ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Venue:                        University of Stellenbosch, Faculty of Theology and Religion

Dates:                                      24 – 26 January 2023

THEME:

POWERS, INEQUALITIES, AND VULNERABILITIES: MISSION IN A WOUNDED WORLD

The Southern African region’s history, as is with the rest of the continent, is marred with gross abuse of power in the political, social, and even in religious sectors which in turn has bred inequalities and vulnerabilities of various proportions and types.  For example, racial segregation and different wars of liberation from colonial systems, in the quest for independence have left the region with multifaceted wounds, which calls on all sectors of society including missiologists to contribute towards a reimagination of mission in a wounded world aimed at transformation and collective wellbeing in Africa, particularly southern Africa.

At the global stage, latest missiological reflections on this theme started at the International Association of Mission Studies (IAMS) held in Sydney, Australia, July 2022. Now, we would like to delve deeper on the same theme in relation to our region, i.e., Southern Africa. We would like our conference to consider Christian mission and missiology as addressing, or not, powers, inequalities, and vulnerabilities from a variety of perspectives across the spectrum of mission studies in the hope that mission praxes and frameworks would emerge to address the woundedness of southern African communities in tangible ways.

Thus, in the face of current crises in the southern African region such as gender-based violence, ‘Guptarism’ and state capture in South Africa, mission must reflect and offer solutions which could facilitate the restoration of harmony and work towards collective wellbeing. Further, the dictatorship and stifling of democracy in the Kingdom of Swaziland, and other similar phenomena in the region should also preoccupy mission and missiology. Furthermore, the political instability and collapse of the state, which engenders violence, forced migration, homelessness, injustice, pain and suffering and the like in many countries of the Southern African Development Community, should not escape Missiological reflections by African scholars.  

Against this backdrop, we invite scholarly contributions under this theme to name, analyse, interrogate, and reflect on the wounds southern African communities suffer resulting from power abuses and further entrench inequalities and vulnerabilities.

This theme is pertinent and relevant in our context. It affords mission studies an opportunity to wrestle with how we do mission in a wounded world. We therefore encourage colleagues to engage and reflect broadly, if possible, inter and transdisciplinary, on the theme.

We invite paper submissions, relating to the conference theme, whilst possible subthemes and questions could include, but are not limited to:

• Unmasking power abuse, inequalities, and vulnerabilities in southern Africa
• Power dynamics, church, mission, and missiology in Southern Africa
• Inequalities including gender inequalities and the church in Southern Africa
• Towards reimagining mission and missiology in a wounded world.
• Case studies, frameworks and emerging models of ministries that addresses woundedness in southern Africa.  

HOW TO SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT:

Paper abstracts (single papers) should include your name, institutional affiliation, and a 500-word max abstract, that outlines the issue, the argument, and the relevance of the topic and approach. Questions concerning abstract should be directed to the Missionalia Editor: Prof L Mangayi at mangal@unisa.ac.za and Ms S Coleman at colemas1@unisa.ac.za 

You will be requested to send a paper that is almost 80% completed on or before Monday 16 January 2023. Thereafter, your name will be affixed to the program for a 20-minute presentation.

ABSTRACT DEADLINE: 05 DECEMBER 2022.

FEEDBACK ON ABSTRACT: 10 DECEMBER 2022.