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.
Churches in Change
Dr. Karen B. Westerfield Tucker, CGCM faculty associate, will be giving the keynote address at the Stockholm School of Theology (TEOLOGISKA HÖGSKOLAN STOCKHOLM) on February 3. This is address is part of a one-day research conference on "Churches in Change" as part of the school's collaboration with the Uniting Church (Equmeniakyrkan) in Sweden, a merger between the Baptist Union of Sweden, the United Methodist Church of Sweden, and Mission Covenant Church of Sweden. She is also giving a presentation in the "higher seminars" of Practical Theology and Ecclesiology at Uppsala University.
No Other Name: One Couple’s Journey With Cancer
Ed Williamson, STH alumnus, recently published his book No Other Name: One Couple's Journey With Cancer. This is a story of Ed and Loretta Williamson and their look at realistic faith amid modern medicine intertwined in a story of love, pain, triumph, anguish and miracles. Dr. Williamson holds a doctorate in Mission and Evangelism from STH.
Religions and Social Progress
"Religions and Social Progress: Critical Assessments and Creative Partnerships”
A Work in Progress Conversation with Nancy Ammerman
Tuesday, December 13, 12:00-2:00pm
Room 241, Department of Sociology
Lunch is provided with RSVP to awestbro@bu.edu by December 8th
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.
Research Fellowship
The program will award research and travel grants of $2,500. Applicants must demonstrate a need to work in the society's collection for a minimum of one week and a maximum of one month. Applications are accepted from persons whose normal place of residence is farther than seventy-five miles from Philadelphia.
Projects in all fields of study, including history, American studies, women's studies, mission history, architecture, and ecumenism are invited. In accepting this grant, fellows agree to submit a report to the society within two months of their last visit. The society requests a copy of each final work for its holdings, and fellows are encouraged to adapt their research for publication in the Journal of Presbyterian History.
Eligibility: These grants are open to scholars, students, and independent researchers.
Awards: The grants of $2,500 cover travel, lodging, and other research expenses.
Application procedures: Applications must be received at the society by February 3, 2017, with awards announced by March 17, 2017.
Christian Renewal Movements in the Global South
CFP: Christian Renewal Movements in the Global South in the 20th and 21st Centuries: Religious, Social and Political Transformation
Sponsored by:
The Harry S. Truman Institute for Advanced Peace, Hebrew University Jerusalem
The Martin Buber Society of Fellows- Stiftungsfonds Martin-Buber-Gesellschaft, The
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Glocal Community Development Studies, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Call for applications, international interdisciplinary conference:
Christian Renewal Movements in the Global South in the 20th and 21st Centuries: Religious, Social and Political Transformation
The Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 28-29 May 2017
The explosion of new and diverse forms of Christianity across the Global South – mass conversions, emergence of new denominations, and revitalization within established churches – have been among the most staggering religious phenomena of recent times. The diffused Pentecostal and Evangelical movements, which gained prominence throughout the 20th century, have already reached a dramatic following of over half a billion. The Roman Catholic Church and the historical mainline churches have joined the fray with their own charismatic renewal movements. The emergence of these new churches has had profound social, cultural and political impact within international, national and local arenas. Historically, we have seen how new Christian movements, often through the provision of education and health, have challenged traditional political and social structures. More recently, we have witnessed the ways in which new Christian communities transform political participation, affect marginalized groups and reconstruct social values. No wonder, therefore, that some have been referring to the explosion of new Christian forms as a "second reformation," a term indicative of its magnitude and far-reaching implications.
We invite contributors to an interdisciplinary conference dedicated to dialogue between scholars of religion in the broad sense of the term, with the aim of developing comparative perspectives on these disperse yet interrelated religio-social developments. Through multi-sited comparative studies, exploration of moments of cross-regional interaction, and the mapping of channels of inter-regional influences, as well as in-depth and contextualized studies of specific case studies, we hope to gain insights into how local and global trends play out both geographically and over time. Though by no means exclusive, contributions related to the following themes will be particularly welcome:
- Historical transformation versus continuity (e.g. relations between contemporary Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism in the Global South and the historical templates of Protestant Western missionary).
- Socio-political engagement (e.g. new Christian movements’ influence on traditional socio-political structures, and their response to development challenges such as poverty and marginalization).
- South-South connections (e.g. networks of collaboration and inspiration generated around the success of new Christian churches, the dissemination of their message through the aid of modern communication technologies, and their global, national and local implications).
- Theological conceptions (e.g. particular theological ideas and currents informing Christian renewal movements in the Global South, and their departure from mainstream Catholic and Protestant conceptions).
The conference will be held in English. Applicants are welcome from all disciplines, including, among others: history, sociology, anthropology, geography, religious studies, development studies, and regional studies (esp. Latin American, African, and East Asian studies). Special care will be taken to incorporate speakers at various stages of their academic careers. Thus, alongside senior academics, younger scholars – including post-doctoral researchers and doctoral candidates – are encouraged to apply. Proposals including comparative and multi-sited case studies are particularly welcome.
Deadline for abstract submission is 15 December 2016. Proposed abstracts should include up to 2,500 characters, and should mention the author's institutional affiliation. They are to be submitted to: globalsouthchristianity@
Limited funds are available for covering/supporting participants’ travel and accommodations. Applicants should indicate their request for support upon applications.
Megachurches Remaking Global Mission
Megachurch are a playing a prominent role in missions. Dr. Nelson Jennings, who is serving as an associate pastor and consultant to one of the largest megachurches in Korea, explained how Korean megachurches emerged as a cultural and religious phenomenon in the 20th century, and began to explore the impact they are having on religious life in both Korea and throughout the world.
World Christianities Essay Prize
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History has confirmed the launch of the new JEH World Christianities Prize. Full details are available, but a prize, worth £500 and publication in the Journal, will be awarded to the best essay submitted on any aspect of the history of Christianity outside Europe and North America from the year 700 to the present. The deadline for submission for the first award is 31 March 2017.
Mission Education in Burundi
The International Leadership University (ILU) in Burundi has established a graduate program in mission studies. Dr. Fohle Lygunda, the Academic Dean and Daewon Moon, a CGCM student associate, have collaborated for the past several years to open research and education in this field. Mission Studies is quite new to the central African region. The first group of master’s students have completed their program and produced solid theses on various themes of mission studies. ILU-Burundi, the only university in the country that offers English-based degree programs, has drawn theological students from Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, and DR Congo. Dr. Lygunda recently organized the first International Consultation on Missiology for Central Africa in Kinshasa, DR Congo, in order to promote missiological research on the region.
The Indefatigable Work of Don Carlos Janes
At the turn of the 20th century, Churches of Christ had less than a nominal level of missionary activity. With few missionaries abroad and fewer churches willing to support them along with no denominationally baptized mechanism for conducting a missionary enterprise, the prospect of a viable missions program that covered the denomination seemed bleak for Churches of Christ. Don Carlos Janes (1877-1944) would find himself in this difficult situation in 1911 as he began his work as a missionary promoter. Jeremy Hegi recently published an article titled “One-Man Missionary Society: The Indefatigable Work of Don Carlos Janes” in Restoration Quarterly Vol. 58 No. 4. The essay demonstrates how Janes established and maintained a missionary consciousness among the congregations of Churches of Christ, in addition to recruiting and supporting a majority of missionaries of the denomination between 1911 and 1944.