SJU Declaration for new Era
Seoul Jangsin University (SJU) was established in 1954 under the name “Chong Hoe Yagan Sin Hak Kyo” (The Night Seminary of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea). Born from the ashes of Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War, it was founded with the vision of nurturing faithful workers committed to the restoration of our nation and church. Since then, SJU has produced numerous pastors and ministry leaders, consistently striving to fulfill God’s mission by embracing a Korean society and church afflicted by political strife and social upheaval. Now, grounded in this noble tradition, we hereby proclaim the SJU Declaration, which articulates our theology and educational philosophy and sets forth a new vision for the future.
- 1. SJU’s goal is to raise faithful and capable ministers and lay leaders who will serve the nation and the church through an educational system rooted in the tradition of the Presbyterian Church of Korea.
- 2. We pledge to make our utmost efforts to develop SJU into one of Korea’s leading universities by implementing bold institutional reforms and advancing a specialized educational system to thrive in an era of limitless competition.
- 3. We hold firmly to the Great Commission of world mission, grounded in biblical theology, while also embracing responsible engagement with Korea’s society, politics, culture, and history. We are committed not only to the heritage of the global church but also to the cultural inheritance of Korea.
- 4. We confront the pressing reality of environmental degradation and seek practical solutions in accordance with the will of God, who desires the restoration of the created order. We will take the lead in protecting the environment and upholding the sanctity of life, vigilantly watching for the harmful effects of genetic engineering, including cloning and gene manipulation. We are committed to defending human rights against social, racial, and cultural discrimination, following the spirit of Christ.
- 5. We aim for holistic education that promotes the restoration and salvation of the whole person. Through the proclamation of the hope of eternal salvation, we will fulfill the mission entrusted to us in this era.
- 6. We will dedicate ourselves to reviving pure evangelism in our society and will encourage our students to engage actively in ministries in marginalized regions such as small towns and rural areas. Furthermore, we will nurture missionaries and mission workers to serve in spiritually barren lands across Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, and North Korea.
All of the above commitments ultimately aim to realize the love of Christ. The spirit of Christ embodied in our motto is the spirit of self-sacrifice—the very spirit of the cross that Jesus Christ revealed to the world. Emulating this spirit, SJU will continue to stand as a model institution devoted to truth and dedication, both in Korea and throughout the world.
- On the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of SJU
- All Faculty and Staff
