David Jang
Born
Jae‐Hyung Jang
EducationB.Th., M.Div.
Hanshin University
M.A. Yonsei University
Ph.D. Dankook University
Occupation(s)Professor
Theologian
Minister
ReligionPresbyterian Christian

David Jang (born 1949) is a Korean professor, Christian theologian, and pastor. He has founded several Christian organizations, including Olivet University in San Francisco, Christian Today headquartered in Korea, Christian Daily Korea, and Christianity Daily in Los Angeles, CA. He served as a member of the North American Council of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) from 2007[1] to 2018,[2][3] the former president of World Olivet Assembly,[4] the founder and first international president of Olivet University,[5][6] and current president of the Holy Bible Society.[7] Jang was also the 88th President of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea.[8]

Career

Jang grew up in South Korea in a Christian family and was raised in the Presbyterian tradition. As a young man he spent much time in Bible study, vigil prayer meetings, and evangelism. He pursued theological studies at Hanshin University and received two degrees, a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.).[8] He also earned an M.A. in Communications from Yonsei University and completed his formal studies with a Ph.D. in Public Administration of Social Welfare from Dankook University.[8] While he was studying, Jang participated in missions and teaching, serving in campus fellowships and churches, and lectured in theology.[9]

Christian Today

In 2000, Jang founded Christian Today, which came to have the highest number of visitors among religious news websites in Korea.[10] Jang aimed for the media company to provide online in-depth coverage across all areas in Christianity,[11] encourage a spirit of unity and reconciliation within the church, promote international recognition of Christian culture, and contribute to global mission work.[11]

Olivet University

In the year 2000, Olivet Theological College and Seminary (OTCS) was established in both Los Angeles and in Seoul, Korea, where it was co-located with the Southern Cross College Korea Campus. Jang was a member of the faculty of Southern Cross College and the first director of its Korea campus.[9]

By 2004, the seminary expanded and incorporated into a university comprising five colleges - Olivet Theological College & Seminary, Jubilee College of Music, Olivet College of Journalism, Olivet College of Art & Design, and Olivet Institute of Technology - in the institution’s new home in San Francisco.[12] The university moved into the former University of California, Berkeley Downtown Extension Campus, near the Moscone Center in 2005.[13] They also founded Olivet Business School, which offers MBA programs[14] and opened extension sites in Nashville, TN (at 141 Belle Forest Circle), New York City (at 6 Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan), San Francisco (at 1025 Howard Street), and Washington, D.C. (at 1400 Eye Street NW ).[15] Olivet combines Winter's focus on training men and women in biblical scholarship and leadership with Jang’s emphasis on practical skills for preaching.[16]

In 2006, Jang handed over the presidency of the university to Dr. David James Randolph in order to concentrate on mission field work.[17] Jang continues to serve at Olivet University as a professor of theology and international president.

In 2014, a Mother Jones story documented that former religious followers of Mr. Jang said that they were recruited from China and brought to the U.S. on student visas to study at Olivet University, but spent most of their time working illegally, for very little pay, churning out clickbait for the International Business Times, which was started in 2006 by two of David Jang’s followers, Etienne Uzac and Johnathan Davis.[18][19]

In 2018, the Manhattan District Attorney charged it in a fraud and money laundering scheme. Olivet pled guilty to several charges and paid a $1.25 million fine. Tracy Davis, the president of Olivet University at the time of the guilty plea, was recently Dean for Academic Affairs. Her husband Johnathan Davis owns 50 percent of Newsweek.[20][21][22] Two former executives of Jang-affiliated enterprises pleaded guilty to money laundering and fraud in 2019.[23][24][25]

In June 2022, a North Carolina judge ordered the arrest of Rev. JianGang "Frank" Lan in a counterfeit goods case that has drawn the attention of federal investigators looking into whether a church led by Jang was laundering money for criminals in the United States and China.[26][27] On June 30, the New York State Education Department officially ended Olivet's authorization to operate in the state citing that their failings "are part of a larger pattern of poor administration and addressing such problems only after being caught in a criminal conspiracy."[28][29] In March 2023, it was widely reported that California's Attorney General had filed a complaint to close down Olivet University due to several violations.[30][31][32]

Other activities

From 2007 to 2018, Jang served as a member of the North American Council of the WEA.[3][33] Also in 2007, he began work with the Holy Bible Society whose mission is to make "the Bible more accessible to all people by using digital technology and the Internet, especially in unreached mission frontiers."[7] Over the years, he has engaged in discussions about helping to establish churches in difficult mission fields such as China.[34]

In 2012, a Christianity Today article[35] raised questions whether Jang had any connections with the Unification Church and his being seen by some people as the "Second Coming of Christ",[36] accusations that have been disputed as baseless by the Christian Council of Korea[37][38][39][40] and the World Evangelical Alliance,[41][42] among others. The Christian Post, founded by students from Olivet University, issued a detailed response[43] to the various allegations raised in the Christianity Today article, raising doubts about the sources and also questioning the timing of the publication during a review of an offer Olivet University made to Lifeway for the purchase of a campus property.

Personal life

Jang is married to Dr. Sarah Lee and has two sons. He considers the late Ralph D. Winter and Dr. Jang Sik Lee (Korean: 이장식) among his mentors.[44] Jang runs the Olivet world assembly and is under investigation by US Dept of Homeland Security, HHS and Attorney General of California Source Riverside News, olivetwatch.com.

References

  1. ↑ "WEA Welcomes Dr. David J. Jang to the North American Council – World Evangelical Alliance". worldea.org. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  2. ↑ "WEA Integrates North American Council Functions into International Council, Thanks NAC Members for their Service – World Evangelical Alliance". worldea.org. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  3. 1 2 "Who we are, Governance". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  4. ↑ "About Us, Leadership". World Olivet Assembly. Archived from the original on 2014-04-24. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  5. ↑ "Founder | About Olivet | Olivet University". www.olivetuniversity.edu. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  6. ↑ "About the Founder of Olivet University". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  7. 1 2 "About Us". Holy Bible Society. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  8. 1 2 3 "David Jang Profile". Davidjang.org. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  9. 1 2 "David Jang Bio". Davidjang.org. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  10. ↑ "Ranking of religious news websites in Korea". Rankey.com. April 2014.
  11. 1 2 "회사소개" [About Christian Today]. Christian Today Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  12. ↑ "About Olivet, History". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  13. ↑ "Olivet University Public Statement to Recent Media Publications". Olivet University Seminary Blog. 2012-08-23.
  14. ↑ "Olivet Business School". Olivet University.
  15. ↑ "About Olivet: Extensions". Olivet University. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  16. ↑ "About Olivet, Mission". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  17. ↑ "David Randolph Named Olivet University President". Olivet University News. 2006-07-04.
  18. ↑ Odell, Jenny (November 27, 2018). "A Business With No End". The New York Times.
  19. ↑ Dooley, Ben (May 2014). "Why are Newsweek's new owners so anxious to hide their ties to an enigmatic religious figure?". Mother Jones. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  20. ↑ Jamali, Naveed; O'Connor, Tom (April 22, 2022). "Christian University at the Center of Federal Trafficking and Fraud Probe". Newsweek.
  21. ↑ Kelly, Keith (February 20, 2020). "Bible school Olivet University pleads guilty in money-laundering case". New York Post.
  22. ↑ Rouhandeh, Alex J.; Jamali, Naveed (June 29, 2023). "Newsweek Shareholders End Legal Dispute, Co-owner Davis Leaves Olivet Sect". Newsweek.
  23. ↑ Cole Smith, Warren (January 6, 2021). "Jang-Related Religious Group Buys Former Temple University Art School Campus". Ministry Watch.
  24. ↑ Tracy, Marc (February 14, 2020). "A Former Owner of Newsweek Pleads Guilty in a Fraud Scheme". The New York Times.
  25. ↑ "Newsweek sues Pastor Jae-hyeong Jang (David Chang) of Olivet Theological Seminary for $35 million in damages". NY Culture Beat. 19 July 2022.
  26. ↑ Jamali, Naveed; Rouhandeh, Alex J. (June 27, 2022). "Chinese Pastor's Arrest Ordered as Feds Circle Olivet Christian Sect". Newsweek.
  27. ↑ Shaffer, Josh; Grubb, Tammy (June 28, 2022). "NC pastor was accused in $24 million fake Cartier bracelet case. He's now AWOL in China".
  28. ↑ "ACCUSATION BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE BUREAU FOR PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION | STATE OF CALIFORNIA" (PDF). Bureau for Private and Postsecondary Education (BPPE). March 17, 2023.
  29. ↑ Belz, Emily (July 6, 2022). "New York Shuts Down Embattled Olivet University Campus". Christianity Today.
  30. ↑ Nelson, Joe (March 30, 2023). "Olivet University target of AG Bonta complaint that could shut down the California-based Christian college". The Mercury News.
  31. ↑ Cochrane, Deborah (March 17, 2023). "ACCUSATION BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE BUREAU FOR PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA" (PDF). Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education - BPPE.
  32. ↑ Bauer-Wolf, Jeremy (March 29, 2023). "California attorney general complaint could shut down Olivet University". Higher Ed Dive.
  33. ↑ "WEA Welcomes Dr. David J. Jang to the North American Council". World Evangelical Alliance News. 2007-04-26.
  34. ↑ Young, Eric (2009-11-17). "WEA, China Church Leaders Meet for In-Depth Talks". Christian Post.
  35. ↑ Smith, Ted Olsen and Ken. "The Second Coming Christ Controversy". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  36. ↑ Ted Olsen and Ken Smith. "The Second Coming Christ Controversy". christianitytoday.com. Retrieved 10 November 2016. Ted Olsen is CT's managing editor, news and online journalism. Ken Smith is an independent journalist based in Washington State
  37. ↑ "Public Statement of The Heresy Investigation Committee of the CCK (English)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-23.
  38. ↑ "Public Statement of The Heresy Investigation Committee of the CCK (Korean Original)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-23.
  39. ↑ "Public Statement of CCK (English)" (PDF). 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-23.
  40. ↑ "Public Statement of CCK (Korean Original)" (PDF). 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2012-08-23.
  41. ↑ "WEA Statement on the Public Conversation on the Nature and Role of Olivet University and its Founding President Dr. David Jang – World Evangelical Alliance". worldea.org. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  42. ↑ "Letters to the Editor". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  43. ↑ Vu, Michelle A.; Reporter, Christian Post (17 August 2012). "Sources in 'Second Coming Christ Controversy' Face Scrutiny". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  44. ↑ "David Jang Mentors". Davidjang.org. Retrieved 2014-04-03.

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