Distribution Agreement In presenting this thesis or dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree from Emory University, I hereby grant to Emory University and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive, make accessible, and display my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known, including display on the world wide web. I understand that I may select some access restrictions as part of the online submission of this thesis or dissertation. I retain all ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. Signature: _________________________ _______________ David Patrick King Date SEEKING A GLOBAL VISION: THE EVOLUTION OF WORLD VISION AND AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM by David P. King Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Division of Religion Historical Studies Date:_______________________ Approved: ___________________________ E. Brooks Holifield, Ph.D. Supervisor ___________________________ Elizabeth Bounds, Ph.D. Committee Member ___________________________ Jonathan Strom, Ph.D. Committee Member __________________________ Grant Wacker, Ph.D. Committee Member Accepted: ___________________________________________ Lisa A. Tedesco, Ph.D. Dean of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies ________________ Date SEEKING A GLOBAL VISION: THE EVOLUTION OF WORLD VISION AND AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM By David P. King B.A. History, Samford University, 2001 M.Div., Duke Divinity School, 2004 Advisor: E. Brooks Holifield, Ph.D. An abstract of A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies of Emory University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Division of Religion Historical Studies 2012 Abstract Seeking a Global Vision: The Evolution of World Vision and American Evangelicalism By David P. King The past and present suggest two distinct pictures of World Vision. The organization began in 1950 as an American organization to support evangelical missionaries. Today it is the world’s largest Christian humanitarian organization undertaking relief, community development, justice, and advocacy work. While it has remained decidedly Christian, it has earned the reputation as an elite international non- governmental organization (INGO) managed efficiently by professional experts fluent in the language of both marketing and development. I argue that World Vision’s transformation was not simply another example of an organization encountering modernity, subduing its religious identity, and succumbing to secular methods in order to succeed. Instead, it is precisely the tensions and re-articulation of its religious identity that have helped to define the organization through its engagement with evangelical missiology and ecumenical theology; mainstream media, technology, and professional management, as well as its relationships with secular INGOs and cooperation with the global church. Using historical and ethnographic methods, I trace World Vision’s history as a lens through which to explore both shifts within post-World War II American evangelicalism and the complexities of religious identity within faith-based humanitarianism. While numerous scholars have examined American evangelicalism by emphasizing its American features, which have indeed permeated the nation’s politics, religion, and popular culture, they have understated the effect of global forces on American evangelicals. Attending to the evolution and interplay of World Vision’s practices, theology, rhetoric, and organizational structure, I hope to show how the organization rearticulated and retained its Christian identity even as it expanded beyond a narrow American evangelical subculture, how the ethos of evangelical missions more generally has shifted from traditional modes of evangelism to humanitarianism, and how exposure to the wider world has influenced the identity of countless American evangelicals. These tensions and patterns of change make possible a distinctive angle of vision on the history and evolution of religious humanitarianism. Seeking a Global Vision: The Evolution of World Vision and American Evangelicalism By David P. King B.A. History, Samford University, 2001 M.Div., Duke Divinity School, 2004 Advisor: E. Brooks Holifield, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies of Emory University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate Division of Religion Historical Studies 2012 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Despite the countless hours writing alone, a dissertation is far from a solitary endeavor. I am grateful for an opportunity to express my thanks to the many people who made this work possible. First, the dissertation would not have been possible without World Vision’s openness to my project. One of my first contacts at World Vision, Manfred Grellert, is known to say, “A point of view is a view from a point.” I soon found that World Vision recognized the diversity of points of view within its own organization, and I am grateful that World Vision’s leaders have given me an opportunity to add mine to the mix. I want to thank the dozens of staff that made time for my questions and proved willing to share their stories and perspectives with me. I owe a special thanks to a few within the organization. In the World Vision U.S. office, President Rich Stearns supported my project. His executive officer Brian Sytsma and senior communications officer Sheryl Watkins coordinated my visit to Federal Way, Washington. Within World Vision International, Manfred Grellert took a special interest in my project and served as my advocate. Like me, he believed World Vision’s history served as a lens for a much bigger story. Steve Gray, World Vision’s corporate archivist was a godsend. His knowledge of the materials, his willingness to rearrange his schedule, and even stay late to accommodate my limited time at the WVI offices in Monrovia, California, proved invaluable to my research. I also owe thanks to Gordon College’s President, Michael Lindsay, who helped introduce me to several within World Vision. I must also thank the staff at the Billy Graham Center Archives. Bob Schuster, Wayne Weber, and Paul Ericksen went above and beyond in providing access to their amazing collection. I also want to thank Robert Krapohl, University Librarian of Trinity International University, for giving me access to a treasure trove of Carl Henry’s papers. A special thanks to Andy Tooley for taking a day to drive me from Wheaton to Deerfield that allowed for great conversation and the nurturing of a new friendship in the process. A number of groups provided financial support for this project. I am grateful for the support of the Institute for the Study of American Evangelicals at Wheaton College as well as the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion. I must also thank two other organizations. The Louisville Institute and its director Jim Lewis provided a year- long dissertation fellowship. Our winter meeting provided me the chance to share my research with a number of new colleagues who enriched the project. I am particularly grateful for the careful feedback Peggy Bendroth offered to my project proposal. A dissertation fellowship from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving allowed me the ability to finish the project over the past year. In addition to the financial support, I cannot thank the Lake Institute enough for their interest in my project and the opportunity to share my research. I am grateful to have met new colleagues and be included in the work of the Lake Institute. Emory University has served as a great context for my doctoral studies. I want to thank Pescha Penso for providing answers to any administrative question as well as a constant smile and word of encouragement. In addition to the faculty and staff, my colleagues have made Emory such a supportive place. My fellow practices concentrators as well as our informal international development reading group have added much to my project. Our shared research interests made lunches with Letitia Campbell always particularly enlightening. Particular thanks are due to my dissertation reading group. Samira Mehta, Brian Campbell, and Lerone Martin have read countless drafts and provided great feedback. Their advice in the early stages of the project and friendship throughout these past six years have been invaluable. I have benefited from outstanding scholars and people that have made up my dissertation committee. Liz Bounds has always championed my project and led me to explore new avenues of research. Jonathan Strom has provided insightful feedback and wise counsel. He has also served a great conversation partner on the future of the field of world Christianity. Grant Wacker was my first mentor during my master studies at Duke, and he initially led me to explore the topic of World Vision years ago. His interest in my project and my development as a scholar has served as a constant encouragement to me. Brooks Holifield served as my advisor throughout my doctoral studies, and I could not have asked for a better model for the scholarly vocation. His clarity of thought, attention to detail, and interest in the bigger question have profoundly shaped my work over the past six years. His questions, corrections, and careful read of this manuscript have made it an infinitely better project. I owe a debt to my family for their support. My sister and brother-in-law Jennifer and Michael McCormack and my in-laws Glenn and Kathy Stribling have been constant cheerleaders. My parents Kaye and Douglas King provided continual support and much needed grandparenting during the last months of writing, but it is their encouragement instilled years ago for me always to chase my dreams that made this journey possible. My two girls, Audrey and Kathryn were both born during the two and a half years of writing the dissertation. Their smiles, coos, and now constant conversations have provided me so much joy.