Dr. James Jinhong Kim Named Director of the Underwood Center for Global Christianity

September 1, 2014

New Brunswick Theological Seminary today announced the appointment of Dr. James Jinhong Kim as Director of the Horace G. Underwood Center for Global Christianity. Dr. Kim is currently Affiliate Associate Professor of Missiology and Religion at NBTS, and he will retain that position and associated responsibilities.

NBTS established the Center for Global Christianity to promote cross-cultural pilgrimages for students, provide a global exchange of scholars and students, inspire training for mono-cultural congregations to embrace diversity, and equip clergy for inter-faith and inter-religious dialogue and service. This announcement supports the Seminary’s efforts toward endowing a Horace G. Underwood Chair in Global Christianity.
“Endowed chairs and programs, like the Underwood Chair and Center, are critical to the

Seminary’s future as a way to sustain scholarly excellence and as a means to respond more profoundly to a changing world,” said Dr. Gregg Mast, President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary. “In Dr. Kim’s capable hands, we will begin to develop and deliver new courses in missiology and world mission history as well as coordinate and expand the Seminary’s relationships with schools, churches and programs around the globe.”

“I am grateful to NBTS, to President Mast and all the faculty members for their confidence in me to take a bigger role in continuing to build the Seminary’s legacy toward global Christianity with the new Center,” said Dr. Kim. “Horace Underwood was interested in building a Christian Korea rather than just Christian churches in Korea; this vision of a more inclusive community in God is the essence of global Christianity.”

Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916) graduated from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1884. Later that same year, he was appointed by the Board of Missions of the Northern Presbyterian Church to serve in Korea and is considered by many as the founder of the Presbyterian Church in that country. Horace Underwood became a pioneer in Christian mission in Korea, engaging in evangelism, church planting, education and public life.

The Underwood Center for Global Christianity is part of the NBTS Building A New Future Comprehensive Campaign announced in February. The Seminary seeks to raise $1.5 million to establish the Horace G. Underwood Chair of Global Christianity. To date, the Seminary has raised $500,000 toward the Chair.