교구본사 역량강화 방안연구 - 대한불교조계종의 교구체계를 중심으로 -

Abstract

The district head temples are the key temples of the Jogye Order and the central temples of districts. The Jogye Order comprises 25 regional districts and 2 special districts (the military religious district and the overseas district). This study focuses on regional districts. Districts are multiregional autonomous bodies of the Jogye Order and have dozens to hundreds of branch temples, which are headed by the district head temples. The district head temples are the pivots of the Jogye Order, and their capabilities form the order’s primary source of power. However, the district head temples, despite their importance in the order, focus on renunciant monks rather than lay believers and administration-oriented district operation than the practice and preaching of Buddhism, which give rise to various problems. Specifically, the problems result from the inadequate demarcation of the role of district head temples, resulting in closed operations focused on clans, formal engagement by lay believers, absence of dedicated staff for the administration of Buddhist affairs, and an inappropriate check and balance function to counter the arbitrary decisions made by abbots of head temples. These problems weaken the power of district head temples. This study discusses these issues and derives solutions from religious, social, and administrative aspects. The district head temples must secure due capabilities as a religious organization and as members of social communities, and such capabilities shall premise administrative capabilities. To bolster religious capabilities, this study presents measures to make the district head temples centers of Buddhist practice and preaching beyond their current functionality of regional administration of Buddhist affairs and to specialize the districts. The district head temples should become centers of regional communities and leaders in the realization of governance of the fourfold community, which will strengthen their social capabilities. Measures for bolstering administrative capabilities were presented by which the district head temples' administrative affairs should become the hub, by which the district law should be enacted, and by which the check and balance of the district council of a sect should be normalized.