Julius Nam
Encyclopedia
Julius Juhyeok Nam is an associate professor of religion at Loma Linda University
School of Religion in California
, and a commissioned
minister
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
. He teaches Adventist history
and theology. He is active in the American Academy of Religion
, Adventist Society for Religious Studies
and the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Historians. He formally ran ProgressiveAdventism.com.
in religion from Andrews University
in 1990, followed by a MA
in systematic theology
in 1992, from the same institution. He served as a church pastor in Korea
, Michigan
and Southern California
.
From 2001 to 2005 he was the editor of Compass, a monthly magazine for Korean Adventist youth and young adults in North America
. He taught at Pacific Union College
for three years, teaching a broad range of Christian subjects. In 2005 he received a PhD
in Church History
/Adventist Studies in 2005, also from Andrews University. His thesis is entitled, "Reactions to Seventh-day Adventist Evangelical Conferences and Questions on Doctrine
(1955–1971)" (Chapter 4 available online) and was completed under the guidance of George Knight
. His thesis served as a catalyst for the October 2007 conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Questions on Doctrine.
In 2006 the Pacific Union Conference "commissioned" him to ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He chose to be commissioned, rather than ordained, as an expression of solidarity with women ministers who are currently barred from ordination in the Adventist church. Women ministers are "commissioned" instead. The same year, Nam moved to Loma Linda
, California
when he accepted a teaching position at the university.
Nam was one of the organizers of the 2007 Questions on Doctrine conference marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of book. The conference was largely precipitated by his doctoral thesis. The book represented major interactions between Adventists and other conservative Christians, yet has been very controversial. The conference was unique in that it gave people with widely differing views opportunity to present a paper, and "no prominent players in the controversy... were left out". It was considered a great success by the attendees, and a time of some healing of longstanding tensions. Nam presented the paper, "The Questions on Doctrine Saga: Contours and Lessons".
Nam was one of the main organizers of the "Ellen White Project", which has brought together 65 scholars of varying backgrounds to write a scholarly work, possibly to be published by Oxford University Press
.
" which banned same-sex marriages. The group stands in contrast to the Adventist church's official position on marriage as being heterosexual only. "It's [...] a question of justice," Nam said, "as a resident of California, we should lead the way in pushing for equality."
program at UCLA Law
, though he continues to teach on a part-time basis at Loma Linda University. He is currently serving as Editor in Chief of the UCLA Law Review
.
v35, Sum, p9-11,62 (Spectrum Interview, original blog); and "Looking at Adventism", an interview of Seeking a Sanctuary
co-author Keith Lockhart in Record
March 17, 2007, p.8–9 (original blog version).
He has written numerous research papers and presented them at many different conferences. He blogs at ProgressiveAdventism.com.
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
School of Religion in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and a commissioned
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
. He teaches Adventist history
History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church had its roots in the Millerite movement of the 1830s and 1840s, during the period of the Second Great Awakening, and was officially founded in 1863. Prominent figures in the early church included Hiram Edson, James Springer White and his wife Ellen G. White, Joseph...
and theology. He is active in the American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
, Adventist Society for Religious Studies
Adventist Society for Religious Studies
The Adventist Society for Religious Studies is a Seventh-day Adventist scholarly community whose purpose is "to provide intellectual and social fellowship among its members and encourage scholarly pursuits in all religious studies disciplines, particularly with reference to the Seventh-day...
and the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Historians. He formally ran ProgressiveAdventism.com.
Biography
Nam received a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in religion from Andrews University
Andrews University
Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
in 1990, followed by a MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in systematic theology
Systematic theology
In the context of Christianity, systematic theology is a discipline of Christian theology that attempts to formulate an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the Christian faith and beliefs...
in 1992, from the same institution. He served as a church pastor in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
From 2001 to 2005 he was the editor of Compass, a monthly magazine for Korean Adventist youth and young adults in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. He taught at Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Angwin, California, United States. It is the only four-year college in Napa County, California....
for three years, teaching a broad range of Christian subjects. In 2005 he received a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Church History
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
/Adventist Studies in 2005, also from Andrews University. His thesis is entitled, "Reactions to Seventh-day Adventist Evangelical Conferences and Questions on Doctrine
Questions on Doctrine
Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine is a book published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1957 to help explain Adventism to conservative Protestants and Evangelicals...
(1955–1971)" (Chapter 4 available online) and was completed under the guidance of George Knight
George R. Knight
George Raymond Knight is a Seventh-day Adventist historian and educator. He is emeritus professor of church history at Andrews University.- Biography :Knight joined the Adventist church through the ministry of Ralph Larson...
. His thesis served as a catalyst for the October 2007 conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the publication of Questions on Doctrine.
In 2006 the Pacific Union Conference "commissioned" him to ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He chose to be commissioned, rather than ordained, as an expression of solidarity with women ministers who are currently barred from ordination in the Adventist church. Women ministers are "commissioned" instead. The same year, Nam moved to Loma Linda
Loma Linda, California
Loma Linda is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States, that was incorporated in 1970. The population was 23,261 at the 2010 census, up from 18,681 at the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
when he accepted a teaching position at the university.
Nam was one of the organizers of the 2007 Questions on Doctrine conference marking the 50th anniversary of the publication of book. The conference was largely precipitated by his doctoral thesis. The book represented major interactions between Adventists and other conservative Christians, yet has been very controversial. The conference was unique in that it gave people with widely differing views opportunity to present a paper, and "no prominent players in the controversy... were left out". It was considered a great success by the attendees, and a time of some healing of longstanding tensions. Nam presented the paper, "The Questions on Doctrine Saga: Contours and Lessons".
Nam was one of the main organizers of the "Ellen White Project", which has brought together 65 scholars of varying backgrounds to write a scholarly work, possibly to be published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
.
Same-sex marriage
Nam was one of the initiators of "Adventists Against Prop 8" (website), a small group which was opposed to California's 2008 "Proposition 8California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
" which banned same-sex marriages. The group stands in contrast to the Adventist church's official position on marriage as being heterosexual only. "It's [...] a question of justice," Nam said, "as a resident of California, we should lead the way in pushing for equality."
Law school
In August 2009, Nam enrolled in the Juris DoctorJuris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
program at UCLA Law
UCLA School of Law
The UCLA School of Law is the law school of the University of California, Los Angeles. It has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1950. It joined the Association of American Law Schools in 1952.- History :...
, though he continues to teach on a part-time basis at Loma Linda University. He is currently serving as Editor in Chief of the UCLA Law Review
UCLA Law Review
The UCLA Law Review is a scholarly journal founded in 1953 and published by the students of the UCLA School of Law. Six issues are released every year....
.
Writings and presentations
Nam has published a series of interview with influential Adventists on his blog. Some of these have been published in magazines, including "In Japan, Adventists find Willow Creek bridge to the unchurched", an interview of Yasuki Miyamoto in SpectrumSpectrum (magazine)
Spectrum is the official publication of Adventist Forums, published four times a year. It was established "to encourage Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look without prejudice at all sides of a subject, to evaluate the...
v35, Sum, p9-11,62 (Spectrum Interview, original blog); and "Looking at Adventism", an interview of Seeking a Sanctuary
Seeking a Sanctuary
Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream is a book about the Seventh-day Adventist Church coauthored by Malcolm Bull and Keith Lockhart...
co-author Keith Lockhart in Record
Record (magazine)
The Record is the fortnightly news magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific region of the church. It's office is located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and connected with the Adventist Media Network...
March 17, 2007, p.8–9 (original blog version).
He has written numerous research papers and presented them at many different conferences. He blogs at ProgressiveAdventism.com.
See also
- Progressive AdventismProgressive AdventismProgressive Adventists are members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church who disagree with certain beliefs traditionally held by mainstream Adventism and officially by the church. They are often described as liberal Adventism by other Adventists, the term "progressive" is generally preferred as a...
- Loma Linda UniversityLoma Linda UniversityLoma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
- Questions on DoctrineQuestions on DoctrineSeventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine is a book published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1957 to help explain Adventism to conservative Protestants and Evangelicals...
External links
- ProgressiveAdventism.com, Nam's personal blog and website
- Writer, with a brief autobiography
- Faculty Directory entry at Loma Linda University
- Nam, Juhyeok and Nam, Julius publications cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)