Changing Global Landscapes: Quests for Churches’ Mission Spaces Global Christian trends and global religious trends Group responses: What responses and changes are needed for EMBA churches in light of these global trends? Regroup and concluding reflections from KST

Global percentage Christian 1900-2025 TRENDS INSIDE OF GLOBAL CHRISTIANITY Christianity has shifted dramatically to the South. Looking at Slide 1 we can see that at first glance there has been little change in the status of global Christianity over the past 100 years. For the entire 100-year period, Christians have made up approximately one third of the world’s population. This masks dramatic changes in the geography of global Christianity—a process stretching back to the earliest days of the world Christian movement.

This shows us the shift in demographics by continent from 1910 to 2010 This shows us the shift in demographics by continent from 1910 to 2010. While 66% of all Christians lived in Europe in 1910, by 2010 only 25.6% lived there. By contrast, less than 2% of all Christians lived in Africa in 1910 skyrocketing to almost 22% by 2010. The Global North (defined as Europe and Northern America) contained over 80% of all Christians in 1910 falling to under 40% by 2010.

This shows us the shift in demographics by continent from 1910 to 2010 This shows us the shift in demographics by continent from 1910 to 2010. While 66% of all Christians lived in Europe in 1910, by 2010 only 25.6% lived there. By contrast, less than 2% of all Christians lived in Africa in 1910 skyrocketing to almost 22% by 2010. The Global North (defined as Europe and Northern America) contained over 80% of all Christians in 1910 falling to under 40% by 2010.

Christian resources are not evenly distributed CHRISTIANS INCOME Global North 64% 32% Global South Christian resources are not evenly distributed. Christians of the Global South represent 64% of all Christians but receive only about 32% of all Christian income. This puts them at a disadvantage in many areas including health, education, communications, and overall quality of life. This imbalance is one of the great tragedies of global Christianity that could not have been easily predicted by our colleagues in Edinburgh in 1910.

The World’s Religions in Figures An Introduction to International Religious Demography

Two major changes The two immediate differences on this graph are the shrinking of Chinese folk-religionists from 22.3% to only 6.6%. And the rise of Muslims from 12.6% to 22.4%. Interesting that these two trends are not related. Most Chinese folk became agnostics or atheists under communism in China.

The shift of demographic weight of agnosticism from Europe to Asia is clearly seen in this comparison of 1910 and 2010.

Asia’s religious diversity In 1910 over 50% of Asia’s population was Chinese folk-religionist or Buddhist. Today these two total only 22%. Regionally, gains were made by Muslims (16.6% to 26%) and Christians (2.4% to 8.5%), while both agnostics (0.0% to 11.8%) and atheists (0.0% to 2.8%) picked up most of the losses in China.

Christianity and Islam 1800: 33% 1970: 49% 2020: 57% 2100: 66%

Response?

Missional Church The Church by its very nature is to be a missionary congregation, participating in the overarching plan of God for the restoration of the kingdom of God on earth and the rebirth of the entire creation BRIEFLY IDENTIFY most significant trends and issues pertinent for missional Church in the UK?

Partnership and networks: Reduce duplication and competition For every cooperative plan that is announced or put in effect, there are two new plans that are not cooperative. With financial resources and personnel there is tremendous duplication.

Consider a truly global approach: EMBA & BMS? The Churches of the Global South are making original contributions in relations with other religions. They have the advantage of living in multi-religious societies and are less likely to perpetuate a ‘Christendom’ model of mission. Non-Western Christians cannot simply provide labor for Western-initiated plans to evangelize the world.

Improve interfaith engagements

Global Church landscape “We are always experiencing two landscapes at the same time: the landscape before our eyes – the phenomenal world – and the landscape in our minds, what the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins has called ‘inscape’. The one is constantly interacting with the other. If, therefore, we conceive the world be a desert, we also make it such.” (James Houston)

Reflections BRIEFLY IDENTIFY most significant trends and issues pertinent for missional Church in the UK? Where are the mission spaces and what changes are needed for EMBA churches in light of these global trends?