Through my work with the Lay Pastors Ministry, I have had opportunities to visit several schools and theological institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom, including Oxford University, Cambridge University, Ridley Hall, Yale Divinity School, and New York Theological Seminary.
Oxford University
I have visited the University of Oxford many times over many years. Through my visits and studies at Oxford, I met professors, scholars, and peers from many different countries. These encounters gave me opportunities to introduce the Lay Pastors Ministry and, in some cases, to share Dr. Melvin Steinbron’s two textbooks.
My experience at Oxford was not limited to studying at the university. I also stayed at Wycliffe Hall as a visiting scholar for one month. That was a very different but valuable experience. I met many teachers and friends there, and because my schedule was relatively free, I had plenty of time to study, read, think, and work on my own. I found that freedom especially fascinating and productive.
At Oxford, I met Dr. Vincent Strudwick, a professor at Kellogg College. Our relationship eventually became very important to my academic journey. He became an advisor for my Ph.D. dissertation on the Lay Pastors Ministry at Graduate Theological Foundation. He was an excellent professor, but more importantly, he was a very good person. He helped me greatly with my dissertation and later recommended that I go to Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut, as a postdoctoral scholar.
During this period, I also had opportunities to meet other important people in my academic journey, including Jane Shaw, who was Dean of Christ Church and involved in directing our studies; Dr. John Morgan, President of Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana; and Dr. O. T. Professor Robin, who was one of my professors and advisors during my postdoctoral studies.
Looking back, my time at Oxford was much more than academic study. It became an important part of my journey of learning, building relationships, and introducing the Lay Pastors Ministry to people from different backgrounds.
Cambridge University
My second major experience was at Cambridge University. During my visits, I went to several institutions, including Cambridge Divinity School, King’s College, and Ridley Hall.
I had hoped to become a visiting scholar at Cambridge Divinity School, but the admission requirements were too difficult for me, so I was not able to join the program. Nevertheless, I met several professors there and visited the library while looking for books related to lay ministry. Unfortunately, I found only a few resources directly related to the subject.
Through these experiences, I began to understand that many of the academic programs I encountered at Cambridge were strongly focused on areas such as Old Testament studies and ancient languages rather than practical ministry and the development of laypeople for ministry. This was different from my particular interest in developing the Lay Pastors Ministry in the local church.
I also met Dr. Jeremy Morris, the Dean of King’s College. Before I went to Oxford, I had contacted several colleges and professors whose work I thought might connect with our ministry. Dr. Morris was one of them. We communicated by email before I arrived, and eventually I visited his office at King’s College.
We had a long and meaningful conversation about our respective ministries. He understood and strongly agreed with the philosophy and concept of the Lay Pastors Ministry. However, he explained that adapting the model within his Anglican context would not be easy, partly because of the established hierarchical structure of the denomination.
Even though we could not develop anything formally together, it was a fruitful dialogue with someone from a very different ministry and denominational background. I also gave him Dr. Melvin Steinbron’s two books.
Ridley Hall
I also applied to Ridley Hall College in Cambridge as a visiting scholar, and I was accepted. However, because I had my ministry responsibilities in Korea, I could not leave Korea and stay there for several months.
During my visit, I met Dr. Adrian, the director of the visiting scholar program. We talked extensively about each other’s ministries. He also introduced me to a ministry called Mission Shaped, which involved developing and training laypeople for ministry.
That conversation was especially interesting to me because I could see some similarities between their approach and the Lay Pastors Ministry. Once again, I discovered that although churches and theological institutions may use different names and approaches, there are people in many places who are thinking seriously about how to equip ordinary church members for meaningful ministry.
These overseas school visits became more than academic trips for me. They gave me opportunities to study, build relationships, exchange ideas, introduce the Lay Pastors Ministry, and learn how different churches and theological institutions understand the role of laypeople in ministry.