{"title":"Draw the Circle Wide","authors":"Kenneth R. Ross","doi":"10.1111/irom.12386","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12386","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In ecumenical missiology, the question of unity has always been a matter of concentric circles, with the call to unity extending its horizons ever outward. What began as a movement to promote greater cooperation in mission stimulated initiatives to achieve church unity, and this in turn fostered an ecumenical vision that embraced the “whole inhabited earth” – all of humanity and indeed the entire natural order. This article argues that the conditions prevailing in the early 21st century have put a premium on the most extensive expression of the ecumenical vision. Examining two seminal World Council of Churches statements on mission, <i>Together Towards Life</i> and “The Arusha Call to Discipleship,” it examines how the two documents have shifted thinking about mission and unity toward a vision that extends to humanity as a whole and indeed the entire creation.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48238654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Obituary – Robert J. Schreiter","authors":"Antonio D. Sison","doi":"10.1111/irom.12381","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12381","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47192222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Alexander Chow and Emma Wild-Wood, eds. Ecumenism and Independency in World Christianity: Historical Studies in Honour of Brian Stanley. Leiden and Boston: Brill, 2020. 370 pages.","authors":"Risto Jukko","doi":"10.1111/irom.12392","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12392","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44661521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Competing Visions of Mission and Unity among Japanese Protestants and Missionaries in Japan (1859–1912)","authors":"Thomas John Hastings","doi":"10.1111/irom.12382","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12382","url":null,"abstract":"<p>After a brief clarification of terms, this article focuses on the early history of the minority Protestant movement in Japan around the turn of the 20th century, examining rival perspectives on mission and unity among certain Japanese church leaders and Western missionaries. The sudden rise of Japan as the regional political power in Northeast Asia strongly influenced both constituencies, albeit in differing ways. While Protestant missionaries imagined Japanese Christians as future agents in their strategy for world evangelization, Japanese Protestant leaders were more modest, focusing their energies on the development of an independent national church. They did hope that their theological “liberation” from British, Dutch, and German confessional traditions would inspire similar theological developments in “younger churches” elsewhere. In light of the Japanese case, the author turns to John 17 for a “post-instrumentalist” proposal for Christian unity and mission grounded in the inner life of God and wonders if such a perspective may be better attuned to the polycentric ecumenism of this new era of World Christianity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47104084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Liberating Humour of Desmond Tutu","authors":"Tinyiko Maluleke","doi":"10.1111/irom.12389","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12389","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Focusing on the humanizing humour of Desmond Tutu, this article explores the ways in which oppressed people employed (Christian) humour – amid the most difficult living conditions – during the South African struggle against the apartheid system. For comparative purposes and in order to place Desmond Tutu alongside fellow anti-apartheid leaders as well as within the societal milieu within which they all worked, we also briefly consider the use of humour in the life and work of both Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko. We conclude that, in his activism, in his preaching, in his public speaking, and in the conduct of his spirituality, Desmond Tutu has been one of the most effective employers of humour as a tool for the humanization of insiders and outsiders, friends and foes, humans and fellow creatures.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47325793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Need of Global Social Nearness in Light of the Teachings of the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti","authors":"Reginald Alva","doi":"10.1111/irom.12388","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12388","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite calls from global authorities to maintain social (physical) distance to stop the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis, in his encyclical <i>Fratelli tutti</i>, appealed for global social nearness to face the disastrous impact of the pandemic on people’s lives. The encyclical raised several issues concerning the plight of the weak and the vulnerable amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he did not address the plight of vulnerable people within the Catholic Church in the encyclical. Thus, in this paper, I will first examine the need for social nearness to weak and vulnerable people within the Catholic Church. Next, in light of the teachings of <i>Fratelli tutti</i>, I will examine the need for social nearness to the weakest in society, especially those affected by COVID-19. Finally, I will examine the need for global mutual solidarity to face the various challenges caused by the pandemic. I will also explore the concrete proposals Pope Francis noted in his encyclical that are needed to accelerate global mutual solidarity during the pandemic and in the post–COVID-19 world. The main source for this paper is <i>Fratelli tutti</i> itself. I will also refer to other church documents on social outreach and the opinions of experts in various fields.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45452359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Common Word (Surah 3:64) between Muslims and Christians?","authors":"Henning Wrogemann","doi":"10.1111/irom.12396","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12396","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The article inquires critically into the operative understanding of “unity” when the motto of the WCC assembly speaks of the love of Christ uniting the world. What does this mean for the relationship between Christians and other religions, especially Islam? Muslims repeatedly refer to the “Common Word” mentioned in Surah 3:64 as the basis of Muslim–Christian interactions. The author shows that Muslims and Christians dispute over what “to be lord” means precisely, since Christians recognize and testify to God’s presence in Jesus Christ, their Lord. The Islamic doctrine of the uniqueness of God (<i>tawḥīd</i> in Arabic) fundamentally contradicts this conviction. The author shows that in Muslim practice, very different consequences may derive from <i>tawḥīd</i>, ranging from cooperation to conflict. Along the lines of a polyphonic understanding, the author seeks ways for a peaceful coexistence that does not comprise the Christian faith witness.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/irom.12396","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44893430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Gospel of Reconciliation and the Promise of a New Identity","authors":"Jukka A. Kääriäinen","doi":"10.1111/irom.12384","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12384","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Reconciliation is a fundamentally theological reality grounded in the being, work, and aims of the triune God. In light of this, how ought the reconciling ministry of Jesus inform and shape the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-21) to which Christians are called? In this article, I argue that a sufficiently robust gospel of reconciliation has dynamic, identity-shaping power, informing a rewarding mission and ministry of reconciliation. My classical theological approach will use “promise” to interrelate gospel, reconciliation, and identity, situating reconciliation within the overarching biblical narrative plot. In doing so, I will distinguish my proposal from a progressive Christian “<i>alter-globalism</i>” approach, identifying and constructively critiquing the latter’s shortcomings. These include truncating the reconciliation and the flourishing life to an immanent vision, reducing reconciliation to concepts and tasks of justice work, insufficiently connecting reconciliation to its larger soteriological framework, and failing to use the gospel for identity formation.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49554819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mission in Unity","authors":"Meehyun Chung","doi":"10.1111/irom.12395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/irom.12395","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article introduces the multidimensional work of Oliver R. Avison (1860–1959) from various perspectives of the United Nations sustainable development goals. The aim is to elaborate his mission regarding medical ministry, education, and evangelism. This article comprises two major parts. The first is a general introduction to the background of his work in Korea in terms of society and medical mission. The second is an examination of his major contributions in seeking justice, peace, and wellbeing for people and establishing institutions for both medical service and higher education for young Koreans under Japanese colonialism. This article is descriptive and approaches the topic of Avison’s work of his beginning period chronologically. It is also analytical and offers an evaluation of his work in its historical context. Overall, he aimed to accomplish mission in unity. His endeavour could be commemorated as a role model even in the 21st century as a pioneer attempt to pursue sustainability through mutual respect instead of through paternalistic charity work.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138146769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Toward Comm/unity amid Brokenness","authors":"Pavol Bargár","doi":"10.1111/irom.12385","DOIUrl":"10.1111/irom.12385","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article argues that one of the postulations and, simultaneously, aims of Christian mission as part of <i>missio Dei</i> is to recognize the image of God in the other. To advance its arguments, it employs three central concepts, namely, brokenness, relationality, and mutuality. These concepts are to be perceived in terms of a hermeneutic arch that constitutes theological/missiological understanding of both what it means to be human and what it means to be involved in <i>missio Dei</i>. Taken together, they will serve as stepping stones to a relational anthropology that can give orientation to Christian mission today. In particular, the concept of “comm/unity” will be suggested as a means to address the double aspect of human essential togetherness and the relationality of distinct beings that is characteristic for the <i>conditio humana</i>. The aim of the article is to show that there is a deep and inherent link between mission, unity, and anthropology.</p>","PeriodicalId":54038,"journal":{"name":"International Review of Mission","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.1,"publicationDate":"2021-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44257604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}