This paper is a study of the diaconia activities of the Korean church and the formation process and need for its theological identity. diaconia in the Korean church has a long history, but the development of state-led social welfare poses a challenge ...
This paper is a study of the diaconia activities of the Korean church and the formation process and need for its theological identity. diaconia in the Korean church has a long history, but the development of state-led social welfare poses a challenge to clarify the theological identity of diaconia. The paper first emphasizes the distinction between diaconia and social welfare, emphasizing that diaconia has a faith identity that stems from God's saving action in Jesus Christ. The Church manifests the love and sacrifice of Christ through diaconia, through which diaconia acquires a value that is intrinsic to the existence of the Church and the Christian life. Furthermore, the paper suggests that legal and institutional measures should find ways to allow diaconia to perform social service without giving up its spiritual dimension. In addition, the Church should strengthen the spirituality and professionalism of diaconia through the formation of diaconia professionals. Finally, it emphasizes the need for specialized research and education on diaconia, arguing that various theological studies should integrate and fuse diaconia studies to clarify the theological identity of diaconia and further emphasize the intrinsic value of diaconia in church ministry and theological education. Such a study is expected to contribute to the Korean church's more effective implementation of diaconia activities and strengthen its theological foundation.