The 1910 Edinburgh mission conference took place on the watershed of two eras: behind lay the 'golden' mission era of the nineteenth century with its successful results, while ahead opened up a future with unprecedented opportunities. The chairman of the conference, John R. Mott expressed the atmosphere of the conference by speaking about 'providential' preparations for mission in the following words: 

"Why has God made the whole world known and accessible to our generation? Why has He provided us with such wonderful agencies? Not that the forces of evil might utilize them… Such vast preparations must have been made to further some mighty and beneficent purpose. Everyone of these wonderful facilities has been intended primary to serve as a handmaid to the sublime enterprise of extending and building up the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in all the world. The hand of God in opening door after door among the nations of mankind, in unlocking the secrets of nature and in bringing to light invention after invention, is beckoning the Church of our day to larger achievements." (The Student Volunteer, 127-129)

For the first time in history the whole world was open for the Gospel. No wonder Edinburgh 1910 ended on a triumphalist note. Mott described the end of the conference as the beginning of the world conquest. With hindsight, it is easy to criticise the limitations and one-sidedness of Edinburgh, but the conference succeeded in leaving a valuable legacy, the vision of global mission and global church, where the Gospel has spread as far as the ends of the earth and each nation is able to bring its own contribution to a deeper understanding of faith. [Read the full article]

Theme 3: Mission and Post-Modernity

Mission in a Changing World

What is meant by post-modernities, and how should Christian mission respond to the challenges? ‘Post-modernity’ is no marginal phenomenon on the fringe of society. Rather, it is a broad cultural trend, a reaction against modernity fuelled by the catastrophic political events of the twentieth century, influencing even those who reject its tenets. Still, it is basically a Western phenomenon, fuelled by modernity and secularisation. 

Briefly, post-modernities are characterised by plurality, subjectivity and negotiation. Authority is fragmented, everybody has a voice that is not necessarily ‘right’ or ‘wrong', as all depends on the point of view and everybody is free to pick what is preferred. The world is constantly changing and identity is liquid. All experiences and opinions are subjective, ‘where you stand depends on where you sit’, the answers to questions of correctness or falseness, rightness or wrongness depend on the perspective, the context, and therefore will always be partial and biased.  

Some key challenges of mission in relation to post-modernities are connected to the scepticism in regard to truth claims or affirmation of the existence of absolute truth and the relativity of all human efforts to grasp and express it. The role of Scripture, the question of distinguishing between legitimate and illegitimate proclamation, the importance of rites and structures versus emotion and experience will continue to occupy the public and private arena of witness, evangelization and persuasion.   

We hope that the challenges from post-modernities may enable the church to focus more on witness in deeds followed by words to work towards a theology of mission where mission is to be done with and to God. The post-modern contexts call for a greater role of the servant model for leadership, enhancement of the interaction between and practice in theological training; rediscovery of hope that endures; attention to the biblical message of stewardship for the earth and its resources; and emphasis on holistic reconciliation and healing.

                                                                                                                        Rolv Olsen, Norwegian School of Theology

Dana Robert on Mission Today

An interview with Dana Robert on behalf of Edinburgh Youth now available on Youtube

Dana Robert, keynote speaker at the Edinburgh 2010 conference, is teaching at the Boston University School of Theology since 1984, and considered to be one of the leading historians of Christian mission. In this six-part interview, produced on behalf of the Edinburgh Youth, Robert talks about issues like women & mission, youth & mission, and the future of mission.