Details for History of Christian Missions

Acknowledging the central role of missions in the theology and practice of Christianity, this unit provides students with an overview of Christian missionary motivation and historical endeavour both from the perspective of institutions, and in terms of the cultural/globalising impulse of Christianity. It explores scriptural foundations, as well as the historical expansion of the Christian church and its impact on church and society over the centuries, including political and cultural challenges, as well as new technological opportunities. This study enables students to critically explore the nature of missions, integrating it within their own contexts.

Quick Info

Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
Unit code: HIS208
Credit points: 10
Total workload hours per week: 10
Number of timetabled hours per week: 3 *

* Note: Units with reduced contact hours (such as those taught in Intensive format) will have an increased assessment component.↩

Prerequisites

The following courses are prerequisites:

HIS101—History of Christianity: Framework and Functions

The unit History of Christian Missions is part of the subject area Church History and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

This unit seeks to provide students with an overview of Christian missionary motivation and historical endeavour both from the perspective of institutions, and in terms of the cultural/globalising impulse of Christianity.

Subject Content

30-500 AD The Apostolic Era
500-1750 AD The era of Ecclesiastical Missions
1750-1900 AD The Church Growth era: William Carey, Henry Venn et al.
1900-1990 AD The Global Mission era.
1990- present The Global Discipling era

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, class presentations, discussion, tutorials, web-based interaction, distance learning material

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Critical Book Review (25%, 1250 words); Major Essay (50%, 2500 words); Exam (25%)

Prescribed Text

Readings provided

Representative References

Brown, Judith M. and Robert Eric Frykenberg (eds), Christians, cultural interactions, and India's religious traditions, Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans; London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002
Hutchinson, M., and G. Treloar (eds), This Gospel Shall be Preached: Essays on the Australian Contribution to World Mission, Macquarie Centre, N.S.W.: Centre for the Study of Australian Christianity, Robert Menzies College, Macquarie University, 1998
Lewis, Donald M. (ed), Christianity reborn: evangelicalism's global expansion in the twentieth century, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2004.
Porter, A. N. (ed), The imperial horizons of British Protestant missions, 1880-1914, Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub, 2003
Shenk, Wilbert R., Enlarging the story: perspectives on writing world Christian history, Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2002.
Stanley, Brian, Christian missions and the Enlightenment, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Richmond, Surrey, U.K.: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. and Curzon Press Ltd, 2001
Tang, Li, A study of the history of Nestorian Christianity in China and its literature in Chinese: together with a new English translation of the Dunhuang Nestorian documents, Frankfurt am Main; New York: P. Lang, 2002.
Tucker, Ruth, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: a biographical history of Christian missions, Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan, 2004
Walls, Andrew F., The cross-cultural process in Christian history: studies in the transmission and appropriation of faith, Maryknoll, N.Y.: Edinburgh: Orbis Books and T&T Clark, 2002.
Wright, Jonathan, The Jesuits: missions, myths, and histories, London : HarperCollins, 2004