(29.05.2009) At the end of the “International Consultation on Mission Theology” which was hosted by the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) and had commenced in Wuppertal last Monday, Dr. Faustin Leonard Mahali from the Makumira University College in Tanzania emphasized that the biblical call to mission focused both on the bearer and on the recipient of the message. For this reason, Mahali argued that mission should always lead to the autonomy of people.

During the consultation it became clear that future missionary activities have to take into account the current topics of the churches in Africa and Asia even to a stronger degree than previously. Examples for these topics include the world view established in Africa and Asia, where also spirits and ancestors play an important part, and the associated question of to which extent the Christian faith can integrate traditional practices.

At the same time, participants demanded that the German member churches of the UEM should seek advice on their missionary activities in Germany from the member churches from Africa and Asia. Likewise, statements like “The Gospel does not only address the poor, but also the rich” or “Spirituality that does not result in mission is not Christian” were discussed very intensely.

Nearly 100 years after the historical World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh in 1910 and in the run-up of the World Mission Conference scheduled for June 2010 likewise in Edinburgh, Wuppertal was the place where 35 theologians from UEM member churches in Africa, Asia and Germany as well as from the partner organisations CWM (Council for World Mission) and CEVAA (Communauté Évangélique d´Action Apostolique) met to reflect together on today’s challenges of mission. It is intended to publish the lectures in the run-up of the World Mission Conference 2010.