Kwonsa (Exhorter)

Definition and Meaning

The term kwonsa is written with the Chinese characters for "to exhort" (勸) and "teacher" (師), and it means "one who exhorts" church members, that is, one who counsels and encourages them. The office is held by laypeople and is generally ranked above deacon and either alongside or below elder. Its principal duties are pastoral visitation (visiting members' homes to care for them), prayer, and the care of new believers and members facing hardship.

Biblical and Historical Background

The title kwonsa does not appear as such in the Bible. However, several passages are often cited to explain the character of the office, including Romans 12:8, which mentions the gift of exhortation; Titus 2:3-5, which addresses the role of older women in the church; and Romans 16:1, which introduces Phoebe, who served the church.

Historically, the office is understood to have originated as the Korean rendering of the "exhorter," a lay preaching office in American Methodism. In early Korean Methodism, the office of kwonsa was open to both men and women. Other denominations, including the Presbyterians, later adopted the office, in which it became established chiefly as an office for women. For this reason, the kwonsa is regarded as an office distinctive to the Korean church.

Practice in the Korean Church

• Presbyterian: The office is generally conferred only on women. Kwonsa are elected by the congregational meeting (the general meeting of church members) and are often installed through an installation service rather than by ordination. They are members of the church officers' council but do not belong to the session. Age requirements and the office's legal standing are set by each denomination's church constitution and therefore differ among bodies such as the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap) and the General Assembly of Presbyterian Church in Korea (Hapdong).
• Methodist: In the Korean Methodist Church, both men and women may become kwonsa. The office is understood as a stage preceding the office of elder.
• Holiness: The Korea Evangelical Holiness Church and other Holiness bodies also maintain the office of kwonsa, administering it in a manner broadly similar to that of the Presbyterians.
• Baptist and others: The congregationally governed Baptist tradition originally had no such office, but many Korean Baptist churches now appoint kwonsa as well.

In practice, churches distinguish among active kwonsa (simu kwonsa), who currently hold duties; retired kwonsa (euntoe kwonsa), who have passed the mandatory retirement age; and honorary kwonsa (myeongye kwonsa), who are appointed as a mark of respect. Many denominations reportedly set the retirement age for active service at 70. When kwonsa are appointed, an installation service for church officers is sometimes held as well.