a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

A pneumatological missiology seems to be more holistic and ecumenical in scope,
as it deals with spiritual salvation, physical healing, and the material needs of the
people. This missiology has the potential to include various difficult issues of life
such as sickness, sorcery, evil spirits, injustice and poverty. A wider discussion of
all the issues that can be dealt with by a pneumatological missiology is beyond the
scope of this study. The present discussion is limited to identifying three issues as
examples to show the potential scope of a pneumatological missiology.
A pneumatological missiology can serve many purposes. First, it falls within the
wider context of missio Dei, a central theme of traditional missiology. The
International Missionary Conference (IMC) at Willingen in 1952 accepted the
concept of missio Dei. Although the phrase itself was used by Karl Hartenstein at
the Conference, 65 it was George Vicedom who brought it into popular use within
Protestant missionary circles. 66 As Shivute Tomas states, ‘at Willingen the whole
treatment of missionary theology and strategy was moving towards Trinity-
centeredness.’ He argues that Willingen’s trinitarian missiology was strongly
influenced by Karl Barth. 67 It seems that even in the Trinitarian-driven concept of
missio Dei pneumatology is eclipsed by Christology. For example, the explanation
of this concept at Willingen omitted the role of the Holy Spirit, describing mission
65 Shivute Tomas, ‘The Theology of Mission and Evangelism: In the international Missionary
Council from Edinburgh to New Delhi’ (DTh thesis, Helsinki: University of Helsinki, 1980), 134.
66 Pomerville, Third Force, 138.
67 Tomas, ‘Theology of Mission,’ 134-35. For more details of the discussion, see pp. 135-37.
Bosch also talks about the Barthian influence on such a concept (Bosch, Transforming Mission,
390).
280