Korean Job Discussion Forums

[baklava]

Hey I'm new to Seoul and am looking for a church to go to with someone. I've read all of the postings for churches and am quite scared of mega-give-me-all-your money churches. I have a baptist background (yes believe me I know, so no nasty comments, please), so I'm not into a bunch of dancing and hoopla but I've been nondemoninational for several years and am not into crazy baptist hell fire and shame tactics. I'd just like to find a growing body that loves jesus and let's people be themselves. I realize that might be alot to ask for an english church in Seoul but if you have a nice church you'd to invite me to, I'm all ears.

[Buff]

I'm not there anymore, but I attended Onnuri church while I was there. I've heard good things about Sarang church too.

http://www.onnurienglish.or.kr

Onnuri's Presbyterian (like the majority of protestant churches in Korea) but it feels pretty non-denominational. There are small groups and retreats and places to serve. I went to the Seobinggo church, but there's also one in Yangjae.

[K-in-C]

Shinil Church in Yaksoo-dong Seoul has a nice service and a great group of people, as does the International Lutheran Church in Itaewon. I attended both when I was on the ROK.


http://theseoultimes.com/ST/?url=/ST/life/religious_service/religious_service.html

[heydelores]

baklava, I sent you a PM with some more detailed information, but I thought someone else on here might be interested too.

The Daerim Methodist Church (Guro Digital Complex station on line 2 or Sinpung station on line 7) has an English worship service at 2:30 PM. The English-speaking congregation is small--around 30 members--and most speak English as a second language. They're a great group of people, very caring. If you want to meet a lot of other expats, this isn't the place. If you're interested in making some English-speaking Korean friends, many of whom have lived in the US and Canada, come on over. You would be more than welcome. There are two Americans who lead the service, a pastor and a missionary. There are also programs for children--Sunday school before the worship service and middle/high school bible study after the service. PM me for directions.

The Chung Dong Methodist Church in Seoul (City Hall subway station, lines 1 and 2) is also excellent and has a larger expat congregation.

[mithridates]

I'm not sure about most of these but here are some two dozen churches:

http://wiki.galbijim.com/Category:Churches

I don't go to church here because I can't find one with Gregorian Chant. I like Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver because they have that every Sunday night and you can just go in there and chill and listen.

[Troll_Bait]

[kermo]

I haven't been to church in aaaaaages, but I'm nosing around for someplace I can go. I went to Sarang for a while, but their pastors seem to be more interested in sounding good than meaning anything, and it's hard to find a small-group that isn't 50% Korean people who seem to be there for English lessons.

I looked at the lists of churches on Galbi-jim, and I thought I'd mention that "Yeoido Full Gospel" church is very very very money-centred. They have rooms and rooms of little mailboxes just for your monetary gifts, which are tracked scrupulously. I went to one of their services to do research for my sister (she was doing a Master's in Religion at the time) and heard a sermon all about how God wants us to be rich, and how he will give to us according to what we give (presumably to the church.) The other creepy thing about that church was the 5-minute propaganda film shown at the beginning of the service to promote the head pastor. He's treated like a celebrity, which I think is pretty inappropriate. Also, FYI, the congregation is expected to speak in tongues at the sound of a bell, though none of it is interpreted.

[jinju]

Dont go to the prsbyterian church in Yeoksam dong. The minister will spend 30 minutes talking about giving money to the church.

[kermo]

[SuperHero]

http://myiwe.com
there's videos of the worship online so you can see if it matches your style.