Broadening Themes and Methodologies in the Research and Writing of History and Christian Mission Theologies

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue seeks to explore the intersection between history, mission, and theology in the worldwide Christian movement. Essays are invited that identify and investigate new themes or methodologies in the research and writing of the history of Christianity and Christian mission theology. While recent scholarship has begun to diffuse the separation between the history of Christianity and the history of Christian mission, this special issue directly challenges the division between the history of Christianity, the history of Christian mission, and the history of theology. Rather than separate, the issue's focus argues that they are in constant conversation. Thus, the issue's central question might be framed as:  How have Christian mission activity and theological constructs shaped, reordered, deconstructed, etc, each other in particular periods and contexts?

For this issue, history of Christianity is conceived as the narrative of theologically engaged and active Christian communities in specific contexts within time and geography. Christian mission theology is “theology for” rather than “theology of.”

The purpose of the special issue is to focus on the relationship between the history of Christian mission, Christian history and the history of Christian theology. Hence, the issue challenges the assumption that these disciplines are in silos. As stated in the call for paper, “this special issue takes up the call directly by challenging the separation between the history of Christianity, the history of Christian mission, and the history of theology.”

Scholars working in these three disciplines are encouraged and invited to submit papers where these disciplines interact and interplay with each other, providing fresh interpretations that intertwine Christian mission, history, and theology.

The issue will not only supplement but contribute to an increasing trend in world Christianity studies of integrating these disciplines in doctoral seminars, dissertation projects, ethno-historical studies, and Christian studies in general. It will ground the increasing number of junior scholars asking interdisciplinary questions and seeking an academic space for their work.

Prof. Dr. Carlos F. Cardoza-Orlandi

Guest Editor

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