Distinguished Alums 2006
February 24, 2006
Sang-Young Shim and K. James Stein
Dr. Jacob C. Martinson, interim president, presented Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary’s 2006 Distinguished Alum Awards to Sang-Young Shim and K. James Stein during the seminary’s 149th commencement on May 12.
Born in South Korea in 1954, Shim earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology at Methodist Theological Seminary in Seoul. Before coming to Garrett-Evangelical, he served as pastor at Methodist churches in Wonju and Pochun and as chaplain for the South Korean Army.
While earning a master of divinity at Garrett-Evangelical in the early 1990s, he served as pastor at the Korean United Methodist Church in Kenosha, Wis. He also enrolled in the Jung Institute of Chicago, where he completed a certificate in analytical psychology. He completed his formal education with a doctor of ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
In 1994 Shim was named senior pastor of Central Methodist Church in Kangnung, South Korea. Under his leadership the church became the largest church in the East Annual Conference of the Korean Methodist Church.
Now working as a Jungian analyst in Seoul, he is the first pastor/Jungian analyst in South Korea. He teaches at the Graduate School of Theology at Yonsei University and at Methodist Theological Seminary, his alma mater. He has written two books, “Jung’s Analytical Psychology for Spiritual Growth of the Korean Church” and “Story of a Middle-Aged Man.”
Stein, a senior scholar in church history at Garrett-Evangelical, played a significant role in the union of the Garrett and Evangelical seminaries more than 30 years ago. Born in Grand Forks, N.D., he earned his bachelor’s degree at Westmar College in Iowa before attending seminary at Evangelical Theological Seminary of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Naperville. He earned a master of sacred theology and a Ph.D. at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Stein began his teaching career at ETS in 1960 as professor of church history. He also served as dean and president. After leading the planning and implementation of the merger of the two seminaries, he was the first dean of the new institution, Garrett-Evangelical, where he continued as professor of church history. More than 40 years of service as teacher and administrator have endeared him to colleagues and students.
He is a distinguished author of major articles and two books, “Philipp Jakob Spener, Pietist Patriarch” and “Spiritual Guides for the 21st Century: Faith Stories of the Protestant Reformers.” He is a frequent guest lecturer and has led five Reformation Heritage Tours to Europe. He has also received many awards and honors, including The Hartmann Scholarship, The Hartmann Fellowship, The Faculty Fellowship from the Association of Theological Schools and the Fulbright Travel Grant.