they offer not a multi-faith ministry, but a homogenous form of Christianity. The military offers chaplains with diverse faith traditions such as Buddhism, Catholicism and Protestantism.

Gender justice is one of the urgent issues to be addressed to improve this important work.

Common to chaplaincy regardless of the faith and form is a male-centered orientation. Since men are still mostly considered as the breadwinners in society and part time chaplaincy is not popular, the presence of women in chaplaincy is very limited. Lack of flexibility in scheduling and work assignments hinders women and means they have less of a chance in the job market. Gender justice is one of the urgent issues to be addressed to improve this important work.