News of the extended network of faculty, alumni, students, visiting researchers, and mission partners is regularly updated, and some of the big ideas or major events in Global Christianity are covered in the CGCM News.
Upcoming Virtual Events in Mission History: Brazilian Evangelicalism, Women & Historiography
The Institute of Historical Research at the School of Advanced Study at the University of London is hosting two events that will be of interest to historians of Christian mission.
On , 5:30pm - 7:00pm (London time), Dr. Pedro Feitoza of the Brazilian Centre of Analysis and Planning will give a presentation entitled "Immigrants, missionary networks and the rise of a Luso-Brazilian evangelical movement, 1850-1900."
On March 9,, 5:30pm - 7:00pm, Fiona Leach of the University of Sussex will give a presentation entitled "'Alternative facts': how women were written out of early mission history: the case of Susanna Klein."
These events are free, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
American Academy of Religion Call for Papers Available
The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is now accepting paper proposals for the annual meeting, which will take place in San Antonio, Texas, from November 20-23, 2021. The full call for proposals and submission instructions are available at the AAR proposal submission site. Submissions are due by March 1.
Several of the units may be of interest to students in the study of World Christianity and Mission history, including Catholic Studies, Comparative Studies in Religion, Eastern Orthodox Studies, Evangelical Studies, History of Christianity, Latina/o Culture and Society, Global Lutheran Traditions, Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, Religion and Migration, World Christianity, as well as units on a wide variety of geographical regions. Also, the Teaching Religion Unit intends to have a portion of time dedicated to "Teaching World Christianities."
The call from the World Christianity Unit is as follows:
The World Christianity Unit invites proposals concerning:
World Christianity and the Environment, including issues of displacement, especially pertaining to poverty, wealth, and inequality.
World Christianity and Transnational Digital Networks, exploring the connection between social media and Christian community life, as well as online research methods for the study of Christianity worldwide.
World Christianity and Political Activism, with a focus on antiracist activism, decentering whiteness, and Christian Nationalism.
World Christianity and Violence, with attention to all forms of violence, in historical and contemporary perspectives.
Global Evangelicalism and Religious Conservatism, with attention to political theologies and case studies that demonstrate both trends and diversities within the Evangelical movement.
Proposals combining any of the topics above with matters relating to gender, race, or the COVID-19 pandemic will receive special consideration.
The Teaching Religion Unit and the World Christianity Unit invite proposals for a possible co-sponsored session on teaching World Christianity. We are especially interested in papers that discuss (and possibly demonstrate) effective assignments, activities, or pedagogical approaches to teaching Christianity as a world religion as it is practiced in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, as well as in diasporic communities in the West. Papers might address topics such as pedagogical approaches to decolonizing World Christianity, teaching in/about the diaspora, or other themes.
Prof. Roldan-Figueroa’s New Book on “The Martyrs of Japan”
Dr. Rady Roldan-Figueroa has a new book coming out with Brill in June 2021. Entitled The Martyrs of Japan: Publication History and Catholic Missions in the Spanish World: Spain, New Spain, and the Philippines, 1597-1700, the book not only discusses the various accounts of the Christian martyrs in Japan in the late 16th century, but also reveals what these accounts teach us about the history of book publication in the years following. The book is divided into two parts: "Spirituality of Writing, Publication History, and Japano-martyrology" and "Jesuits, Discalced Franciscans, and the Production of Japano-martyrology in the Early Modern Spanish World." The work will be of interest to anyone working on the history of Japanese Christianity, the history of Catholic missions, or the history of publishing.
Michel Chambon (’19) Appointed Research Fellow at National University of Singapore
Dr. Michel Chambon, who earned his PhD in anthropology from BU in 2019, has recently been appointed a Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. As part of his work on "Religion and Globalisation," his research will focus on Chinese Christians and Asian Catholics.
Chambon is the author of Making Christ Present in China: Actor Network Theory and the Anthropology of Christianity (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). The work focuses on material culture and uses actor-network theory to investigate the development of Christianity in Nanping, China.
Daewon Moon Appointed Appointed Successor Pastor at Daegu Dongshin Church, South Korea
Dr. Daewon Moon, CGCM alumnus ('18), was recently appointed successor pastor at Daegu Dongshin Church, a congregation of 8,000 members which has been devoted to world mission since 1974. Today, the congregation supports 65 missionaries (full-time) and 72 missionaries (part-time) who are working in 41 countries in the world.
Dr. Moon also plans to serve as a part of the Korean Lausanne Committee, which will be working to prepare for the next Lausanne Congress, taking place in South Korea in 2024.
You can read Moon's recent article on African pentecostalism published in the January issue of Lausanne Global Analysis here.
Virtual Event: “Re-Mapping Pentecostal Mission: Data, Networks, and Hong Kong”
On February 25, PhD candidate Alex Mayfield will present his dissertation research at a virtual event entitled "Re-Mapping Pentecostal Mission: Data, Networks, and Hong Kong."
The story of pentecostal mission is usually one of sweeping, global expansion. On the ground, however, pentecostal mission was a complex, often fraught, interplay of local, regional, and transnational dynamics. Using spatial and network analysis tools, Mayfield examines the pentecostal movements of Hong Kong prior to World War II to show how pentecostal mission developed over time in response to the ebbs and flows of the local and the global.
Mayfield will also share tips about what helped him complete the dissertation writing process successfully.
The event will take place from 12:00pm to 1:15pm.
The Zoom link is available in the event flier.
Casely Essamuah Interviewed in Latest Issue of JACB
The Rev. Dr. Casely Essamuah, executive officer of the Global Christian Forum, was recently interviewed in the January issue of the Journal of African Christian Biography. Entitled "Accidental Missionary: Called to a Life of Building Bridges for Christ and His Kingdom," the interview describes the challenges and obstacles Essamuah faced in becoming who he is today and outlines the hopes, dreams, and challenges he sees for the African church going forward. He also tells of growing up as the child of a Methodist bishop in Ghana, his early work with the Ghana Student Christian Movement, his studies at the Boston University School of Theology, his leadership of churches in Boston and Baltimore, and his current work as the leader of the Global Christian Forum.
Anneke Stasson (’13) Co-Authors “Women in the Mission of the Church”
Dr. Anneke Stasson ('13) has recently co-authored Women in the Mission of the Church: Their Opportunities and Obstacles throughout Christian History with Dr. Leanne Dzubinski. Their historical survey extends from the early church of the 1st century all the way through the mission movements of the 20th century.
Dr. Stasson is associate professor of humanities and history at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana.
Congratulations to Drs. Stasson and Dzubinski for their latest scholarly work!
Work of Dr. Sung-Deuk Oak (’02) Receives 3 Book Prizes
CGCM alumnus Dr. Sung-Deuk Oak ('02) has received three prizes for the revised and expanded Korean edition of The Making of Korean Christianity. The Korea Christian Publishers Association recently announced it as "Book of the Year," which is a highly prestigious prize in the country. The book also received the prize for the best book in theology by the Kungmin Daily News. Finally, the book was named a King Sejong academic book (one of twenty) by the Korean government.
Dr. Oak is also the author of History of the Korean Bible Society III, 1945-2002, which is his first book dealing with the postliberation period in Korea and which represents the fruit of his thirty years of study on Korean Bible translation. He also plans to publish at least four books in the coming year.
Call for Papers: Special Journal Issue on “Mission and Crisis”
The journal Mission Studies is considering article submissions for a special issue on the theme "Mission and Crisis." Those who are interested may submit essays on the topic, which should be received by 1 March 2021 on Brill's relevant site for Mission Studies submissions: https://www.editorialmanager.
Please see the Call for Papers.
For further information, you may contact the editor-in-chief, Norbert Hintersteiner (norbert.hintersteiner@uni-muenster.de).