Historical study of theological turning points if the Christian conference of Asia and their relevance in the particular situation in Asia with special reference to the role of urban rural mission

Abstract

The main task of this study is to take a historical review on the mission of the church as demonstrated by the Christian Conference of Asia from theological perspective beginning with 1957 to 1995. From this perspective, this study considers three areas of thought: 1, it is a historical study of ecumenical movement represented by the Christian Conference of Asia; 2, it analyzes the ecumenical ministries; 3, it identifies the role of Urban Rural Mission as a relevant ministry for the socio-political setting of Asian Churches. The significance of this study is that helps us to see the problem of the Asian churches clearly in a sense that many contemporary church leaders are still running church ministries under the shelter of the western theological mind-set which have been deeply rooted in Asia since the colonial era of the 16th century. Historical overview in Chapter 1 of this study explains the reason for an urgent need of ecumenical ministry which enables the Christian faith to survive in the midst of the rapid socio-political changes in Asia. The Asian socio-political histories have witnessed that the western missionaries followed the colonial flags in dominating and suppressing the Asian cultures, religions, socio-economics and traditional life for over three centuries. Therefore, when the Asian nations received their national independence and when the colonial leaders left their role of political administration from Asia, Christian churches appeared ridiculous in maintaining their Christian faith; they were being accused by the nationalists and other religious leaders as being disloyal to their own notions, cultures, religions, their own brothers and sisters. This accusation truly made the Christian message seem irrelevant for Asian society and this question became a first issue of which this study has to respond theologically. This study considered the first issue as a relevant response when the World Council of Churches, the International Missionary Council assisted the Asian church leaders to form the East Asia Christian Conference in 1957 at Prapat. At this establishment of the EACC, the first theological turning point was introduced with this theme: "Church centered Mission" from 1957 to 1959. The theme proposed that the Christian mission to Asia does not necessarily have to use western colonialism for God's purpose; for it is God Himself has come to Asia through the incarnation of Jesus Christ in order to share a living life for Asian society. The second turning point came to be expressed in the theme, "Confessing the Faith of Asian Churches in relationship to its history and Asian cultures" from 1959 to 1972. This theological turning point moved the Asian churches from simply building up their structures to face Asian realities through the confession of their faith. During the years 1973 to 1995, Asian history saw national independent leaders who fought for independence turned out to adopt neo-colonialism and militarialism instead of national development. Thus, the situation turned the Asian societies upside down which even made it worse than the colonial days. The majority of Asian people have been enslaved by the handful of the ruling class, helping themselves enjoy the power and strengthening unconstitutional law to dominate and suppress the suffering people. This was the third area of concern in the turning point, expressed in the theme "People-centered Mission" exemplified by but not limited in the implementation of the Urban Rural Mission. The implementation has responded bravely against the act of neo-colonialism and militarialism in particular situation in Asia, like Philippines, South Korea, Singapore and Nong Kong. This implementation challenged and moved the Urban Rural Mission to be more relevant ministry by addressing the prophetic ministry for the Asian churches. This study, however, has seen that in spite of being relevant ministry implemented by the URM, this 'People-centered Mission' is limited in Myanmar churches. Chapter 3 of this study has highlighted the socio-political situation, reflecting the reason for its limitation in Муаnmar. The problem, discovered in other parts in Asia, finally paves the way for this writer to answer the question raised at the introductory part of this study as follows: 1. What are the main theological turning points that contributed to the creation of Christian Conference of Asia? 2. Why does this study focus on the need of the Urban Rural Mission to take a more relevant role in the mission of Asian Churches? 3. If this study show that the Christian Conference of Asia is in need of the Urban Rural Mission model in the theological agenda, how would this study propose to develop such model to become effective ministry for all Asian Churches?; 4. Why is it necessary for this study to identify the Urban Rural Mission a more relevant ministry for each particular situation in Asia? Answering these questions has become the making of this dissertation and this study recommends that other Asian churches, particularly Myanmar, should adopt the model of the prophetic ministry either of the Philippines, South Korea or Hong Kong so as to make a more relevant ministry for its particular situation.