Engaging Theology, Theologians, and Theological Education in (or from) Majority World Contexts
The Evangelical Missiological Society extends a call for papers around the theme of Engaging Theology, Theologians, and Theological Education in (or from) Majority World Contexts for the EMS 2017 Spring Regional Conferences and the 2017 September 15-17 National Conference in Dallas, and will result in a published volume to be edited by Dr. Tite Tiénou and Dr. Allen Yeh.
While missiology pioneered early discussions of theology in cultural context, and of self-theologizing as a core value, missiology must remain current in its engagements with theology and theological education if it is to build on missiological strengths and remain central to such conversations. For nearly three decades the Association of Theological Schools in the US and Canada has emphasized “globalization” as a core value in assessing and accrediting theological schools. This ATS emphasis provides a unique opportunity for missiology. We see this articulated in Norman Thomas’ (1989) expressed “hope … that [with globalization] missiology in North America can break loose from the straightjacket of being just one discipline competing for students and recognition alongside so many others. Instead, it can become the field which provides that interdisciplinary focus that the new global theological education requires” [From Missions to Globalization: Teaching Missiology in North American Seminaries” IBMR 13 (3), 107].
Sometimes earlier missiology engaged theology without engaging majority world theological leaders. In an era of world Christianity as articulated by Andrew Walls (2002), “the primary responsibility for the determinative theological scholarship will lie with the Christian communities of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. If [these continents] do not develop a proper capacity for leadership in theological studies, there will be, for practical purposes, no theological studies worth caring about [Christian Scholarship in Africa in the Twenty-First Century, Transformation 19 (4), 221-222]. Missiologists have unique opportunities and responsibility to ensure that Christian communities in North America and Europe develop meaningful engagement with theology and theological leaders from Africa, Asia and Latin America and other majority world contexts.
A major aspect of the current work of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada focuses on Global Awareness and Engagement. This work is rooted in the conviction that there must be global reciprocity in the production and reproduction of theological knowledge and wisdom and that good theological education is characterized as that which prepares students and graduates to be global citizens in their ministerial work [see Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, “Global Awareness and Engagement: Re-telling an ATS Story” JANATE 2 (1), 2016, pp. 73-83].
In light of the preceding, the Evangelical Missiological Society invites submissions exploring aspects of what it means for missiology, theology, and theological education in North America to engage theology, theologians and theological education from (or in) the majority world. Possible topics include (but are not limited to) the following:
- the role/contribution of missiology to intercultural and global awareness and engagement for theological education in North America
- contributions to theological disciplines (biblical studies, systematic theology, Christian history, homiletics, pastoral theology, missiology, pastoral counseling) from the majority world
- issues in theological education in the majority world and their implications for North American theological education.
- Papers exploring the writings of key theological leaders from majority world contexts and/or focused on themes of import in such contexts.
- How are issues related to affliction and healing understood and addressed pastorally, homiletically, and theologically? For example in Korea, with theological reflections and pastoral engagements regarding “han,” in Africa with theological reflections and pastoral engagements regarding “witches,” etc?
- How are theological leaders engaging issues related to sexuality or marriage?
- How are theological leaders addressing ethical issues for their context?
- How does Bible translation itself shape the theological understandings of Christians in diverse settings?
- How should theological formulations of the gospel address shame, honor, guilt, purity?
- Alternatively, papers addressing theological education in majority world contexts, ranging from discussions of curriculum, to accreditation, to material supports, would be suitable foci.
Each scholar is invited to think through how your particular strengths and interests might intersect with the annual theme, and to frame a proposal to present a paper.
For those living in the USA or Canada, presenters are invited first to present in our regional conferences this Spring, and then possibly at the national conference as well. The normal process would be for you to contact a regional vice president of the EMS in your region about presenting at the regional meetings being planned near you this spring. See meetings to find your region, its VP, and scheduled regional conference. Strong papers are then forwarded to the program committee for the annual meetings with the hope that you will also present there, and with the strongest papers being published in our annual volume.
For those living outside the USA or Canada (and thus who cannot easily participate in a regional EMS meeting) and who wish to attend and present a paper at the EMS national meetings, please contact Robert Priest about the options and process for being considered (rpriest@tiu.edu). Unfortunately the EMS is not able to offer funds to help with travel, so only those who have access to alternative means of funding should apply.