The Oxford Centre for Mission Studies is taking an important step forward with the ongoing development of the Oxford Research Institute for Mission and Innovation (ORIMI)—a long-envisioned initiative now taking shape in new and tangible ways, supported by newly secured funding.
With the appointment of Dr. Ralph Lee as ORIMI’s Research Director, the idea of the Institute is moving from concept into its next phase. This marks a significant moment for OCMS, building on years of reflection about how best to support collaborative, globally connected research in mission.
Ralph is spearheading ORIMI’s development alongside his ongoing role as a Research Tutor. Drawing on his extensive academic networks and experience, he is helping to shape ORIMI as a space where research can flourish across institutions, traditions, and contexts.
ORIMI has grown organically from the vision behind the Research Forum for Faithful Witness—an initiative designed to bring together mission researchers from across the global Church. The Institute now seeks to provide a more structured environment for that collaboration: fostering research clusters, supporting funding applications, and enabling projects that serve the wider global Church.
A key feature of ORIMI’s approach will be the development of research clusters—focused, collaborative groups of scholars working around shared themes. These clusters will not only deepen existing areas of research but also create new opportunities for partnership, mentorship, and innovation. Current work already points the way forward, such as the Ethiopian Orthodox research collaboration with Sankt Ignatios in Sweden, led by Ralph Lee with the support of Research Associate Calum Samuelson.
Looking ahead, a number of potential areas for future research clusters are already emerging. These include themes such as African urbanism and mission, religious liberty, conversion studies (including work among believers from Muslim backgrounds and other contexts), peace and justice studies, and digital futures and congregational life. These examples reflect both the breadth of OCMS faculty interests and the pressing questions facing the global Church today.
During the launch gathering, we were grateful to receive an encouraging recorded message from David Wang, who oversees the Global Formation Project—a major international programme exploring spiritual formation across Christian traditions. In his contribution, he shared insights from the project and offered a compelling example of how sustained, well-supported collaboration can generate both academic depth and global impact. His reflections affirmed the importance of creating an “umbrella” environment like ORIMI, where such work can grow and connect.
Looking ahead, ORIMI will play a key role in strengthening OCMS’s capacity to engage with research funding bodies and develop long-term partnerships. As the Institute takes shape, it will support the formation of new projects, nurture emerging scholars, and contribute to a growing ecosystem of mission research that is both rigorous and responsive to the needs of the global Church.
This development comes at an important time for OCMS more broadly. Plans and funding are being finalised this year to enhance our Oxford facilities—particularly hospitality and collaborative spaces—so that they are better equipped to host international scholars and foster the kind of in-person and digital engagement that ORIMI envisions.
While still in its early stages, ORIMI represents a significant step forward: a natural next chapter in OCMS’s commitment to mission scholarship—rooted in collaboration, shaped by global voices, and oriented toward faithful witness in a changing world.