About Evangelical Missiological Society
Evangelical Missiological Society, bible, christians, Jesus, Jesus Christ Evangelical Missiological Society We are a professional society with more than 350 members comprised of missiologists, mission administrators, teachers, pastors with strategic missiological interests, and students of missiology.
The Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) exists to advance the cause of world evangelization. We do this through study and evaluation of mission concepts and strategies from a biblical perspective with a view to commending sound mission theory and practice to churches, mission agencies, and schools of missionary training around the world. We hold an annual National Conference and eight regional meetings held throughout the USA and Canada.
We are Evangelical...that is, we are committed to the doctrinal foundations that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
We are Missiological...that is, we facilitate the discussion of missiological and theological concerns growing out of the mandate of the Church to disciple the nations and are committed to theological integration within all of missionary work and thinking.
We are a Society...that is, we exist to promote fellowship and professional stimulation among active and retired professors of missiology, anthropology, and closely allied disciplines, missionaries, mission administrators and pastors with strategic missiological interests, and students of missiology. Emphasis is also given to the preparation and dissemination of information, books, and practical tools designed to assist members in missionary training, missionary service, and mission-related administration.
EMS Roots
In 1967 at Urbana, Illinois a few professors of mission met together to discuss the need for dialogue, fellowship, and cooperation among evangelicals devoted to researching, publishing and instructing in areas related to the mission of the Church.
On October 3, 1968, at a meeting of the EFMA and IFMA in Winona Lake, Indiana, professors present officially formed the Association of Evangelical Professors of Missions, an organization which effectively served the purposes of mission instructors for over 20 years.
As the 1970s and 1980s progressed there was an upsurge of interest in mission studies, or missiology, as it came to be known. As it was gaining more visibility and credibility, Christian mission itself was being reviewed and redefined by some scholars in ways that seemed incompatible to biblical mission. An increasing number of conservative missiologists both inside and outside of the AEPM came to believe that a scholarly society committed to the Great Commission was becoming more and more necessary. Many felt that an organization composed only of classroom teachers was too restrictive in light of the growing number of mission scholars within the churches and mission organizations.
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