Topic outline

  • General

  • Introduction

    The Edinburgh Centenary Series grew out of the Edinburgh 2010 conference. Initially conceived as a modest attempt to capture the key themes and outcomes of the conference, the series grew to 35 volumes with over 600 contributors from every part of the global church. It has been critically acclaimed by leading mission scholars.

    It should be clear that material published in this series deliberately reflects a diverse range of views and positions. These do not necessarily represent those of the series’ editors or of the Edinburgh 2010 General Council, but in publishing them Regnum hopes to encourage conversation between Christians and collaboration in mission. All the volumes in the series are commended for study and reflection by both churches and academies.

    These online versions have been made available by The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS) and are for personal use only.


    • Full list URL

      This link takes you to the OCMS page containing a link to each volume.  Alternatively you can download individual volumes by clicking the links below.  (Please note that the descriptions below are taken from the volumes.)

  • Volumes 1-12

    • Volume 1 - Edinburgh 2010 : Mission Then and Now File 1.6MB PDF document
      (Kerr, David A. & Kenneth R. Ross (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2009.)

      No one can hope to fully understand the modern Christian missionary movement without engaging substantially with the World Missionary Conference, held at Edinburgh in 1910. This book is the first to systematically examine the eight Commissions which reported to Edinburgh 1910 and gave the conference much of its substance and enduring value. It will deepen and extend the reflection being stimulated by the upcoming centenary and will kindle the missionary imagination for 2010 and beyond.
    • Volume 2 - Edinburgh 2010 : Witnessing to Christ Today File 1.5MB PDF document
      (Balia, Daryl & Kirsteen Kim (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2010.)

      This volume includes reports of the nine main study groups working on different themes for the celebration of the centenary of the World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910. Their collaborative work brings together perspectives that are as inclusive as possible of contemporary world Christianity and helps readers to grasp what it means in different contexts to be ‘witnessing to Christ today’.
    • Volume 3 - Edinburgh 2010 : Mission Today and Tomorrow File 21.8MB PDF document
      (Kim, Kirsteen & Andrew Anderson (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2011.)

      There are moments in our lives when we come to realise that we are participating in the triune God’s mission. If we believe the church to be as sign and symbol of the reign of God in the world, then we are called to witness to Christ today by sharing in God’s mission of transforming and reconciling mission of love to the whole creation.
    • Volume 4 - Mission Continues : Global Impulses for the 21st Century File 1.3MB PDF document
      (Währisch-Oblau, Claudia & Fidon Mwombeki (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2010.)

      In May 2009, 35 theologians from Asia, Africa and Europe met in Wuppertal, Germany, for a consultation on mission theology organized by the United Evangelical Mission: Communion of 35 Churches in Three Continents. The aim was to participate in the 100th anniversary of the Edinburgh conference through a study process and reflect on the challenges for mission in the 21st century. This book brings together these papers written by experienced practitioners from around the world.
    • Volume 5 - Holistic Mission : God's Plan for God's People File 1.5MB PDF document
      (Woolnough, Brian & Wonsuk Ma (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2010.)

      Holistic mission, or integral mission, implies God is concerned with the whole person, the whole community, body, mind and spirit. This book discusses the meaning of the holistic gospel, how it has developed, and implications for the church. It takes a global, eclectic approach, with 19 writers, all of whom have much experience in, and commitment to, holistic mission. It addresses critically and honestly one of the most exciting, and challenging, issues facing the church today. To be part of God’s plan for God’s people, the church must take holistic mission to the world.
    • Volume 6 - The Church Going Glocal : Mission and Globalisation File 2.4MB PDF document
      (Engelsviken, Tormod, Erling Lundeby & Dagfinn Solheim (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2011.)

      The New Testament church is... universal and local at the same time. The universal, one and holy apostolic church appears in local manifestations. Missiologically speaking... the church can take courage as she faces the increasing impact of globalisation on local communities today. Being universal and concrete, the church is geared for the simultaneous challenges of the glocal and local.
    • Volume 7 - Witnessing to Christ in a Pluralistic Age : Christian Mission among Other Faiths File 2.4MB PDF document

      (Pachuau, Lalsangkima & Knud Jørgensen (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2011.)

      In a world where plurality of faiths is increasingly becoming a norm of life, insights on the theology of religious plurality are needed to strengthen our understanding of our own faith and the faith of others. It can be claimed that no other issue in Christian mission is more important and more difficult than the theologies of religions.

    • Volume 8 - Interfaith Relations after One Hundred Years : Christian Mission among Other Faiths File 2.6MB PDF document

      (Behera, Marina Ngurusangzeli (ed.). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2011.)

      The essays of this book reflect not only the acceptance and celebration of pluralism within India but also by extension an acceptance as well as a need for unity among Indian Christians. The essays were presented and studied at a preparatory consultation on Study Theme II: Christian Mission Among Other Faiths at the United Theological College, India July 2009.

    • Volume 9 - Evangelical Frontier Mission : Perspectives on the Global Progress of the Gospel File 2.9MB PDF document

      (Snodderly, Beth & A Scott Moreau (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2011.)

      This important volume demonstrates that 100 years after the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, Evangelism has become truly global. Twenty-first-century Evangelism continues to focus on frontier mission, but significantly, and in the spirit of Edinburgh 1910, it also has re-engaged social action.

    • Volume 10 - Mission and Postmodernities File 2.4MB PDF document

      (Olsen, Rolv (ed). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2011.)

      This volume takes on meaning because its authors honestly struggle with and debate how we should relate to postmodernities. Should our response be accommodation, relativizing or counter-culture? How do we strike a balance between listening and understanding, and at the same time exploring how postmodernities influence the interpretation and application of the Bible as the normative story of God’s mission in the world?

    • Volume 11 - A Learning Missional Church : Reflections from Young Missiologists File 1.9MB PDF document

      (Fagerli, Beate, Knud Jørgensen, Rolv Olsen, Kari Storstein Haug & Knut Tveitereid (eds).  Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2012.)

      Cross-cultural mission has always been a primary learning experience for the church.Translating the Gospel into new languages and cultures is a human and divine means of making us learn new ‘incarnations’ of the Good News.

    • Volume 12 - Life-Widening Mission : Global Perspectives from the Anglican Communion File 2MB PDF document

      (Ross, Cathy (ed). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2012.)

      It is clear from the essays collected here that the experience of the 2010 World Mission Conference in Edinburgh was both affirming and frustrating for those taking part - affirming because of its recognition of how the centre of gravity has moved in global Christianity; frustrating because of the relative slowness of so many global Christian bodies to catch up with this and to embody it in the way they do business and in the way they represent themselves. These reflections will - or should - provide plenty of food for thought in the various councils of the Communion in the coming years.

  • Volumes 13-24

    • Volume 13 - Foundations for Mission File 2.7MB PDF document

      (Wild-Wood, Emma & Peniel Rajkumar (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2012.)

      This volume provides an important resource for those wishing to gain an overview of significant issues in contemporary missiology whilst understanding how they are applied in particular contexts.

    • Volume 14 - Mission Spirituality and Authentic Discipleship File 2.1MB PDF document

      (Ma, Wonsuk & Kenneth R. Ross (eds).  Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013.)

      This book argues for the primacy of spirituality in the practice of mission. Since God is the primary agent of mission and God works through the power of the Holy Spirit, it is through openness to the Spirit that mission finds its true character and has its authentic impact.

    • Volume 15 - A Century of Catholic Mission File 5.1MB PDF document

      Bevans, Stephen (ed). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013.)

      A Century of Catholic Mission surveys the complex and rich history and theology of Roman Catholic Mission in the one hundred years since the 1910 Edinburgh World Mission Conference. Essays written by an international team of Catholic mission scholars focus on Catholic Mission in every region of the world, summarize church teaching on mission before and after the watershed event of the Second Vatican Council, and reflect on a wide variety of theological issues.

    • Volume 16 - Mission as Ministry of Reconciliation File 5.4MB PDF document

      (Schreiter, Robert & Knud Jørgensen (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013.)

      There is hope - even if it is "Hope in a Fragile World", as the concluding chapter of Mission as Ministry of Reconciliation puts it. At the very heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of hope and reconciliation. Nothing could be more relevant and more necessary in a broken world than this Christian message of hope and reconciliation.

    • Volume 17 - Orthodox Perspectives on Mission File 4.8MB PDF document

      (Vassiliadis, Petros (ed). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013.)

      Orthodox Perspectives on Mission is both a humble tribute to some great Orthodox theologians, who in the past have provided substantial contribution to contemporary missiological and ecumenical discussions, and an Orthodox input to the upcoming 2013 Busan WCC General Assembly. There is a long history of similar contributions by the Orthodox before all the major ecumenical events. The collected volume is divided into two parts: Part I under the subtitle The Orthodox Heritage consists of a limited number of representative Orthodox missiological contributions of the past, whereas Part II includes all the papers presented in the Plenary of the recent Edinburgh 2010 conference, as well as the short studies and contributions prepared during the Edinburgh 2010 ongoing study process.

    • Volume 18 - Bible in Mission File 4.9MB PDF document

      (Hoggarth, Pauline, Fergus MacDonald, Bill Mitchell & Knud Jørgensen (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013.)

      "The Bible is alive – it has hands and grabs hold of me, it has feet and runs after me". To the authors of Bible in Mission, the Bible is the book of life, and mission is life in the Word. This core reality cuts across the diversity of contexts and hermeneutical strategies represented in these essays. The authors are committed to the boundary-crossings that characterize contemporary mission – and each sees the Bible as foundational to the missio Dei, to God’s work in the world.

    • Volume 19 - Mission At and From the Margins : Patterns, Protagonists and Perspectives File 2.2MB PDF document

      (Rajkumar, Peniel J R, Joseph Dayam & I P Asheervadham (eds).  Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013.)

      This book revisits the 'hi-stories' of Mission from the 'bottom up' paying critical attention to people, perspectives and patterns that have often been elided in the construction of mission history.  Focusing on the mission story of Christian churches in the South Indian state of Abdhra Pradesh, where Christianity is predominantly Dalit in its composition, this collection of essays, ushers its readers to re-shape their understanding of the landscape of mission history by drawing their attention to the silences and absences within pre-dominant historical accounts.

    • Volume 20 - Pentecostal Mission and Global Christianity File 3.3MB PDF document

      (Ma, Wonsuk, Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu & Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014.)

      Although Pentecostalism worldwide represents the most rapidly growing missionary movement in Christian history, only recently scholars from within and outside the movement have begun academic reflection on the mission.  This volume represents the coming of age of emerging scholarship of various aspects of the Pentecostal mission, including theological, historical, strategic, and practical aspects. The more than 20 authors from all five continents, men and women, academicians, mission leaders, and practitioners, offer exciting perspectives on Pentecostal movements' contributions to the search of Christian unity in various global contexts.

    • Volume 21 - Engaging the World: Christian Communities in Contemporary Global Societies File 2.3MB PDF document

      (Adogame, Afe, Janice McLean, and Anderson Jeremiah (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014.)

      Engaging the World deals with the lived experiences and expressions of Christians in diverse communities across the globe. Christian communities do not live in a vacuum but in complex, diverse social-cultural contexts; within wider communities of different faith and social realities. Power, identity and community are key issues in considering Christian communities in contemporary contexts. Also important is the nature and texture of mission; while a reflection on 'context' is a priority in working to improve peoples and communities.

    • Volume 22 - The Lausanne Movement : A Range of Perspectives File 3.9MB PDF document

      (Dahle, Lars, Margunn Serigstad Dahle, and Knud Jorgenson (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014.)

      The Lausanne Movement has since 1974 functioned as a platform and forum for Evangelical leaders from various geographical and confessional strands. This volume gives a broad perspective on the development mission and evangelism among Evangelicals, with a particular focus on the Lausanne movement. It contains chapters about the historical, theological and missiological background and discusses key issues and concepts of Lausanne as they have emerged over the years. It and reflections on Cape Town and on Lausanne. Critical views are also included, aiming at opening up a dialogue with other views on evangelism and mission.

    • Volume 23 - Global Diasporas and Mission File 2.7MB PDF document

      (Im, Chandler H and Amos Yong (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014.)

      The movement of people from their homelands is increasing exponentially. Such waves of both immigration and migration triggered by various factors have created new opportunities for the church and its mission. This volume explores such global diasporas from both ecclesiological and missiological perspectives. Its various case studies invite reconsideration of the missionary and evangelistic task of the church in response to contemporary global dynamics.

    • Volume 24 - Theology, Mission and Child : Global Perspectives File 2.2MB PDF document

      (Prevette, Bill, Keith J. White, C. Rosalee Velloso Ewell, and D. J. Konz (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014.)

      This ground-breaking volume of 16 contributors from leading child theologians, mission theologians and practitioners examines the constructive interaction of Theology, Mission and Child in fresh and intriguing ways. It is moving, profound, and practical, proposing not just ways theology can better inform mission praxis, particularly with children, but also ways 'child' can inform our understanding of God, God's mission and ours.

  • Volumes 25-35

    • Volume 25 - Called to Unity for the Sake of Mission File 2.9MB PDF document

      (Gibaut, John and Knud Jorgenson (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2014.)

      The purpose of this volume on mission and unity is to bring to public attention a broad overview on the history, development and perspectives on the role of mission in the pursuit of unity and the central biblical focus on unity as a prerequisite for an authentic witness in mission. The volume raises concrete questions: If the churches can agree on unity for mission, then does this visible unity go any further than the 'mutuality, partnership, collaboration and networking' of the Edinburgh 2010 Common Call?

    • Volume 26 - Korean Church: God's Mission Global Christianity File 2.9MB PDF document

      (Ma, Wonsuk and Kyo Seong Ahn (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2015.)

      This volume assesses the legacy and place of Korean Christianity and its mission, provides insightful and self-critical accounts in topics ranging from theories, policies, practices, and prospects, and offers a useful overview of how the Korean church grew into a missionary church. As a non-western major mission force, it has been equipping itself and others for service by broadening the understanding of God’s mission throughout the turbulent years of imperialism, post-colonialism and globalisation.

    • Volume 27 - Reflecting on and Equipping for Christian Mission File 3.1MB PDF document

      (Bevans, Stephen, Teresa Chai, Nelson Jennings, Knud Jorgensen, and Dietrich Werner (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2015.)

      This volume looks at mission formation for all Christians and missionary formation for mission workers, agencies and churches in a changing situation of mission. The focus is on educating the whole people of God. Here is the reason for the title of this volume: Reflecting on and Equipping for Christian Mission. Theological education in the broad sense participates in the task of equipping people for God’s mission in today’s world. At the same time it affirms that all theological education is contextual and that no particular context should exercise dominant influence.

    • Volume 28 - Freedom of Belief & Christian Mission File 4MB PDF document

      (Gravaas, Hans Aage, Christof Sauer, Tormod Engelsviken, Maqsood Kamil, and Knud Jorgensen (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2015.)

      Christian mission takes place in a world with increasing interreligious tensions, including violence and persecution. Politics, economics, religion, ethnicity and other factors play a role in these tensions. Christians too are involved in such conflicts, sometimes as those who are persecuted and sometimes as those participating in violence. ‘Freedom of religion and belief’ is a core value in the UN Human Rights Declaration. At the same time it is a core biblical value. Obstacles to and attacks on freedom of belief are therefore a central concern for witnessing to Christ. The purpose of this volume on Freedom of Belief and Christian Mission is to bring to public attention a broad overview on the history, development and perspectives on the role of mission and freedom of belief and to reflect on these issues within a context of authentic witness in mission.

    • Volume 29 - Creation Care in Christian Mission File 2.4MB PDF document

      (Kaoma, Kapya (ed). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2015.)

      As the world comes to terms with the human-caused destruction of God's sacred creation, whether Global Christianity will celebrate a bi-centennial Edinburgh 2110 becomes a real question. Yet, as Creation Care in Christian Mission shows, the mounting and life-threatening ecological crisis is at the heart of the mission of God. The volume's contributing authors represent a wide range of Christian traditions and geographical regions on which they draw to initiate dialogue on creation care within the wider global Christian community. They explore hard questions relative to climate change, population growth, pollution, poverty, sustainability, economic justice, deforestation, gender, and land issues.

    • Volume 30 - The Reshaping of Mission in Latin America File 2.6MB PDF document

      (Alvarez, Miguel (ed). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2015.)

      This work describes the re-shaping of mission in Latin America in recent years. It covers a broad spectrum of Christian movements that coexist in the area. The book includes themes related to theology of mission, ecclesiology, history, social action and leadership. It is designed to serve as a guide to understand different Christian trends in contemporary Latin America. Most contributors belong to the young generation of Christian leaders emerging in different locations of the region - from the Central America, the Caribbean, and South and North America. They are sensitive to the differences that are part of denominational identity. This work is unique and calls for a meaningful and mature dialogue among Christians in the continent.

    • Volume 31 - Witnessing to Christ in North-East India File 3MB PDF document

      (Ngursangzeli, Marina and Michael Biehl (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.)

      The Church in India has a far closer connection to Edinburgh 1910, as F S Downs points out, that one of the Indian delegates was Rev Thankan Sangma, a Garo. This little known fact is illustrative of how, on one hand, the Church in North East India is ignorant of this legacy and continues to view ecumenism poorly and suspiciously, while on the other hand the challenges faced by the Church in the region and the social, economic and political milieu it is placed in, have been largely ignored, neglected, or worse still, identified with what is generally portrayed as what the Church in India is... The book's contents deal with the nine study themes of Edinburgh 2010, spanning the ethnic, tribal and denominational diversity of the region.

    • Volume 32 - Evangelism and Diakonia in Context File 2.8MB PDF document

      (Dowsett, Rose, Isabel Phiri, Dawit Olika Terfassa, Hwa Yung, and Knud Jorgensen (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.)

      Evangelism and diakonia belong together in the perspective of the Great Commission. Evangelism is sharing one’s faith and conviction with other people and inviting them to discipleship. Diakonia is the gospel and our faith in action and is expressed through loving our neighbor. Evangelism and diakonia are like the two blades on a pair of scissors. They give the church identity and they are functions of the church. This is not just a matter of doing evangelism and diakonia in balance and alongside each other. Rather, evangelism and proclamation have social and diaconal consequences as we call people to discipleship and to be salt and light in all areas of life. And diakonia and social involvement have evangelistic consequences as we demonstrate faith in action and witness to transformation. This ecumenical volume brings together these perspectives on integral mission.

    • Volume 33 - Mission and Power : History, Relevance, and Perils File 2.9MB PDF document

      (Longkumer, Atola, Jorgen Skov Sorensen, and Michael Biehl (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.)

      Mission cannot ignore its engagement with power. Christian mission is unavoidably located within matrices of power structures: religion, culture, colonial power, economic and gender. It is not only in the missionary movement largely emanating from the West that Christian mission is linked to structures of power. The Christian communities of today also present significant images, practices, expressions, and sometimes exploitations of power. This volume explores the notion of power in relation to Christian mission and critically engages questions such as: What notions of power have informed mission? How have power structures been negotiated between Christian mission and local culture/religions? Which of these manifestations of power are disturbing and counter to the values of the Gospel?

    • Volume 34 - Mission in Central and Eastern Europe : Realities, Perspectives, Trends File 7.5MB PDF document

      (Constantineanu, Corneliu, Marcel Valentin Măcelaru, Anne-Marie Kool, and Mihai Himcinschi (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.)

      Central and Eastern Europe is one of the areas of the world that has undergone profound transformations during the 100 years delimited by the two Edinburgh gatherings that inspired the Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series. It is the place in which Marxist ideology gave birth to the Communist hegemony that has impacted the European arena for over 50 years. But this is also the place where Christian Churches experienced God’s grace and provision, and even unexpected flourishing in some quarters. The present volume brings together significant contributions from over thirty theologians, missiologists and practitioners from this part of the world. The articles explore the complex missiological thinking and praxis of Central and Eastern Europe, highlight concrete missiological endeavours and pointing to the challenges and opportunities for mission in this part of the world.

    • Volume 35 - Ecumenical Missiology : Changing Landscapes and New Conceptions of Mission File 4.6MB PDF document

      (Ross, Kenneth R., Jooseop Keum, Kyriaki Avtzi, and Roderick R. Hewitt (eds). Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2016.)

      This book has been prepared with acute awareness of how challenging it can be to comprehend the meaning of mission and to find direction for our own engagement in it – as individuals, churches, agencies or institutions. A key resource now available to help meet this challenge is Together Towards Life, the new mission affirmation of the World Council of Churches. This volume not only offers a wide-ranging analysis of TTL but explores the century of ecumenical missiology which underpins and informs this ground-breaking text.