From Wheaton to Lausanne: The Road to Modification of Contemporary Evangelical Mission Theology

Abstract

The evangelical movement projects itself as the locus classicus for “authentic evangelism” and as qualitatively different from its conciliar counterpart. Through an analysis of its first three worldwide conferences, Wheaton (1966), Berlin (1966), and Lausanne (1974), the paper argues that this projection is misleading and, that, like its conciliar counterpart, the evangelical missionary motivation has not remained a constant. Factors compelling the modification of its traditional positions are described. Emerging as “the new fact of our time” is, surprisingly, a consensus on many missiological questions. Unresolved questions with which both camps should preoccupy themselves, rather than engage in infighting, are identified.