Kim Sam-whan’s controversial decision to hand the reins of power to his son was initially found to be in violation of the Korean Presbyterian Church’s constitution, which bans nepotistic succession in the event of retirement. But he appealed that decision, made by a regional council, to the KPC’s general assembly – of which he is a former president.
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He argued that because his son had not taken over the leadership of Myungsung Church until two years after his retirement in 2015, the move did not violate the KPC’s constitution.
After a four-day meeting of the general assembly in September, its members agreed to allow the succession.
But other churches, seminary students and the general public have criticised the older Kim, with 100 protesters from the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul gathering at the church in Pohang where the KPC assembly convened last week to decide on the succession matter.
Protesters stood for two days straight outside the church yelling “assembly to allow illegal succession” throughout the day and night.
Jo Sung-don, a professor at the Graduate School of Practical Theology, said familial succession was not uncommon in megachurch-filled South Korea, which is home to about 8.6 million protestants.
“But the fact that Myungsung Church ignored the constitution that it helped create makes this an obvious controversy,” he said.
“Myungsung Church is also seen as using its influence at the KPC to gather support for its cause before the assembly.”
The older Kim was the president of the KPC’s 93rd general assembly back in 2008 and is a respected figure among the country’s Presbyterian community, as his church is the biggest Presbyterian church in the world.
“The irony is that the ban on nepotism-based succession was agreed upon during a general assembly meeting organised by Myungsung Church a few years ago,” Jo said.
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Regional councils of the KPC normally exercise their authority to approve a pastoral candidate chosen by a committee of a church. But Myungsung Church bypassed the regional council’s authority, according to Jo.
“I don’t know the details of why Kim wants his son to succeed him, but it can be inferred that the pastor was concerned about the shake-up of his megachurch after his retirement,” he said. “Even from the church’s perspective, leaders might be worried about a loss of interest from the congregation that comes with the exit of its founder.”
Jo explained that South Korean churches often struggle once their founders retire.
“Also, many pastors are refusing to let go of their leadership even as they enter their late 60s and 70s, as many of them have a difficult time parting ways with what they have built up over the years.”
Meanwhile, at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary, 350 students studying to become ministers and church instructors gathered for an emergency prayer service the day the KPC general assembly convened to consider the succession matter on September 25.
“A lot of us are disappointed with the Presbyterian general assembly, as it seems that our churches are no different to ordinary corporations with rich families securing the top seats,” said Choi Dong-bin, a second-year theology student.
“Some are saying we don’t have a future in church ministry any more, while other students are saying that we need to become pastors and start reforming the culture within the church.”
Krystal Han, a youth member of the Holy Light Unjeong Church in Paju, said it was not just the act of succession that Myungsung Church was facing criticism for.
“It’s the intentions that really matter in this case,” she said. “I think it’s normal for a pastor at a small-sized church to hand over his seat to his son, but a megachurch like Myungsung that receives so much public attention should’ve been more deliberate in the act of passing on the leadership.”
Her church in Paju is also a member of the KPC, but it picks new pastors by asking its congregation to vote, she said. Only a few churches in South Korea are known to do this.
Some have suggested that it is wrong for the leadership of a church to be passed on from father to son.
“Churches are not being taxed by the government, so church pastors should not use this privilege to expand on their own family’s wealth,” said Im Su-jin, a woman in her 50s who does not attend church and asked for her name to be changed.
“Even heads of major corporations don’t pass on leadership to their sons these days.”
Jo Sung-don, the theology professor, agreed.
“We’re in an age when major corporations like Samsung and LG are wary of public criticism when choosing family members to be successors for chief positions,” he said.
“One thing is for sure, though. This has disappointed young church-goers, who are now thinking of stopping going to church and are unwilling to defend it against its critics.”
