International Association of Mission Studies

International Association of Mission Studies is a global community of missionaries, theologians, and scholars from various Christian denominations, including Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, and World Council of Churches. The association was founded in 1972 by Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, David Bosch, and other prominent mission theologians, with the aim of promoting ecumenism and fostering a deeper understanding of Christian mission in the context of globalization, postcolonialism, and interfaith dialogue. The IAMS has been influenced by the work of Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Paul Tillich, among other theologians. The association has also been shaped by the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910, the Lausanne Covenant of 1974, and the World Missionary Conference of 1980.

● History

The history of the International Association of Mission Studies is closely tied to the development of Christian mission in the 20th century, particularly in the context of decolonization and the emergence of new religious movements. The association's founding in 1972 was a response to the Second Vatican Council's call for greater ecumenical cooperation and the need for a more nuanced understanding of Christian mission in a postcolonial world. The IAMS has been influenced by the work of mission historians such as Andrew Walls, Lamin Sanneh, and Brian Stanley, who have written extensively on the history of Christian mission in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The association has also been shaped by the World Council of Churches' Commission on World Mission and Evangelism and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

● Organization

The International Association of Mission Studies is a non-governmental organization with a global membership, including scholars from universities such as Harvard University, University of Oxford, and University of Chicago. The association is governed by a board of directors composed of theologians and missionaries from various Christian denominations, including Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, and Presbyterian Church (USA). The IAMS has partnerships with other ecumenical organizations, such as the World Council of Churches, Lausanne Movement, and Global Christian Forum. The association is also affiliated with research centers such as the Center for the Study of Global Christianity and the Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology.

● Membership

Membership in the International Association of Mission Studies is open to scholars, theologians, and missionaries from around the world, including those affiliated with Christian denominations such as Baptist World Alliance, Lutheran World Federation, and Methodist World Council. The association has a diverse membership, including women theologians such as Kwok Pui-lan and Mercy Amba Oduyoye, as well as theologians from the Global South such as Miguez Bonino and Vinay Samuel. Members of the IAMS have made significant contributions to the field of mission studies, including the work of David Bosch on transforming mission and the research of Lamin Sanneh on Christianity in Africa. The association has also been influenced by the work of feminist theologians such as Rosemary Radford Ruether and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza.

● Conferences

The International Association of Mission Studies hosts conferences every four years, which bring together scholars, theologians, and missionaries from around the world to discuss topics related to Christian mission and ecumenism. Recent conferences have been held in Bali, Indonesia, Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Auckland, New Zealand, and have featured keynote speakers such as Desmond Tutu, Katherine Sonderegger, and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen. The conferences have also included workshops and panels on topics such as mission and evangelism, interfaith dialogue, and Christianity and culture. The IAMS has also partnered with other ecumenical organizations to host regional conferences in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

● Publications

The International Association of Mission Studies publishes a journal called the International Review of Mission, which features articles and book reviews on topics related to Christian mission and ecumenism. The association also publishes books and monographs through its partnership with publishers such as Orbis Books and Wipf and Stock Publishers. Members of the IAMS have written extensively on topics related to mission studies, including the work of Andrew Walls on Christianity in Africa and the research of Brian Stanley on Christian mission in the 19th century. The association has also published collections of essays on topics such as mission and postcolonialism and Christianity and globalization.

● Research

The International Association of Mission Studies supports research on topics related to Christian mission and ecumenism, including the work of scholars such as Kwok Pui-lan on Asian theology and the research of Vinay Samuel on Christianity in India. The association has also partnered with research centers such as the Center for the Study of Global Christianity and the Institute for the Study of Christianity in an Age of Science and Technology to support research projects on topics such as mission and evangelism and Christianity and science. Members of the IAMS have made significant contributions to the field of mission studies, including the work of David Bosch on transforming mission and the research of Lamin Sanneh on Christianity in Africa. The association has also been influenced by the work of theologians such as Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who have written extensively on topics related to Christian mission and ecumenism.