Revision #8967
Pastoral District (Gyogu)
Localized for English-speaking readers (msgbatch_01GvFKF6zaroxwZ2RCatyoPp)
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Definition and Meaning
=
- The Korean term *gyogu* combines the characters *gyo* (敎, "to teach") and *gu* (區, "district"). It refers to a district into which the church divides its members for pastoral care and governance. In Korean Christianity the term is used in two senses.
+ A pastoral district is a division the church makes among its members for pastoral care and governance. In Korean Christianity the corresponding term, *gyogu*, is used in two senses.
=
= - **A pastoral unit within a congregation**: an organization that divides the members of a single church by region or age. It is used mainly in churches with large memberships.
…
= ## Biblical and Historical Background
=
- The New Testament does not describe an institution of dioceses or parishes. Churches were identified by city, as in "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2), and some churches met in homes (Romans 16:5). Paul instructed Titus to "ordain elders in every city" (Titus 1:5).
+ The New Testament does not describe an institution of dioceses or districts. Churches were identified by city, as in "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2), and some churches met in homes (Romans 16:5). Paul instructed Titus to "ordain elders in every city" (Titus 1:5).
=
- The English word "diocese" derives from the Greek *dioikēsis*, which denoted an administrative division of the Roman Empire. As the church became established within the empire, the term came to designate a bishop's area of jurisdiction. "Parish," referring to a local congregation, derives from the Greek *paroikia*, meaning "sojourning" (1 Peter 1:17). In Korean Catholic usage today, the unit governed by a bishop is still called a *gyogu* (diocese), and the individual congregations within it are called *bondang* (parishes).
+ The English word "diocese" derives from the Greek *dioikēsis*, which denoted an administrative division of the Roman Empire. As the church became established within the empire, the term came to designate a bishop's area of jurisdiction. "Parish," referring to a local congregation, derives from the Greek *paroikia*, meaning "sojourning" (1 Peter 1:17). The Catholic Church still calls the unit governed by a bishop a diocese and the individual congregations within it parishes; in Korean Catholic usage these are *gyogu* and *bondang*, respectively.
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= ## Practice in Korean Churches
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= The **Anglican Church of Korea** consists of the Diocese of Seoul, the Diocese of Daejeon, and the Diocese of Busan. Each diocese has a diocesan bishop, and multiple churches belong to each diocese. In this usage the diocese is an organization spanning several churches and serves as the basic unit of denominational administration.
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- **Other Protestant denominations, such as the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Holiness churches**, do not use the term *gyogu* for the bodies that group churches by region. Presbyterians use the terms presbytery and visitation district (sichal), Methodists use annual conference and district conference, and the Holiness Church uses district conference. In these denominations, *gyogu* generally refers to an organization within a single church.
+ **Other Korean Protestant denominations, such as the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Holiness churches**, do not use the term *gyogu* for the bodies that group churches by region. Presbyterians use the terms presbytery and visitation district (sichal), Methodists use annual conference and district conference, and the Holiness Church uses district conference. In these denominations, *gyogu* generally refers to an organization within a single church.
=
- Churches with large memberships, especially megachurches, often divide their members into several *gyogu* according to place of residence. Some also organize them by age or life stage, such as a young adults' *gyogu* or a newlyweds' *gyogu*. Each *gyogu* has an assigned minister; often an associate pastor serves as the "*gyogu* pastor," responsible for pastoral visitation, counseling, and ministry at weddings, funerals, and other family occasions for the members of that *gyogu*. Beneath each *gyogu* are small groups such as cell districts (guyeok), *mokjang* ("pastures"), or cells, led by lay leaders such as a cell leader. The names and structure of *gyogu*, and whether a *gyogu* is headed by a minister or a layperson, vary from church to church.
+ Korean churches with large memberships, especially megachurches, often divide their members into several pastoral districts according to place of residence. Some also organize them by age or life stage, such as a young adults' district or a newlyweds' district. Each district has an assigned minister; often an associate pastor serves as the district pastor, responsible for pastoral visitation, counseling, and ministry at weddings, funerals, and other family occasions for the members of that district. Beneath each district are small groups such as cell districts (guyeok), *mokjang* ("pastures"), or cells, led by lay leaders such as a cell leader. The names and structure of districts, and whether a district is headed by a minister or a layperson, vary from church to church.
A gyogu (敎區) is a unit into which church members are divided, by region or by group, for pastoral care and church governance. In Korean Protestantism it usually refers to a pastoral district within a single congregation, while in Anglicanism it refers to a regional church unit under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
A pastoral district is a unit into which church members are divided, by region or by group, for pastoral care and church governance. In Korean Protestantism the term (gyogu) usually refers to a pastoral district within a single congregation, while in Anglicanism it refers to a regional church unit, or diocese, under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
Full revision
A pastoral district is a unit into which church members are divided, by region or by group, for pastoral care and church governance. In Korean Protestantism the term (gyogu) usually refers to a pastoral district within a single congregation, while in Anglicanism it refers to a regional church unit, or diocese, under the jurisdiction of a bishop.
Definition and Meaning
A pastoral district is a division the church makes among its members for pastoral care and governance. In Korean Christianity the corresponding term, gyogu, is used in two senses.
- A pastoral unit within a congregation: an organization that divides the members of a single church by region or age. It is used mainly in churches with large memberships.
- A jurisdictional unit grouping several churches: a regional church unit governed by a bishop (the highest-ranking cleric in the ordained hierarchy), corresponding to the English "diocese." The Anglican Church of Korea and the Catholic Church use the term in this sense.
Biblical and Historical Background
The New Testament does not describe an institution of dioceses or districts. Churches were identified by city, as in "the church of God which is at Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2), and some churches met in homes (Romans 16:5). Paul instructed Titus to "ordain elders in every city" (Titus 1:5).
The English word "diocese" derives from the Greek dioikēsis, which denoted an administrative division of the Roman Empire. As the church became established within the empire, the term came to designate a bishop's area of jurisdiction. "Parish," referring to a local congregation, derives from the Greek paroikia, meaning "sojourning" (1 Peter 1:17). The Catholic Church still calls the unit governed by a bishop a diocese and the individual congregations within it parishes; in Korean Catholic usage these are gyogu and bondang, respectively.
Practice in Korean Churches
The Anglican Church of Korea consists of the Diocese of Seoul, the Diocese of Daejeon, and the Diocese of Busan. Each diocese has a diocesan bishop, and multiple churches belong to each diocese. In this usage the diocese is an organization spanning several churches and serves as the basic unit of denominational administration.
Other Korean Protestant denominations, such as the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Holiness churches, do not use the term gyogu for the bodies that group churches by region. Presbyterians use the terms presbytery and visitation district (sichal), Methodists use annual conference and district conference, and the Holiness Church uses district conference. In these denominations, gyogu generally refers to an organization within a single church.
Korean churches with large memberships, especially megachurches, often divide their members into several pastoral districts according to place of residence. Some also organize them by age or life stage, such as a young adults' district or a newlyweds' district. Each district has an assigned minister; often an associate pastor serves as the district pastor, responsible for pastoral visitation, counseling, and ministry at weddings, funerals, and other family occasions for the members of that district. Beneath each district are small groups such as cell districts (guyeok), mokjang ("pastures"), or cells, led by lay leaders such as a cell leader. The names and structure of districts, and whether a district is headed by a minister or a layperson, vary from church to church.