1st Edition
Mission in Context Explorations Inspired by J. Andrew Kirk
Stimulated by Andrew Kirk's mission theology, this book brings fresh theological reflection to a wide range of mission issues. A formidable group of international missiologists are drawn together to explore current reflections on a wide range of issues including: poverty and injustice, environmentalism, secularism, the place of scripture in a pluralist culture, science and faith, liberation theology, oppression and reconciliation, and much more. Kirk's influence and reputation is international, and extends to South America, USA, Eastern Europe, Africa and SE Asia. Latin American mission has been especially enriched by Kirk's innovative thinking on revolutionary politics, contextualisation and holistic mission. This is an indispensable resource of up-to-date missiological reflections for all involved in mission at every level.
Foreword by Christopher J.H. Wright
Introduction
John Corrie and Cathy Ross
Part I: J. Andrew Kirk: His Life and Work
1 Missiologist and Theologian
Cathy Ross
2 A Life in Mission
Daniel Kirk
3 Doing Evangelical Theology at a Time of Turmoil: A Retrospective Survey of Andrew’s Latin American Experience
J. Samuel Escobar
Part II: What is Mission?
4 Global Partnership and Integral Mission
C. René Padilla
5 Evangelicals and Liberation Theology
John Corrie
6 Practising Community in the Early Church: A Missional Reading of the Summary Texts in Acts
Peter Penner
7 The Gospel and Nation-Building in Emergent Nations: An Evangelical Agenda
Hwa Yung
Part III: Truth in a Pluralistic World
8 Convictional Perspectivism: A Constructive Proposal for a Theological Response to Postmodern Conditions
Parush R. Parushev
9 Truth and Pluralism
Vinoth Ramachandra
10 Intercultural and Inter-Religious Dialogue in Europe: Are the EU and the Council of Europe Participants or Arbiters of the Dialogue?
Darrell Jackson
11 Worldviews and Christian Conversion
Andrew F. Walls
Part IV: Culture, Education and Religion
12 A Missiology of Western Culture: Background and Development of a Project
Wilbert R. Shenk
13 Christian Faith, Freedom and Illiberal Liberalism: Leads from Lesslie Newbigin
David Kettle
14 Mission and Violence: Inculturation in the Fourth Century – Basil and Ambrose
Alan Kreider
15 Dilemmas and Challenges for Theology in Post-Communist Eastern Europe
Peter Kuzmic
16 The Significance of Pentecostalism to Mission
Allan Anderson
Biography
John Corrie has spent 17 years teaching and tutoring mission at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He has been involved in mission in Latin America over many years and Editor of the Dictionary of Mission Theology (IVP, 2007). Cathy Ross has published two books, Women with a Mission (Auckland:Penguin, 2006) and A Walls and C Ross (eds) Mission in the 21st Century, Exploring the Five Marks of Global Mission (London:DLT, 2008). She has spent 11 years of teaching mission studies in NZ and UK.
'Andrew Kirk has through his own life and scholarship in mission studies embodied a union of evangelical faithfulness, passionate regard for social justice, and deep theological reflection. This union - sadly all too rare in the field - is exemplified by this rich collection of essays in his honour.' Brian Stanley, University of Edinburgh, UK 'The richness, freshness, and depth of the essays in this book provide a fine tribute to J. Andrew Kirk as one of the most significant missiologists of our time. This collection will enrich any library - academic or personal.' Steve Bevans, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, USA 'This, then, is a volume that not only pays tribute to Andrew Kirk but also provides a set of up-to-date missiological, especially contextual, reflections generated by his writings. The editors’ conclusion that Kirk’s thinking has always been profound, biblical, radical, and often challenging and provocative to orthodox evangelical assumptions is certainly reflected in the range and depth of the essays.' Stimulus: The New Zealand Journal of Christian Thought and Practice 'I found this an extremely stimulating and refreshing book, even though I knew little of Kirk’s work previously. All the essays were informative, as well as challenging, and I found much to inspire me in local mission... I would recommend this book to students and ministers alike it would sit productively alongside Bosch’s seminal work Transforming Mission.' Regent’s Review 'This volume is a very welcome contribution to a number of discussions related to somewhat recent missionary theology and the various developments therein. The contributors have been significant voices, along with Kirk, in important conversations surrounding the church's mission in the world today.' The Gospel Coalition ’The extent to which each of the contributors to this stimulating volume demonstrates how one or another of Kirk’s intellecÂtual or vocational interests eventually
