Course Code: BHM02

Contemporary Issues and Trends in Christian Mission and Evangelism

BD III, Semester II, 4 Credit Hours, Senate Paper

Course Objectives

1. To study and identify the contemporary issues and trends in Christian Mission and Evangelism.
2. To understand the contemporary context.
3. To identify some of the issues and challenges the human world, animal world, and the nature is facing with special reference to the Indian context.
4. To analyze churches’ involvement in the present-day context.
5. To find out ways and means to respond biblically and with the Spirit of Ecumenism to these challenges.
6. Helping the students to identify paradigm shifts in Missiological thinking and practice of Mission, Evangelism, and ecumenism.

Course Requirements

• Final Examination 100%

Course Outline

1. Introduction
   1. Shifting Centers (Geographical and Demographical centers)
   2. Post-Christian West and Post-western Christianity
2. New Faces of Christianity
   1. Church of the Poor and Powerless
   2. Churchless Christianity, house churches, mega churches, Tele-evangelism
3. Paradigm Shifts in the Thinking and Practice of Christian Mission and Evangelism
   1. Missio-Dei to Holistic Mission
   2. Deductive and inductive approaches to the use of the Bible in Mission
   3. Church-centered Mission to world-centered Mission
   4. Individual to cosmic dimension of salvation
   5. Contextual Theologies and their approaches to Mission
4. Kenotic Missiology
   1. Incarnation and self-emptying
   2. Study and identify with the local culture
   3. Encountering the three worldviews – Biblical, Missionary’s, and the people of the Mission field
5. Formation of Indigenous Church
   1. Indigenization in Mission
   2. Contextualization in Mission
   3. Inculturation in Mission
   4. New community in Jesus: Self-support, Self-propagation, and Self-governance
6. Pluralism and Christian Mission
   1. Religious Pluralism
   2. Cultural Pluralism
   3. Ideological Pluralism
   4. Inter-faith dialogue
   5. Comprehensive dialogue
7. Economic, Ecological, and Gender Issues in Christian Mission
   1. Poverty and Christian Mission
   2. Creation keeping and Christian Mission
   3. Mission and Emancipation of Women
8. Christian Mission and Globalization
   1. Market, profit, privatization, and self-made God/Goddess
   2. Mission movements outside and beyond established Churches
9. Economic, Ecological, and Gender Issues in Christian Mission
   1. Result-oriented Mission: Numerical growth, Christianization
   2. Proselytization: conversion, losing and adding numbers in denominationalism
   3. Fundamentalism and Christian Mission
   4. Mission to the nominal Christians
10. New Paradigms for Christian Mission
    1. Mission as Christian presence
    2. New evangelization (Roman Catholic)
    3. Mission as an extension of hospitality
    4. Mission as common witness
    5. Mission as reconciliation and healing
    6. Mission as a quest for justice and peace
    7. Mission as action in hope

Bibliography

Required Readings

• Abraham, K.C. Transforming Vision.
• Ariarjah, S. Wesley. The Bible and People of Other Faiths. Geneva: WCC, 1985.
• Bosch, David J. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in Theology of Mission. New York: Orbis, 1991.
• Hedlund, Roger and J. Bhakiaraj, eds. Missiology for the 21st Century: South Asian Perspectives. Delhi: ISPCK/MIIS, 2004.
• Jongeneel, Encyclopaedia of Mission.
• Pachuau, Lalsangkima, ed. Ecumenical Missiology: Contemporary Trends, Issues, and Themes. Bangalore: UTC, 2002.

Suggested Readings

• Abraham, K.C. Liberative Solidarity. Tiruvalla: CSS, 1996.
• Anderson, Alan and Walter Hollenweger, eds. Pentecostals after a Century: Global Perspectives on a Movement in Transition. Sheffield: SAP, 1999.
• Athyal, Abraham P and N.D. Yoder, eds. Mission Today: Challenges and Concerns. Chennai: Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, 1998.
• Babu, Dass, ed. Priorities for the Mission of the Church. Madras: Synod of the Church of South India, 1982.
• Baroi, Rosy. “Ekklesia Model or Kyriarchal Model: Hermeneutical Choice and the Future of Ekklesia.” In Ekklesia: Indian Conversations, edited by Samuel George, H. Joseph Lalfakihawia, and Ajungla Jamir, 160-185. New Delhi: CWI & MCT, 2014.
• Bevans, Stephen B. Models of Contextual Theology. New York: Orbis Books, 1992.
• Bosch, David I. Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts in the Theology of Mission. New York: Orbis, 1991.
• Brennan, John Patrick. Christian Mission in a Pluralistic World. Bombay: St Pauls, 1990.
• Burgess, Stanley, ed. New International Dictionary of Pentecostal/Charismatic Movements. Zondervan, 2002.
• Chetti, Daniel D., ed. Ethical Issues in the Struggles for Justice: Quest for Pluriform Communities: Essays in Honour of K.C. Abraham. Tiruvalla: CSS, 1998.
• George, P.T. Missionary Pragmatism: No People to God’s People. Delhi: ISPCK, 2012.
• Hollenweger, Walter J. Pentecostalism: Origins and Developments Worldwide. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1997.
• Hrangkhuma, F & Kim Sabastian CH, eds. Church in India: Its Mission Tomorrow. New Delhi: ISPCK, 1996.
• Jenkins, Philip. The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South. Oxford: OUP, 2006.
• Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity. New York: OUP, 2002.
• Joseph, M.P., ed. Mission and Solidarity. Bombay: BUILD, 1995.
• Joseph, M.P. Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation: Documents from an Ecumenical Process of Commitment. Geneva: WCC, 1994.
• K.L. Richardson. Towards Self-Reliance (M.Th. Thesis, 1991), (Vijayawada: Christopher & Kanakaiah, 2003).
• Kirk, Andrew J. What Is Mission? Theological Explorations. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999.
• Kirk, J. Andrew, ed. Contemporary Issues in Mission. England: Department of Mission, Selly Oak Colleges, 1994.
• Lalrinawma, V.S. Missiological Issues Facing The Contemporary Church in India. Bangalore: Centre for Contemporary Christianity, 2011.
• Legrand, Lucien. The Bible on Culture: Belonging or Dissenting. New York: Orbis Books, 2000.
• Lorenzen, David. The Scourge of the Mission: Marco della Tomba in Hindustan. New Delhi: Yoda Press, 2009.
• Lossky, Nicholas, ed. Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement. Geneva and Grand Rapids, MI: WCC Publications and Eerdmans, 1991.
• Mathew, C.V. The Saffron Mission: A Historical Analysis of Modern Hindu Missionary Ideologies and Practices. Delhi: ISPCK, 1999.
• Mathew, C.V., ed. Integral Mission: The Way Forward. Essays in Honour of Dr. Saphir P. Athyal. Tiruvalla: CSS, 2006.
• Mattam, Joseph and Kim, Sebastian, eds. Dimensions of Mission in India. Bombay: St Paul Publications, 1995.
• Mattam, Joseph, Sebastian C.H. Kim, eds. Mission and Conversion: A Reappraisal. Mumbai: St Pauls, 1996.
• Meggitt, Justin. Paul, Poverty and Survival. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1998.
• Müller, Karl, ed. Dictionary of Mission: Theology, History, Perspectives. New York: Orbis Books, 1997.
• Nichollos, Bruce J and Raj Christopher J., eds. Mission as Witness and Justice. New Delhi: TRACI, 1991.
• Raj, Sebasti L., Xavier Raj, ed. Caste Culture in Indian Church. New Delhi: Indian Social Institute, 1993.
• Sahayadoss, Santosh. “An Enquiry into the Colonial Contributions toward the Development of Indian Christian Identity.” Doon Theological Journal, 2011.
• Sahayadoss, Santosh. “Prospects and Challenges that Engulf Christian Missions in a Postmodern Context.” In Gloube und Denken, ed. Andrea Konig, Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2010.
• Samuel, Simon and P.V. Joseph, eds. Remapping Mission Discourse. Dehradun: NTC/ISPCK, 2007.
• Samuel, Simon. Remapping Mission Discourse: A Festschrift in Honour of the Rev. George Kuruvila Chavanikamannil, eds. Simon Samuel and P.V. Joseph, Dehradun: NTC Publications/ISPCK, 2008.
• Selvanayagam, Israel. Second Call: Ministry and Mission in a Multifaith Milieu. Madras: Christian Literature Society, 2000.
• Shaull, Richard and Waldo Cesar. Pentecostalism and the Future of the Christian Churches; Promises, Limitations, Challenges. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.
• Snaitang, O.L. Christianity and Social Change in Northeast India. Shillong: Vendrame Institute, 1993.
• Stanislaus, L. Liberative Mission of the Church Among Dalit Christians. New Delhi: ISPCK, 1999.
• Sumitra, Sudanand and Hrangkhuma, E, eds. Doing Mission in Context. Bangalore: Theological Book Trust, 1995.
• Synan, Vinson. The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.
• Synan, Vinson. The Spirit Said Grow: The Incredible Pentecostal-Charismatic Factor in the Global Expansion of Christianity. Monrovia: MARC, 1992.
• Tennent, T. Building Christianity on Indian Foundations: The Legacy of Brahmabandhav Upadhyay. Delhi: ISPCK, 2000.
• Tennent, T. Theology in the Context of World Christianity; How the Global Church is Influencing the way we think about and discuss theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007.
• Thanzauva, K. Theology of Community: Tribal Theology in the Making. Aizawl: Mizo Theological Conference, 1997.
• Thomas, Jacob. From Lausanne to Manila: Evangelical Social Thought: Models of Missions and the Social Relevance of the Gospel. Delhi: ISPCK, 2003.
• Thomas, Norman E., ed. Classic Texts in Mission and World Christianity. New York: Orbis, 1995.
• Thomas, V.V. Dalit Pentecostalism: Spirituality of the Empowered Poor. Bangalore: ATC, 2008.
• Vanlalchhuanawrha. Mission and Tribal Identity. Delhi: ISPCK, 2010.
• Victus, Solomon. “Monotheism, Monarchy, Monoculture.” Asia Journal of Theology, Bangalore: BTESSC/SATHRI, Vol. 24, No. 2, Oct. 2010, p. 179-196.
• Vibila, Liz. Co-author, God Breaks the Silence. Preaching in the Times of Aids, Wuppertal 2005.
• Walls, Andrew. The Missionary Movement in Christian History: Studies in the Transmission of Faith. New York: Orbis, 1996.
• Wesley Ariarajah. Gospel and Culture: An Ongoing Discussion within the Ecumenical Movement. Geneva: WCC, 1994.
• Yates, Timothy. Christian Mission in the Twentieth Century. London: Cambridge University Press, 1996.