Theology School Plans Classes for Korean Ministry Students

Reflecting the growing number of Korean Christian churches in Southern California, the School of Theology at Claremont will begin its fall semester next week with bilingual courses for about 25 Korea-born seminarians.

The ministerial candidates, in addition to taking two or three theology courses taught mostly in Korean, will take a 12-hour-a-week intensive English class and be involved in a spiritual growth group with English-speaking students, according to the Rev. Allen J. Moore, acting dean of the United Methodist-related seminary.

“The aim is to move these students as quickly as possible into the regular English-speaking program for the master of divinity degree,” Moore said.

He said the innovation may be the first of its kind in American theological schools.

Two professors named to teach the courses in Korean are Chan-Hie Kim, associate professor of New Testament and Korean Studies, and Andrew Sung Park, assistant professor of theology and Korean studies.

The school, which enrolls an average of 350 students from three dozen denominations, is currently searching for a new dean. Joseph C. Hough Jr., a specialist in Christian ethics who had been dean, is returning to full-time teaching at the seminary and at the Claremont Graduate School. Hough will lecture at the school’s opening convocation at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.