Abstract
This issue of Missiology presents some talks from the 2023 Annual Meeting and 50th anniversary celebration. The theme was Global Arts on Mission: Embedded, Embodied, Empowered. The call for papers that went out stated:
The ASM Annual Meeting 2023 will explore the multifaceted dimensions of doing mission via global and local arts, critically linked to facilitating witness and worship. Papers are sought that address a broad range of topics, such as biblical theologies of global and local arts in mission; history of the arts in mission; liturgical theology as contextual theology; the roles and functions of the arts in evangelism, justice movements, church planting, church growth, development, orality, cultural exegesis, critical contextualization, interfaith dialogue, and peacebuilding; prophetic witness and the arts, for a broad range of examples. We are also interested in case studies that push us to think more deeply about the essential, rather than tangential, place of the arts in the mission of God as a dimension of Christian witness and practice. Our ultimate goal is to reflect on the contribution of the arts in the life of the church locally and globally as it pursues making Christ known and worshipped among the nations.
This issue presents various addresses from the conference, along with some additional articles. First is the Presidential Address given by Roberta King. An ethnomusicologist, King draws the reader’s attention to the various functions of music including, among others, embodied worship, peacebuilding, and intercultural engagement. Next is the address given by Kyama Mugambi, also focusing on music. Mugambi takes the reader to Africa to explore the connections between music and mission, especially as it relates to the growth of Christianity across the continent.
Next up are three short addresses given by students and recent graduates at the 50th anniversary banquet in response to the prompt: “Why am I passionate about missiology,” and “What do I hope to see in the field of missiology and in ASM in the next 50 years?” These remarks both celebrate the value of the Society and call it to additional work moving forward. William Green’s comments first reflect on a funny-but-sad misunderstanding of the field of missiology, then move to a call for greater breadth in the field. Next, Jennifer Aycock reflects on her years supporting the conference and calls the Society to better long-term strategic thinking and greater inclusion of African American voices. Finally, Allan Varghese Meloottu calls for an expanded mission paradigm of faithful friendship among God’s global people as a corrective to an overly westernized, one-way view of mission. This section closes with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Charles Van Engen by Steve Bevans, and Charles Van Engen’s response.
The second group of articles in this issue consists of additional papers not from the annual gathering, but nevertheless of potential challenge to readers. First, Roland Paul Cox questions some of the ways culture is understood and categorized, arguing that such schemes can be overly reductionistic and less than helpful in mission. Next, Warren F. Larson calls readers to view turmoil among some Muslim societies not as threats to Christianity but rather opportunities for mission. Ivy Chiu challenges the dominant understanding of Third Culture Kids (TCKs) as primarily White and western, arguing that such a view is not just incorrect, it is potentially harmful to children. Finally, Evelyn Hibbert, Lance Williamson, and Barbara Williamson present more research on ministry to nomadic peoples, with a specific focus on how best to prepare new workers for this needed task.
As usual the editors also offer a number of book reviews for readers’ consideration.
We hope you will find this issue informative and thought-provoking. The dialogue is rich and we hope readers will be encouraged to think, converse, and write more on any of the topics presented here. If you benefit from reading this issue, consider submitting your own work to the journal. Historical, theological, and empirical works are welcome, as are book reviews. Women, minorities, internationals, and doctoral students are especially encouraged to submit your work.