Columbia Seminary names visiting professor of ethics, theology

Wonchul Shin called ‘a rising star’ in his field

by Columbia Theological Seminary | Special to Presbyterian News Service

Wonchul Shin

LOUISVILLE — Dr. Love Sechrest, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty at Columbia Theological Seminary, announced Tuesday that Wonchul Shin will be called as the Visiting Professor of Ethics and Theology, and Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow, effective Aug. 26.

“Wonchul Shin is a rising star in the area of Ethics and Theology,” said Sechrest in a news release from the seminary. “He is sure to challenge our students with new ways of thinking about the church and the world and I am delighted that we will all be able to learn from him during his two-year fellowship.”

“I am blessed and honored by being part of the Columbia community,” Shin said. “I look forward to engaging students and empower them to construct their own theological and moral voices that faithfully witness to God’s reconciling love and transforming justice in our divided and broken societies.”

Shin received his B.A. from Yonsei University; his M.Div. from Candler School of Theology, Emory University (Summa Cum Laude); and will complete his Ph.D. from Emory University this summer. His dissertation, to be defended on June 17 and funded by a grant from the Louisville Institute, is on the topic, “Resurrecting Virtues against Structural Evil: A Study on the Cultivation and Exercise of Virtues of the Oppressed.”

Shin’s previous experience includes serving as an instructor for courses at Emory University, both in the classroom and online. He published several articles and book reviews in the “Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics” and in the “Journal of Asian American Theological Forum.” He also contributed to a chapter for the edited volume “The Business of War,” which will be published by the Wipf and Stock Publishers later this year.

Shin is currently a candidate for ordination in the United Methodist Church. At one time, he served as a Young Adult Pastor for Hamilton-Sardis United Methodist Church in Georgia and Good Samaritans Methodist Church in Incheon, South Korea.

Columbia Theological Seminary “exists to educate and nurture faithful, imaginative, and effective leaders for the sake of the Church and the world.” As an educational institution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Columbia Seminary is a community of theological inquiry and formation for ministry in the service of the Church of Jesus Christ. Columbia Seminary offers six graduate degree programs and dozens of courses and events as a resource for church professionals and lay people through the Center for Lifelong Learning. For more information, please visit www.CTSnet.edu.