Center for Missiological Research
The Center for Missiological Research (CMR) within the School of Intercultural Studies draws a community of scholars from around the world to address seminal missiological issues. It supports research and equips students at the highest level for faithful leadership in missiological education and practice. CMR manages the annual Missiology Lectures and organizes colloquia and other events for the research community. Below, find highlighted some of the ongoing programs and the scholarship of School of Intercultural Studies faculty, CMR students, and CMR and GRI alumni, with links to more.
Our Programs
Center for Missiological Research oversees the PhD and ThM programs in Fuller’s School of Intercultural Studies and also the Global Research Institute (GRI) postdoctoral fellowship program.
A Focus on Scholarly Community
The Center for Missiological Research (CMR) fosters a community of scholarly inquiry in the field of missiology. The CMR Community includes students on the PhD and ThM in Intercultural Studies programs, postdoctoral scholars in the GRI Program, visiting fellows, and the CMR faculty. CMR Community activities include:
COLLOQUIA & SALON MISSIOLOGIQUE
Colloquia are events in which our community gathers to engage in dialogue based around a presentation made by either a student or faculty member. These required seminars offer the chance to present an article prepared for publication and can provide some highly engaging debates and collegial critique. Furthermore, these colloquia also present the opportunity for students to be exposed to domains of missiology that are outside the scope of their own research, and which they would probably not encounter otherwise. Once per quarter this takes place as a less formal discussion and fellowship time, a "Salon Missiologique," held in a Fuller faculty member's home.
Professional Development Activities
The PhD in Intercultural Studies is not only a course of study but also a formation both spiritually and professionally. PhD graduates are likely to teach in seminary or university and also to aspire to publish their dissertation and ongoing research. To aid their professional development, in conjunction with the Center for Advanced Theological Studies (CATS), colloquia are offered on preparing for teaching and on getting published. In addition, PhD students can apply to work as an Instructor in Training (IIT), shadowing a member of faculty and learning the role of a professor.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
The CMR hosts two annual spiritual formation events during the academic year: our Community Convocation & Breakfast (in the Fall) and an afternoon colloquium focusing on spiritual formation in the Winter. Both of these events serve as opportunities for members of our community to break from their studies and spend some time in communal fellowship and prayer. Our hope is that these will be highlights of spiritual reflection and renewal, providing an opportunity to unite our community and assist students in connecting their spiritual formation more intentionally with their academic pursuits.
MISSIOLOGY LECTURES AND OTHER SPECIAL LECTURES
Each year the School of Intercultural Studies hosts a series of Missiology Lectures during Fall quarter. Additionally, visiting scholars and other special guest lecturers periodically give special lectures to the CMR community throughout the
Explore the 2019 Missiology Lectures on Techno-Sapiens in a Networked Era: Becoming Digital Neighbors on FULLER studio.
Edinburgh 2020
Center for Missiological Research Colloquium, Fuller Theological Seminary
Wednesday May 13, 2020
The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910 was such a landmark event for both the missionary movement and for world Christianity that several global bodies organized large-scale centenary conferences: Edinburgh 2010 facilitated by the World Council of Churches, Cape Town 2010 organized by the Lausanne Movement, and Tokyo2010 organized by the Third World Missions Association (now World Link Missions Association), Global Network of Mission Structures (GNMS) and CrossGlobal Link. Ten years on, this colloquium, hosted by Fuller Theological Seminary, brings together missiologists to scrutinize all three events to explore what we learned for mission today.
Presenters:
- Dr. Kirsteen Kim, Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity and Associate Dean for the Center for Missiological Research, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
- Dr. Allen Yeh, Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Missiology, Clyde & Anna Belle Cook School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University
- Mr. Dave Datema, Senior Associate General Director, Frontier Ventures, and PhD student in Intercultural Studies, School of Intercultural Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
- Dr. Todd Johnson, Toms Distinguished Professor of Mission and Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity, at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Further Resources:
- Opening remarks by Kirsteen Kim
- Exploring a Century of Change: Protestant Missions 1910 - 2010
- Tokyo 2010 Conference
- Tokyo 2010 Powerpoint Presentation
- Cape Town 2010 Conference
- Cape Town 2010 Powerpoint Presentation
- Edinburgh 2010 Conference
- Edinburgh 2020 Powerpoint Presentation
- World Christian Encyclopedia
- World Christianity Presentation
- Polycentric Missiology
- International Journal of Frontier Missiology
- Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series
- Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Presentation
SCHOLARSHIP FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Below are a few examples of the publications and ongoing research generated by faculty, students, and alumni of the CMR community. Click on any item for more information.
Joyful Witness in the Muslim World: Sharing the Gospel in Everyday Encounters
Evelyne A. Reisacher
Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and Intercultural Relations
The State of Missiology Today: Global Innovations in Christian Witness
Charles E. Van Engen
Arthur F. Glasser Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology of Mission and Senior Professor of Biblical Theology of Mission
Global Renewal Christianity Series
Amos Yong
Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies, and Professor of Theology and Mission
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“The Psalms, Sufis, and Peacemaking: A Case Study from Pakistan”
Presented at the June 2016 American Society of Missiology Annual Meeting
Eric Sarwar, PhDICS Student
“Migrant-Shaped Urban Mission: The Missionary Nature and Initiatives of the Church of Pentecost, USA”
In American Society of Missiology, Vol. 2: Third Wave/Migration
Allison Norton, PhDICS Student
Seeking the Unseen: Spiritual Realities in the Buddhist World
Paul De Neui, Alum (PhD ’05, ThM ’02)
“The Construction, Preliminary Validation, and Correlates of a Dream-Specific Scale for Mystical Experience”
In Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
Robert Sears, Alum (PhD ’16)
Race and Place: How Urban Geography Shapes the Journey to Reconciliation
David P. Leong, Alum (PhD ’10)
Transformative Religious Experience: A Phenomenological Understanding of Religious Conversion
Joshua Iyadurai, GRI Scholar
Dialogue in the Book of Signs: A Polyvalent Analysis of John 1:19-12:50
Johnson Thomaskutty, GRI Scholar
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