OCMS faculty members Dr Sara Afshari and Dr Marina Ngursangzeli Behera recently joined mission scholars and practitioners from around the world for the 16th General Assembly of the International Association for Mission Studies (IAMS), held at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria from 17–21 July.
Held every four years on different continents, the IAMS Assembly is an important gathering for the international mission studies community. IAMS brings together scholars across denominations, disciplines and cultures to explore Christian witness and its impact in the world. For OCMS, whose own academic community and research are deeply international, participation provides an important opportunity both to contribute to current thinking in mission studies and to learn from scholarship emerging in very different contexts.
This year’s theme, “Walking Together in Mission: Facing Global Challenges for a Sustainable World,” brought together several hundred missiologists, theologians, church leaders and practitioners. Discussions ranged across some of the significant issues facing the global Church today, including migration, peacebuilding and reconciliation, religious freedom and persecution, ecological sustainability, decolonising mission, contextual theology, and the growing impact of digital technology and artificial intelligence.
Both Sara and Marina presented papers during the Assembly
Dr. Sara Afshari: a theology of persecution
Sara’s paper, “Teaching in the Tomb: Holy Saturday Theology as a Formational Response to Persecution,” drew on her wider research into a theology of persecution.
Rather than approaching persecution only as a political, legal or social problem, Sara explored Holy Saturday – the time between the Cross and Resurrection – as a theological framework through which to understand the experience of persecuted Christians. She suggested that this “in-between” space can help us understand persecution not only as suffering to be endured, but within the wider story of Christian discipleship, formation and God’s redemptive work.
The paper prompted an encouraging response, with participants particularly interested in the potential of Holy Saturday theology to offer a fresh perspective on persecution and the formation of Christian communities living through it.
Dr. Marina Behera: mission as a travelling concept
Marina presented a paper titled “Between Guilt and Grace: Mission as a Travelling Concept.” The paper explored mission as a travelling concept whose meaning evolves across different contexts, cultures, and historical realities. By moving beyond colonial binaries, it presented mission as a dynamic process of dialogue, critique, mutual learning, and renewal, arguing that the concept can be critically reclaimed rather than abandoned.
Marina presented a paper titled “Between Guilt and Grace: Mission as a Travelling Concept.” The paper explored mission as a travelling concept whose meaning evolves across different contexts, cultures, and historical realities. By moving beyond colonial binaries, it presented mission as a dynamic process of dialogue, critique, mutual learning, and renewal, arguing that the concept can be critically reclaimed rather than abandoned.
Marina also contributed to the thematic panel “Walking Together in the Spirit: A Framework for Ecumenical Mission in Hope.” The panel reflected on mission as a Spirit-led practice of hope in times of crisis, emphasizing humility, discernment, dialogue, and collaboration in the pursuit of justice, reconciliation, and peace. It highlighted the importance of acknowledging both historical and contemporary complicities while remaining attentive to the Spirit’s work within and beyond the church.
Both contributions stimulated thoughtful discussion and offered valuable perspectives on contemporary mission, resonating strongly with ongoing ecumenical conversations about hope, responsibility, and transformation.
Bringing global conversations back to OCMS
For Sara and Marina, the value of IAMS extended well beyond presenting their own research. The Assembly offered opportunities to engage with leading scholars and strengthen international research networks. Both particularly enjoyed reconnecting with familiar faces from previous gatherings and research collaborations, as well as making new connections – an important part of the international community that IAMS has fostered over many years.
Several discussions also raised questions with direct relevance to the future of mission research. Sara was particularly struck by conversations around artificial intelligence and its implications for Christian witness, worship, pastoral care and theological formation. Other recurring themes, including ecological theology, media literacy and the continuing challenge of decolonising mission and theological education, point towards areas where further research and public discussion will be increasingly important.
Just as importantly, gatherings such as IAMS enable OCMS faculty to develop and renew relationships with scholars across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania. These connections can lead to future research collaboration, visiting scholars and speakers, academic partnerships, and new connections for OCMS students and researchers.
Participation in IAMS therefore reflects something central to OCMS: scholarship that is rooted in international relationships and attentive to the questions emerging from different parts of the global Church. As those questions change – from persecution and migration to ecological challenges and new technologies – being part of gatherings such as IAMS helps ensure that OCMS continues both to contribute to, and learn from, the wider world of mission scholarship.