전혀 예상하지 못하고 경기도 고양 에스라성경대학원대학교로 올라왔던 것은 아닙니다. 하지만 취임한지 얼마 안 되었는데 교단신학대학원을 위한 장학모임에서 후배 교수 한 분이 돌직구를 날리더군요^^ “요즘 총장은 새로운 3D업종이라고 하는데 취임하셔서 힘드시겠습니다.” 물론 <총장>이라는 직책이 가문의 영광이라고 마음속에 한 번도 생각해 본 적이 없었지만 남의 입을 통해 듣는 것은 또 다른 느낌이 들었습니다. 사실 “왜 내가 4년을 올라가서 거기서 고생해야 합니까?”라고 속으로 생각하며 닭발을 지길 때, 갑자기 하나님께서 두려움으로 찾아왔습니다. 어찌 아브람에게 찾아온 것과 비교할 수 있겠습니까만 “해 질 때에 아브람에게 깊은 잠이 임하고 큰 흑암과 두려움이 그에게 임하였더니”라는 구절이 떠오른 것은 맞습니다. 그러면서 “그 4년이 네 4년이냐?”고 되물으시는 것 같았습니다.
자라면서 아버지에게 야단을 맞거나 매를 맞은 기억은 없습니다. 물론 제가 성격 상 나쁜 기억까지 보유하지는 않습니다. 늘 그렇게 말하죠^^ “좋은 기억만해도 저장할 공간이 부족한데 나쁜 기억까지 간직할 이유가 없다!”고요. 그런 탓 일수도 있지만 집안 분위기는 어머니가 악역을 맡았고 아버지는 우릴 잘 이해하는 분이셨습니다. 어머니가 야단을 쳐도 아버지가 항상 변호를 하는 입장이셨습니다. 땅의 아버지로부터도 야단 맞은 기억이 없는 제가 하늘 아버지로부터 야단을 맞는 느낌이 들었을 때 어떠했겠습니까? 당장 무릎을 꿇고 기도했습니다. “용서해 주십시오. 더 이상 제 판단으로 행동하지 않겠습니다. 저의 이해나 경험과 상관없이 앞으로는 순종하겠습니다.” 그 기도 때문에 지금 여기에 있습니다.
그러면 왜 그분이 총장은 3D 업종이라고 했겠습니까? 그 중에 첫 번째는 학생 모집(student recruit))의 부담 때문이고 둘째는 재원확보(fund raising)일 것입니다. 우리 학교는 오늘부터 그 첫번째 과업, 학생 수시모집이 시작됩니다. 서류접수는 1주일간 진행되고 면접은 11월 6일에 봅니다. (정시는 11월 말에 서류접수를 해서 12월 중순에 면접을 봅니다~) 저희 학교는 대학원대학교이기에 학사자격이 있는 분이 지원할 수 있습니다. 어떤 분야든지 학사(bachelor))학위가 있으면 문학석사(M.A.) 과정에 지원이 가능하고, 다만 목회학 석사(M.Div.)를 가진 분은 신학석사(Th.M.) 과정으로 지원할 수 있습니다. 저희 학교는 다른 학교들과 달리 입시 시험이 따로 없고 경쟁률도 중요하지 않습니다. 오로지 입학지원서와 면접으로만 합격여부가 결정됩니다.
가장 큰 합격조건은 기숙사생활(월~금) 가능 여부와 에스라 학교의 정신(복음주의)에 부합한 지입니다. 따라서 준비해야할 서류가 상당한 분량입니다. 입학지원서를 낼 때에 추천서도 세 분으로부터 받아야 하며, 독후감과 논문도 한 편씩 써내야하기 때문입니다. 미리 준비를 한 사람은 이번 수시모집에 지원하고 아니면 지금부터 준비해서 정시에 하는 편을 권합니다. 어쨌든 평소에 신앙생활을 하면서 여러 가지의 신학을 배우고 싶었다면 월요일만 수업을 하면 되는 신학대학원도 많이 있습니다. 신앙생활을 하면서 시간이 나면 성경을 배우고 싶다는 소원을 가졌다면 성경 66권을 가르치는 것을 목표로 삼는 에스라성경대학원대학교가 최선의 선택입니다. 우리 학교는 66권의 성경을 성경신학에 기초해서 교육부에서 인정하는 석사와 박사학위를 주는 학교입니다. (비슷한 이름의 에스라 하우스나 에스라성경통독사역원과는 아무런 관계가 없습니다.)
It was not entirely unexpected that I came up to Ezra Bible Graduate University in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. Yet not long after taking office, at a scholarship gathering for our denominational seminary, a junior professor tossed a blunt, direct remark at me with a smile: “They say being a university president these days is the new ‘3D’ industry (Dirty, Dangerous, and Difficult), so it must be tough for you stepping into office.” Of course, I had never once thought in my heart that the title of “President” was some kind of family glory, yet hearing it through someone else’s lips brought a peculiar feeling. In fact, when I was inwardly dragging my feet and grumbling, “Why should I go up there and suffer for four years?”, God suddenly visited me with an overwhelming holy dread. Though it can hardly compare to what Abram experienced, the verse came vividly to mind: “As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.” And in that moment, it felt as though the Lord was asking me in return: “Are those four years truly yours to claim?”
Growing up, I have no memory of being scolded or disciplined with a rod by my father. Naturally, it may partly be because my personality does not hold onto bad memories. As I often say: “We hardly have enough room to store all the good memories, so why keep the bad ones?” Perhaps because of that, in our household, my mother played the strict role, while my father was the gentle soul who understood us deeply. Even when Mother scolded us, Father was always the one standing up to defend us. For someone like me, who had never even experienced being chastised by an earthly father, how trembling must it have felt to sense the scolding of my Heavenly Father? I dropped to my knees immediately in prayer: “Lord, forgive me. I will no longer act according to my own judgment. Regardless of my own understanding or experience, from now on, I will obey.” It is because of that prayer that I am here today.
Why, then, would that professor call the presidency a 3D industry? First and foremost is the heavy burden of student recruitment, and second is fundraising. For our school, that first task—early rolling admissions for new students—begins today. Document submissions will remain open for one week, with interviews scheduled for November 6th. (Regular admissions follow with applications at the end of November and interviews in mid-December.) Since our institution is a specialized graduate university, anyone holding a bachelor's degree is eligible to apply. Those with a bachelor’s degree in any field can apply for the Master of Arts (M.A.) program, while those who already hold a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) may apply for the Master of Theology (Th.M.) program. Unlike other universities, our school does not administer separate written entrance exams, nor is the competition ratio of primary importance. Acceptance is determined entirely through the application dossier and the interview.
Our most decisive admissions criteria are whether one can commit to communal dormitory life (Monday through Friday) and whether one aligns with the evangelical spirit of Ezra. Consequently, the application paperwork requires substantial preparation. When submitting the application, candidates must provide three letters of recommendation, along with a book review and an essay paper. I would suggest that those who have prepared in advance apply during this early rolling admission, while others might prepare deliberately from now and apply during regular admissions. In any case, if one simply desires to explore diverse academic theologies while maintaining normal life routines, there are plenty of seminaries that only hold classes on Mondays. However, if your genuine spiritual longing is to dedicate time to deeply mastering the sixty-six books of the Bible, Ezra Bible Graduate University is the finest choice. Grounded firmly in biblical theology across all sixty-six books of Scripture, our school is accredited by the Ministry of Education to confer master's and doctoral degrees. (Please note that we have no affiliation with similarly named organizations such as Ezra House or the Ezra Bible Reading Ministry.)
Dit was nie heeltemal onverwags dat ek opgegaan het na die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do nie. Tog, nie lank na my ampsaanvaarding nie, het 'n jonger kollega-professor tydens 'n beursbyeenkoms vir die denominasionele kweekskool 'n reguit skoot na my toe geskiet: “Hulle sê deesdae is 'n rektorskap die nuwe ‘3D’-bedryf (vuil, gevaarlik en moeilik), so dit moet maar swaar wees noudat u die amp aanvaar het.” Natuurlik het ek nog nooit in my lewe gedink dat die titel van “Rektor” 'n soort familie-eer is nie, maar om dit uit iemand anders se mond te hoor, het 'n heel ander gevoel meegebring. Trouens, toe ek self teësinnig gewonder en by myself gedink het: “Waarom moet ek nou vir vier jaar soontoe gaan om daar te swoeg?”, het die Here my skielik met 'n heilige vrees besoek. Al kan dit beswaarlik vergelyk word met wat Abram beleef het, het die Skrifgedeelte onwillekeurig by my opgekom: “Toe die son ondergaan, het daar 'n diepe slaap op Abram geval, en kyk, 'n groot skrik en duisternis het hom oorval.” Dit was asof die Here my dadelik teruggevra het: “Is daardie vier jaar dan jóú vier jaar?”
Terwyl ek grootgeword het, het ek geen herinnering daaraan dat my pa my ooit berispe of met 'n roede geslaan het nie. Dit is natuurlik deels omdat dit in my geaardheid lê om nie slegte herinneringe te koester nie. Ek sê immers altyd: “Daar is skaars genoeg plek om die goeie herinneringe te bewaar, waarom sou 'n mens dan plek mors op slegte herinneringe?” Miskien daarom was die dinamika in ons huis so dat my ma die strenger rol vervul het, terwyl my pa die een was wat ons innig verstaan het. Selfs wanneer my ma ons berispe het, het my pa altyd as ons verdediger ingetree. Vir iemand soos ek, wat nog nooit eers deur 'n aardse vader tereggewys is nie, hoe moes dit gevoel het om die teregwysende vrees van my Hemelse Vader te ervaar? Ek het dadelik op my knieë geval en gebid: “Vergewe my, Here. Ek sal nie meer volgens my eie oordeel handel nie. Ongeag my eie insig of ervaring, sal ek voortaan gehoorsaam wees.” Dit is danksy daardie gebed dat ek vandag hier is.
Waarom sou daardie kollega dan gesê het dat 'n rektorskap 'n 3D-bedryf is? Die eerste en swaarste rede is ongetwyfeld die las van studentewerwing (student recruitment), en tweedens die insameling van fondse (fundraising). Vir ons universiteit begin daardie heel eerste taak—die deurlopende toelating van studente—vandag. Aansoekdokumente word vir een week lank ingewag, en onderhoude vind plaas op 6 November. (Vir die gewone toelatingsronde word aansoeke einde November ingedien, met onderhoude in die middel van Desember.) Aangesien ons instelling 'n nagraadse universiteit is, kan enigiemand met 'n baccalaureusgraad aansoek doen. Enigiemand met 'n baccalaureusgraad in enige vakrigting kan aansoek doen vir die Magister Artium-graad (M.A.), terwyl diegene wat reeds 'n Meestersgraad in Teologie (M.Div.) besit, kan aansoek doen vir die Magister Theologiae (Th.M.). Anders as ander universiteite het ons nie afsonderlike geskrewe toelatingseksamens nie, en die mededingingskoers speel geen rol nie. Toelating word uitsluitlik op grond van die aansoekdossier en die persoonlike onderhoud beslis.
Die deurslaggewendste toelatingsvereistes is of 'n student die koshuislewe (Maandag tot Vrydag) kan meemaak en of hulle belyn is met die evangeliese gees van Ezra. Gevolglik behels die aansoek 'n aansienlike hoeveelheid voorbereiding. By die indiening van die aansoek moet drie aanbevelingsbriewe aangeheg word, sowel as 'n boekresensie en 'n akademiese opstel. Ek beveel aan dat diegene wat reeds voorbereid is nou aansoek doen tydens hierdie vroeë toelatingsronde, en dat die res deeglik voorberei vir die gewone toelating later. As iemand bloot terwyl hulle hul gewone geloofslewe voortsit verskillende teologiese strominge wil bestudeer, is daar oorgenoeg kweekskole wat net op Maandae klas aanbied. Maar as jou diepe hartsbegeerte werklik is om die ses-en-sestig boeke van die Bybel grondig te leer ken, dan is die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit die heel beste keuse. Ons skool bied meesters- en doktorsgrade aan wat deur die Departement van Onderwys geakkrediteer is, stewig gegrond op die Bybelse teologie van al ses-en-sestig boeke van die Heilige Skrif. (Let asseblief daarop dat ons geen verbintenis het met instansies met soortgelyke name soos Ezra House of die Ezra Bybellees-bediening nie.)