존 웨슬리의 감독제에 대한 입장과 초기 미국감리교회 감독제 (John Wesley's View on Episcopacy and Episcopacy in the early United Methodist Church)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : 한국대학선교학회
· 수록지 정보 : 대학과 선교 / 18호 / 225 ~ 252페이지
· 저자명 : 이성덕

초록

한국 감리교회는 감독회장 선거문제로 내홍을 겪고 있다. 그 와중에한국의 감독제는 미국식 감독제를 본받은 것으로, 본래 감리교회의 창시자인 존 웨슬리의 뜻과는 배치(背馳)된 것이다, 라는 식의 주장이 통설이 된 듯하다. 그러나 존 웨슬리는 선교적 사명과 교회법 사이에서갈등하였지만, 감독제 자체에 대하여 부정적인 생각을 한 적이 없다.
그가 피터 킹(Peter King)과 에드워드 스틸링프리트(Edward Stillingfleet)의 책을 통하여 감독제에 대한 새로운 이해를 하였을 때에도 그가 주목한 것은 성직자로서의 장로(Presbyter)도 안수할 권한이 있다는 점이었지, 감독제 자체의 폄하가 아니었다. 또한 미국 감리교의 지도자 토마스코크(Thomas Coke)와 프랜시스 애즈베리(Francis Asbury)가 감리사(Superintendent) 혹은 총리사(General Superintendent) 대신에 감독(Bishop)이라는 칭호를 썼을 때 책망한 것을 그가 감독제 자체에 대한혐오를 드러냈다고 말하는 것은 존 웨슬리의 기본적인 의도나 전체적인맥락을 오해한 것이다. 그는 오히려 코크나 애즈베리가 자신과 같은 성서적 감독의 기능을 더욱 철저하게 할 것을 기대하였다. 그러나 새롭게탄생한 자유 민주주의의 나라 미국에서 감독제는 전통적인 의미의 감독제가 아니라, ‘선출되는 감독제’가 되었다. 또한 오랫동안 존 웨슬리를따라 ‘순회하는 감독제’의 전통을 유지하여 왔으나, 시대적인 변화에 따라 미국 감리교회의 감독제는 점차로 지역화(localized)하는 경향을 보여주었다.

영어초록

The purpose of this paper is to examine John Wesley's position on Episcopacy and Episcopacy in the early Methodist Episcopal Church.
Many Korean Methodists think that Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury,two prominent leaders of early Methodism in America adapted Episcopacy, even though John Wesley devalued and rejected it. Yet,that was not entirely true.
John Wesley, as a High-Churchman, believed that Church of England and its Episcopacy was most apostolic and biblical for the church policy.
His understanding of Episcopacy had been changed after reading the works of Peter King and Edward Stillingfleet on the Practice of the Apostles, and the Primitive Church. He was convinced that Bishop and Presbyter was the same in oder, but differed in degree. According to this new perception, Wesley thought he himself, as a presbyter priest could ordain his lay preacher, but actually he didn't put it into practice in oder to let his methodist movement to stay in Church of England.
Facing the growing demand for ordination of lay preacher in America.
After the foundation of USA, he eventually made decision to ordain Thomas Coke as a Superintendent and sent him to America.
Cokeordained Francis Asbury as a Superintendent or Bishop through the election by the annual conference in Baltimore, 1784. The ‘bishop by ballot’ was very unique in the Church History. It characterized the early Methodist Episcopacy in America.
John Wesley rebuked Coke and Asbury when they used the title of bishop as well as superintendent. It is not to be understood to mean that he refused Episcopacy itself. Actually he did not like the trappings of the prelate and princely bishop. This is what John Wesley had in mind when he wrote the “my dear Franky” letter to Asbury chiding him for adopting the title of bishop. According to John Wesley's plan, the Methodist Church in America would have been an episcopal Church of the most extreme type, governed wholly by bishops, without an American general conference or legislative body of any sort. John Wesley tried to implement the scriptural episkopē. The bishops would have governed in America as John Wesley did in England, calling the preachers together from time to time to discuss local matters and to receive their appointment. In reality,the Methodist Church in America has adopted Episopacy by election and the actual function of bishops has gradually been localized.

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