Open research questions in Christian Theology and Mission
49 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 4,351 Christian Theology and Mission papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.
What the literature leaves open
Whether that craft will prove sufficient to move the Cameroonian political situation towards the justice and peace that Leo XIV invoked remains, as of this writing, an open question.
Prophetic diplomacy and postcolonial accountability: A Rhetorical analysis of Pope Leo XIV’s Address at Unity Palace, Yaoundé, Cameroon, April 15, 2026 · 2026 · DOISecondly, AI tools offer access to vast amounts of data, speed and current information – qualities that contrast sharply with traditional resources, which were limited by the preacher’s budget, remained comparatively restricted in scope and inevitably became outdated.
An appreciative reflection on the use of artificial intelligence in sermon-making from a South African perspective · 2026 · DOIABSTRACT Through examining Jarena Lee’s employment of hymns in her spiritual autobiography, The Life and Religious Experience of Jarena Lee, a Coloured Lady, Giving an Account of Her Call to Preach the Gospel, I demonstrate how hymnody, a largely understudied literary genre in rhetorical studies, proved a critical instrument in authenticating her spiritual conversion and validating her qualifications to serve as a ministerial leader.
10A further interesting comparison, though beyond the scope of this paper, would be with Clarke's (Citation2004: 7) discussion of how Yoruba revivalists worldwide are expanding their matrix of Yoruba knowledge, playing a central role in production of Yoruba institutions of knowledge.
The document also addresses the initial organization of Christians into burial clubs, a concept later dismissed due to lack of evidence, and the political objectives of Christian Roman emperors to stabilize and financially support the church's status, notably through granting it the ability to inherit through wills.
The scope of this article is limited to the AGAPE process in as far as it contributes to transformative mission and in order to discern an understanding of ecumenism as a sanctuary for the flourishing of life in abundance for all.
The AGAPE Process: A Challenge for Transformative Mission and Ecumenism in the 21st Century · 2008 · DOICould the theme have been dealt with at a level deeper than was seen at Athens? This paper argues that, with all the potential for wider ecumenical participation initiated at Athens, what was lacking at the conference was a keen theological and social analysis of the various missional challenges before us today.
The most absorbing sections of Missionary Writing concern the lone LMS missionary to Australia, Lancelot Threlkeld, who is a well-known figure in the history of Australia but little known in the broader history of missions or imperialism.
Can one justify theologically a public mission of Christian churches to American society that transcends a narrowly defined religious sphere or that is not limited to addressing individuals independently of objective institutions in which they participate? In discussion that follows I wish to address this question by presenting response given it by theology of social gospel.
69 Faced with laws and regulations which they scarcely understood and taxes for which they received no tan- gible return, Christian converts therefore habitually turned to their mis- sionaries—in most places the only European who spoke their language and with whom they had any degree of personal contact—for explanations or 67 The Story of the Melanesian Mission (Auckland [1926]), 3.
" Continued on page 35 Downloaded by [York University Libraries] at 17:03 05 January 2015 HOW LONG SHOULD A SERMON BE? Continued from page 11 tical reasons for concluding at noon: For one thing, it is scarcely conducive to religious devotion to have church- school youngsters ambulatory in the vestibule while a service abides until 12:15.
In spite of its unavoidable human relationship to 43 I SALVATION AND THE BURMAN BUDDHIST particular national settings and social orders, we must ask if Christianity is capable of being limited to the place of one pattern of faith and practice among others.
Thew are some well-qualified professors on the staff of each college, but much remains to be desired in the size and quality of the tcaching staff. I can only plead that I was limited by the late date of my appointment and by the difficulty of consultation with other Christian leaders.
To those who know t o what a large extent the younger missionary candidates who offer themselves for training are lacking, not in earnestness, but in apprehension of the meaning of the Christian message, in Bible knowledge and in experience in Christian work, it is startling t o realize how far the Church has come short in its work.
These proposals need to be further explored to see how the prophetic voice of the church can be revived in order to restore hope in the disillusioned nation.
The Narrative of Elijah: A Prophetic, Radical and Hopeful Voice for Disillusioned Democratic South Africa · 2026 · DOIThis article asks whether the seemingly intractable hope that a theological concept of reconciliation will be efficacious in facilitating racial justice is warranted.
It is noted that his insufficient explication of the concept of individual limits the significance of and need for describing the individual participation in a church.
Unlike other strategic approaches at the foundation, such as ending homelessness or improving health equity, transitioning from sister-led to lay-led leadership of ministries remained largely unexplored: Basic research was lacking, and model practices were simply not available.
Advancing Philanthropic Strategy Through Evaluative Thinking: One Foundation’s Approach · 2022 · DOIFuture research is recommended regarding gender aspects related to male/female dominated socital institutions and representatives from other faith traditions involved in chaplaincy services.
I-position as a tool to advance the understanding of pastors and deacons who navigate contrasting identities as chaplains: a narrative analysis · 2021 · DOIAlthough topics of prayer, forgiveness, and gratitude have received attention in the psychology of religion, there is sparse literature regarding the concept of grace.
This is warranted insofar as this document is an attempt by the Bishop of Rome to find answers to problems and challenges facing the Church in South America, as it is eminently pastoral in character, and as proclaiming the Word of God is one of the chief pastoral activities.
“It Is Inevitable to Speak of Jesus”: Homiletic Inspirations from the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia · 2020 · DOILee points out that this is one of many liberation theologies because no standards exist to accurately define liberation theology as one unified movement.
Important for all the Christian confessions, spiritual autobiography has, unfortunately until now, been insufficiently investigated and highlighted by contemporary researchers.
An interdisciplinary genre in the Theological Literature: the spiritual autobiography and its landmarks for the Orthodox space · 2018 · DOIHe contends that religion should be studied as part of the ordinary lives of practitioners: based on performance, practice, lifestyle, and relationships, especially taboos based around food and sex that often serve to define and demarcate communities.
Graham Harvey: <i>Food, Sex & Strangers: Understanding Religion as Everyday Life</i>. Durham: Acumen, 2013; pp. 224. · 2018 · DOIThere is no consensus within ritual studies, but there are some useful ideas and suggestions that cover and extend the practices and speech acts that constitute sermons.
Most-cited papers in Christian Theology and Mission
- Conceptualizing a Nonnatural Entity: Anthropomorphism in God Concepts · Cognitive Psychology · 1996 · 382 citations
- Contested identities and schisms in groups: Opposing the ordination of women as priests in the Church of England · British Journal of Social Psychology · 2000 · 62 citations
- Decolonizing Purity Culture: Gendered Racism and White Idealization in Evangelical Christianity · Psychology of Women Quarterly · 2022 · 33 citations
- The Expansive Present · Current Anthropology · 2020 · 27 citations
- Training Chaplains and Spiritual Caregivers: The Emergence and Growth of Chaplaincy Programs in Theological Education · Pastoral Psychology · 2020 · 24 citations
- Acts Is Acts · Social Analysis · 2020 · 20 citations
- “Who/What Neglected the Monotheism?”: A Panentheistic Rejoinder to Thaddeus Metz and Motsamai Molefe on African Traditional Religion · Philosophia Africana · 2022 · 17 citations
- Amen and Hallelujah preaching: Discourse functions in African American sermons · Language in Society · 2003 · 16 citations
- On saviours and saviourism: lessons from the #WEscandal · Globalisation Societies and Education · 2021 · 16 citations
- Angels and Grass: Church, Revival, and the Neo-Pauline Turn · South Atlantic Quarterly · 2010 · 14 citations
Most recent work
- The Christian Filter: Lacan and Being a “Good Enough” Christian · Journal of Psychology and Theology · 2026
- The Dreams of Theology and the Realities of Christianity · UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) · 2026
- Hide-and-Seek With a Christian Filter: A Response to Bland & Hoard (2026) · Journal of Psychology and Theology · 2026
- An appreciative reflection on the use of artificial intelligence in sermon-making from a South African perspective · Verbum et Ecclesia · 2026
- Prophetic diplomacy and postcolonial accountability: A Rhetorical analysis of Pope Leo XIV’s Address at Unity Palace, Yaoundé, Cameroon, April 15, 2026 · Global Language Review · 2026
- Mathew Mannaparambil · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026
- Christ the Fulcrum of Salvation: A Theological and Missiological Exploration of Redemption in a Religiously Plural World · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026
- Research Article: Toward a Cyclical Missional Model of Spiritual Formation in Latin America. · Journal of Religion and Public Life · 2026
- From dependence to authenticity: Financial independence and theological education as catalysts for decolonising reformed worship in South Africa (1980–present) · International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478) · 2026
- Contemporary African Postcolonial Theology: Found Balance, Interreligious and Interdenominational Dialogue, Rehabilitation of Relations with Traditional Religions, and Reflection on Syncretisms · AUC THEOLOGICA · 2026
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