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Why did the Presbyterian Church of Korea split in 1959?

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1 answer
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The number of Presbyterian denominations in Korea is breathtaking: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism_in_South_Korea) lists dozens of them. From what I can tell, most of these denominations originate in the [Presbyterian Church of Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Korea) , which was founded in 1884. In 1959, however, the denomination apparently split in half, some members forming the [TongHap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_of_Korea_(TongHap)) and others the [HapDong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Korea_(HapDong)) . These are now two of the largest Presbyterian denominations in the world, each with about 3 million members. Wikipedia provides some very high-level information about the debate (conservative vs. liberal, disagreement over ecumenism). But I'd like to have a deeper understanding of the underlying issues behind the divide. Were common "Western" debates a factor, like biblical inerrancy and female leadership? Do outside observers see personality conflict to be a major cause of the divide, as many do with respect to some Presbyterian denominations in the US? What is an overview of the causes of the 1959 split of this denomination?
Asked by Nathaniel is protesting (42928 rep)
Jan 22, 2016, 02:57 AM
Last activity: Jan 10, 2021, 03:14 PM