D.Min. Track: Biblical Justice

Overview

While it is clear that the Bible calls God's people to pursue justice in society, there are many distortions that arise from our culture's view of justice. This track will offer a solid, biblical framework for thinking about justice that avoids the misguided solutions inherent in the secular narrative. It will also offer practical steps towards pursuing justice both locally and globally in areas like sex trafficking, poverty, racial inequality, immigration and protecting the unborn.

The Strategy

Year One: A Biblical Foundation of Justice

This course will seek to establish a Biblical theology of justice from both the Old Testament and New Testament. We will explore God’s heart for justice that is expressed in passionate terms throughout the Scriptures. We will also examine a brief history of Justice in the church and cross-cultural communication, practices and competencies to effectively engage regarding Biblical justice with humility. The course will also explore justice in the Church through exploring the theology of power and the role it plays in the pursuit of justice. We will explore the current trend of clergy abuse, recognizing that it is not a new phenomenon. Finally, we will consider what we must do different as a church leadership to create a church that values justice in the church before we seek it in the community.

Year Two: A Practical Theology of Justice (USA)

This course will begin with an exploration through some of the key areas of injustice we face as a nation, such as poverty, racial injustice, immigration, the unborn, clergy abuse and other common struggles for our communities. We will look at why these issues are gospel issues for the local church body to address. We will also be looking at justice issues through a practical theology lens so that the church can engage them Biblically and practically. We will explore how the local church can become agents of change and expressions of grace within their communities.

Year Three: A Practical Theology of Justice (Internationally)

This course will look at some of the areas of injustice, such as human trafficking, poverty, statelessness, etc. and see how these affect societies and churches around the world. We will also examine how the local church body is dealing with these issues in other countries, such as the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and South Korea. This course will develop cross-cultural practices and competencies that may include a cross-cultural component.

The Faculty Mentor

Dr. Eddie Byun is the Director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor of Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology. He studied Speech Communication at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he experienced his calling into pastoral ministry. Upon graduation, Byun studied at Regent College in Vancouver for his Master of Divinity degree. After graduating, he began his full-time pastoral ministry and taught at Handong Global University in Pohang, South Korea. Afterward, he was led to Sydney, Australia where he founded New Life Worship. While in Australia, Eddie completed his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In 2008, God led Eddie back to Korea to be Lead Pastor of Onnuri English Ministry where he served for seven years. While in Korea, he also planted Crossway Mission Church and taught practical theology at Torch Trinity Graduate University. He is the author of IVP’s Reader's Choice Award Winner Justice Awakening, Praying for Your Pastor, and Praying for Your Missionary. He is also the executive producer of “Save My Seoul,” which is a documentary on sex trafficking in South Korea. “Save My Seoul” won "Best Documentary" at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival.