The Role of Theory in Mission Studies

Abstract

Although a full-blown theory of mission has never been fully worked out, the pioneers of missiology, such as Gustav Warneck and Joseph Schmidlin, insisted it was essential to mission studies. Attention to mission theory has been notably absent during the past 50 years. It is argued here that this eclipse of theory has contributed to lack of rigor and vitality in mission studies. This observation is substantiated, in part, by noting recent developments in other academic fields which are also facing a “crisis of theory.” Every field of study needs conceptual clarity and rigor if it is to remain constructively vital. Mission studies would benefit from a renewed attention to mission theory.