By Jung Min-ho
SaRang Community Church Senior Pastor Oh Jung-hyun returned to the church Sunday after a six-month suspension, while a group of protesters assembled outside holding placards bearing messages such as "We are opposed to pastor Oh Jung-hyun's comeback."
The 57-year-old was suspended from giving sermons in March after he admitted plagiarizing Michael Wilkins' book "Following the Master'' in the process of getting a doctorate of philosophy from South Africa's Potchefstroom University in 1998.
From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oh gave sermons at five services. Concerns were raised over possible clashes between his supporters and opponents, but this didn't occur.
"This is my first sermon in six months. I'm asking your forgiveness for all the pain that I have caused," Oh said. "From now on, I will put everything toward preaching the gospel for the rest of my life with a sense of owing a debt (of gratitude to God)."
Oh also noted, "The hardship was painful, but it also was an opportunity for me to truly communicate with God. I have tried to understand people who have different opinions than me," in a statement issued the same day. "Now it is time for us to recover and stabilize the church."
Despite his wish, the internal conflict, ignited by Oh's plagiarism and controversial new church-building project, seems to see no signs of abating.
Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office is investigating the allegation that Oh breached his duty of protecting the church's property by raising construction costs from 210 billion won ($195 million) to 320 billion won without discussing it with the church's policy-making body, the Korea Economic Daily reported earlier this month.
One of the opponents, who refused to be named, said they will continue to pressure the disgraced pastor by conducting a petition campaign soon to demand a thorough investigation into the case.
They also put an advertisement in the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh newspapers this month calling for Oh's resignation.
Members of the policy-making body held a meeting Sunday to express their unified stance on Oh's return but failed to reach an accord.
In light of his academic dishonesty, the Ph.D from Potchefstroom University has been removed from his academic background on the church's homepage, though the school refused to cancel the degree. Also on Naver, the nation's largest Internet site, the information was not corrected.
The South African Embassy in Seoul told The Korea Times that it is "in the process of establishing the facts" from Potchefstroom University to deal with the issue.
Oh's other thesis submitted for a Doctor of Ministry from Biola University in 2005 was also found to be plagiarized, but the Christian university located in California has not taken action to rectify it, stating "the situation is still under review without an end date."
SaRang Community Church Senior Pastor Oh Jung-hyun returned to the church Sunday after a six-month suspension, while a group of protesters assembled outside holding placards bearing messages such as "We are opposed to pastor Oh Jung-hyun's comeback."
The 57-year-old was suspended from giving sermons in March after he admitted plagiarizing Michael Wilkins' book "Following the Master'' in the process of getting a doctorate of philosophy from South Africa's Potchefstroom University in 1998.
From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oh gave sermons at five services. Concerns were raised over possible clashes between his supporters and opponents, but this didn't occur.
"This is my first sermon in six months. I'm asking your forgiveness for all the pain that I have caused," Oh said. "From now on, I will put everything toward preaching the gospel for the rest of my life with a sense of owing a debt (of gratitude to God)."
Oh also noted, "The hardship was painful, but it also was an opportunity for me to truly communicate with God. I have tried to understand people who have different opinions than me," in a statement issued the same day. "Now it is time for us to recover and stabilize the church."
Despite his wish, the internal conflict, ignited by Oh's plagiarism and controversial new church-building project, seems to see no signs of abating.
Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office is investigating the allegation that Oh breached his duty of protecting the church's property by raising construction costs from 210 billion won ($195 million) to 320 billion won without discussing it with the church's policy-making body, the Korea Economic Daily reported earlier this month.
One of the opponents, who refused to be named, said they will continue to pressure the disgraced pastor by conducting a petition campaign soon to demand a thorough investigation into the case.
They also put an advertisement in the Chosun Ilbo and Hankyoreh newspapers this month calling for Oh's resignation.
Members of the policy-making body held a meeting Sunday to express their unified stance on Oh's return but failed to reach an accord.
In light of his academic dishonesty, the Ph.D from Potchefstroom University has been removed from his academic background on the church's homepage, though the school refused to cancel the degree. Also on Naver, the nation's largest Internet site, the information was not corrected.
The South African Embassy in Seoul told The Korea Times that it is "in the process of establishing the facts" from Potchefstroom University to deal with the issue.
Oh's other thesis submitted for a Doctor of Ministry from Biola University in 2005 was also found to be plagiarized, but the Christian university located in California has not taken action to rectify it, stating "the situation is still under review without an end date."
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