Denomination: Edit history

Definition and Meaning

A denomination is a broad grouping of churches that share the same theological tradition, form of church government, and liturgical customs. The term is used chiefly within Protestantism and is sometimes rendered as tradition.

In Korean usage, the word for denomination (gyopa) is often used interchangeably with the word for a denominational body (gyodan), but the two are generally distinguished. A denomination in this sense is a branch of theological tradition, such as "Presbyterian" or "Methodist," whereas a denominational body is an organization within that tradition that actually maintains a General Assembly and operates as a governing body. For example, the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap), the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong), and the Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea are distinct denominational bodies, yet all belong to the same denomination, Presbyterianism.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Bible does not present a concept of denominations as they exist today. However, 1 Corinthians 1:12 describes factions within the church at Corinth ("every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos"), and John 17:21 records the prayer of Jesus that His disciples might be one. Two views of these passages coexist: one regards denominational division as a schism to be overcome, while the other accepts it as diversity within a single tradition, so long as the core faith is shared.

Historically, the church divided in the eleventh century into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East. Following the sixteenth-century Reformation, Lutheranism, the Reformed and Presbyterian churches, Anglicanism, the Anabaptists, and others emerged within Protestantism. Later came Methodism, originating with John Wesley in the eighteenth century; the Holiness churches, arising from the nineteenth-century Holiness movement; and Pentecostalism in the early twentieth century. Efforts to foster cooperation and unity among denominations developed into the ecumenical movement.

Practice in Korean Churches

Korean Protestantism was multidenominational from the outset, as mission boards representing different denominations from various countries entered Korea in the late nineteenth century. Since then, schisms among denominational bodies have been frequent, especially within Presbyterianism (see Presbyterian schisms in Korea), so that a distinctive feature of Korean Protestantism today is the existence of numerous denominational bodies within a single denomination.

In Korea, a church's denomination is often reflected in its name. Names such as "○○ Presbyterian Church," "○○ Methodist Church," "○○ Holiness Church," "○○ Baptist Church," or "Full Gospel ○○ Church" generally indicate the denomination. The denominations differ in the following ways:

• Presbyterian: Each congregation is governed by a session composed of pastors and elders, and the church follows a representative polity extending through the presbytery and the General Assembly.
• Methodist: The Korean Methodist Church has bishops and district superintendents and operates through a system of annual conferences and district conferences.
• Holiness: These churches have district conferences and a General Assembly and emphasize the tradition of the Holiness movement.
• Baptist: Baptist churches follow a congregational polity that values the autonomy of the local church, and they administer baptism by immersion.
• Pentecostal: Churches in the Assemblies of God tradition emphasize baptism in the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
• Anglican and Lutheran: The Anglican Church of Korea and the Lutheran Church in Korea maintain a relatively strong liturgical tradition (a prescribed order of worship).

When a church member transfers to a church of another denomination, matters such as the processing of a transfer of membership and whether prior baptism is recognized may be handled differently by each denominational body.