The spirit of co-operation among missions in India (19th century)

In the earliest days of missionary work at the beginning of the 19th century there had been usually been a spirit of co-operation between the various churches and societies. Later came a less friendly period not infrequently marked by competition and even “sheep stealing”. As time went by cooperation between the non-Roman churches and societies increased and from 1872 onwards Decennial conferences of Missions were held, to discuss problems of common interest and publish reports. [ Robin Boyd, Indian Christian Theology, p.87]

Cape of Good Hope (1810): A lost opportunity?!!

The World Missionary conference (WMC) convened in Edinburgh, 1910. But, the call for a world conference was sounded by William Carey a century back. The (Baptist) Missionary in India proposed a meeting of Christians from all denominations at the Cape of Good Hope in 1810. Andrew Fuller could not see beyond and thought it was impossible for Christians to come together, let alone discuss. He thought unity (amidst rabid denominationalism) was impossible and dismissed Carey’s proposal. Well…a meeting of christians of all denominations was not a ‘pleasing dream’.

However, the realization of Carey’s proposal came a century later. Was Cape of Good Hope (1810) a missed opportunity? I can’t help but raise the question: If the conference was planned and convened in 1810, would it have made a difference to Christian unity and witness? Well…we may never have the answers to “what-if” questions. But, we’re glad that Edinburgh 1910 happened. On hind sight we know that the World Missionary conference had done a lot of good to Christian unity and witness in the 20th century (?!). May God grant us sensitivity to understand and accept foresight as well as insight. The task of world Evangelization requires us to think future and be future ready.

The Chennai Connection

Did you know about WMC’s (World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910) link with Chennai (Yes! the hot hotter, hottest place). I found the Chennai connection to Edinburgh 1910 interesting. Firstly, Chennai is where I live. I was born and raised here. I am basically a Chennai boy. Secondly, Chennai is geographically far removed from Edinburgh. And yet, there is an interesting connection.

The first steps for Missionary cooperation through conferences were initiated in mission fields of Asia, particularly China, Japan and India. However, the Third South India Conference (1900) held in CHENNAI was significant. Its careful preparation and development procedures were used in Edinburgh ten years later. (Source: History of the Ecumenical Movement in Asia Vol 1]

The courage to speak your mind

“ I do not plead for returning calls, handshakes, chairs, dinners and teas as such. I do on the other hand plead for all of them and more if they can be expressions of a friendly feeling, if these or anything else can be the outward proofs of a real willingness on the part of the foreign missionary to show that he is in the midst of the people to be to them not a lord and master but a brother and a friend.”

“ Through all the ages to come the Indian Church will rise up in gratitude to attest the heroism and self denying labors of the missionary body. You have given your goods to feed the poor. You have given your bodies to be burned. We ask for love. Give us friends.”

V.S. Azariah is best known for his lines, ” we need friends” at the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh. His passionate plea for friendship on equal terms and the sharing of responsibility with complete equality created quite a stir. However, he had the courage to speak his mind. In fact, V. S Azariah had initially refused to accept Mott’s invitation to speak on the topic: Co-operation between foreign and native workers in younger churches.

V.S Azariah did not want to neither suppress the truth (thus be an hypocrite) nor wanted to hurt the feelings of the gathering (run the risk of being misunderstood). However, he did speak his mind, on the insistence of John Mott.

In a world of political correctness it is easy to play to the galleries. But, that would not help us move forward. V.S Azariah and John Mott show us the way forward (particularly at Edinburgh 2010). We need to have the courage like V.S Azariah to speak our heart and mind.

We need to encourage (like John Mott) and help differing perspectives be heard and resolved. For long, We have heard only ourselves and it would be enriching to listen to the views from the other side. To this end we must commit ourselves. We need friends – to hear and be heard, to feel and be felt, to hold hands in partnership as we seek to engage the the gospel with the contemporary world.

The Calcutta Connection

Calcutta Missionary Conference was an interdenominational body of Protestant missionaries. However, it was drawn mainly from Church Missionary Society (CMS) , Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) and London Missionary Society (LMS). It was first established in 1831 to influence public opinion (both the Indian and British) and government policy.

The Calcutta Missionary Conference published the Calcutta Christian Observer, a monthly journal. It’s primary concern was ‘the advocacy of science, literature and Evangelical Christianity’. Interestingly, the Calcutta Missionary Conference engaged women in missionary work. Women missionaries were enrolled as full members ‘with the same status and rights as men’. The conference also discussed gender issues like the status and condition of Indian women.

However, the landmark achievement of the Calcutta Missionary Conference was The First General Conference of Protestant Missionaries in Bengal (4 – 7 September 1855). The General conference was attended by 47 missionaries from various Societies. This was a humble beginning but it ultimately grew into the great World Missionary Conference (Edinburgh, 1910). The First General Conference of Protestant Missionaries in Bengal was the first step towards the formation of the later global missionary unity.