Vol. 15, No.2 nternatlona• April 1991 etln• RedeDlptoris Missio ,'Isee the dawning of a new missionary age," states Pope and must be guided by two principles: "compatibility with the John Paul II in his encyclical Redemptoris Missio ("Mis­ Gospel and communion with the universal church." Dialogue, sion of the Redeemer"). Subtitled "On the Permanent Validity likewise, is treated positively: there is "no conflict between pro­ of the Church's Missionary Mandate," the 36,OOO-word docu­ claiming Christ and engaging in interreligious dialogue." But these ment, issued on January 22, 1991, was signed by the Pope on two expressions of mission "should not be confused, manip­ December 7, 1990-the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Decree on ulated or regarded as identical, as though they were interchange­ Missionary Activity (Ad Gentes) of the Second Vatican Council, able." and fifteen years after the Apostolic Exhortation on Evangeliza­ Clearly a landmark document, Redemptoris Missio will tion in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi) issued by Pope strengthen and guide Catholic missionary activity well into the Paul VI. Reportedly the result of almost five years of work, the Third Millennium. It deserves careful study by all Christians con­ encyclical is the most important official Catholic statement on the cerned about the church's missionary mandate, and we provide world mission of the church since the Second Vatican Council. excerpts in this issue that suggest something of the richness it In the clearest terms possible, the encyclical restates the va­ contains. lidity and universality of the church's mandate for world evan­ gelization, affirming that "for all people-Jews and Gentiles alike-salvation can only come from Jesus Christ." It is a refresh­ On Page ingly positive document, breathing confidence, optimism, and encouragement; devoid of condemnations or anathemas, yet 50 Encyclical Letter pointing to pitfalls to be avoided. Redemptoris Missio (Excerpts) One of the "most serious reasons for the lack of interest John Paul II in the missionary task," according to the Pope, is "a wide­ 53 Social Concern and Evangelization: spread indifferentism ... based on incorrect theological per­ The Joumey of the Lausanne Movement spectives ... characterised by a religious relativism which leads Valdir R. Steuernagel to the belief that 'one religion is as good as another.' " It is 56 The Changing Balance in Global Mission particularly distressing, he says, when people give excuses that Larry D. Pate would impede evangelization, and claim to find support for their 61 The Foreign Mission Impulse of the American views "in such and such a teaching of the [Second Vatican] Catholic Church, 1893-1925 Council." Angelyn Dries, D.S.F. Within the context of the cosmic and corporate character of 66 The New Missionary: John Hick and Religious salvation in Christ, the overall emphasis is on proclamation as Plurality "the permanent priority of mission." The aim of proclamation Gavin D'Costa is conversion, which means "accepting, by a personal deci­ 70 My Pilgrimage in Mission sion, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming his disciple. William A. Smalley The church calls all people to this conversion." 74 The Legacy of Thomas Fowell Buxton Asia is singled out as the territory "towards which the Andrew F. Walls church's mission ad gentes ought to be chiefly directed." Social sectors worthy of greatest attention are big cities, youth, migrants, 79 Book Reviews and the poor. Inculturation, described as "incarnating the Gos­ 94 Dissertation Notices pel," is particularly urgent for a "translation" of the Gospel, 96 Book Notes of issionaO'Research Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Missio: On the Permanent Validity of the Church's Missionary Mandate (Excerpts) John Paul II These excerpts from the Vatican's English translation of the encyclical retain the cally directed "to the nations" (ad gentes) appears to be waning, original paragraph numbers, but thefootnotes arenot included. Thecomplete text and this tendency is certainly not in line with the directives of of theencyclical appeared in Origins: eNS Documentary Service, January 31, the council and of subsequent statements of the magisterium. 1991, and copies may be ordered from Catholic News Service, 3211 4th Street Difficulties both internal and external have weakened the church's N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1100. missionary thrust towards non-Christians, a fact which must arouse concern among all who believe in Christ. For in the church's Introduction history, missionary drive has always been a sign of vitality, just as its lessening is a sign of a crisis of faith. he mission of Christ the Redeemer, which is entrusted Twenty-five years after the conclusion of the council and the T to the church, is still very far from completion. As the publication of the decree on missionary activity Ad Gentes, fifteen second millennium after Christ's coming draws to an end, an years after the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi issued by overall view of the human race shows that this mission is still Pope Paul VI, and in continuity with the magisterial teaching of only beginning and that we must commit ourselves wholeheart­ my predecessors, I wish to invite the church to renew her mis­ edly to its service. It is the Spirit who impels us to proclaim the sionary commitment. The present document has as its goal an great works of God: "For if I preach the Gospel, that gives me interior renewal of faith and Christian life. For missionary activity no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to renews the church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity, and me if I do not preach the Gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16). offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened In the name of the whole church, I sense an urgent duty to when it is given to others! It is in commitment to the church's repeat this cry of Saint Paul. From the beginning of my pontificate universal mission that the new evangelization of Christian peo­ I have chosen to travel to the ends of the earth in order to show ples will find inspiration and support. this missionary concern. My direct contact with peoples who do But what moves me even more strongly to proclaim the ur­ not know Christ has convinced me even more of the urgency of gency of missionary evangelization is the fact that it is the primary missionary activity, a subject to which I am devoting the present service which the church can render to every individual and to encyclical. all humanity in the modem world, a world which has experienced The Second Vatican Council sought to renew the church's marvellous achievements but which seems to have lost its sense life and activity in the light of the needs of the contemporary of ultimate realities and of existence itself. "Christ the re­ world. The council emhasized the church's "missionary na- deemer," I wrote in my first encyclical, "fully reveals man to himself.... The man who wishes to understand himself thor­ oughly . must . draw near to Christ. The redemption I invite the church to that took place through the cross has definitively restored to man his dignity and given back meaning to his life in the world." renew her missionary I also have other reasons and aims: to respond to the many commitment. requests for a document of this kind; to clear up doubts and ambiguities regarding missionary activity adgentes, and to confirm in their commitment those exemplary brothers and sisters dedi­ ture," basing it in a dynamic way on the Trinitarian mission itself. cated to missionary activity and all those who assist them; to The missionary thrust therefore belongs to the very nature of the foster missionary vocations; to encourage theologians to explore Christian life, and is also the inspiration behind ecumenism: and expound systematically the various aspects of missionary "That they may all be one . so that the world may believe activity; to give a fresh impulse to missionary activity by fostering that you have sent me" (ln. 17:21). the commitment of the particular churches--especially those of recent origin-to send forth and receive missionaries; and to assure 2. The council has already borne much fruit in the realm of mis­ non-Christians and particularly the authorities of countries to sionary activity. There has been an increase of local churches with which missionary activity is being directed that all of this has but their own bishops, clergy and workers in the apostolate. The one purpose: to serve man by revealing to him the love of God presence of Christian communities is more evident in the life of made manifest in Jesus Christ. nations, and communion between the churches has led to a lively exchange of spiritual benefits and gifts. The commitment of the 3. Peoples everywhere, open the doors to Christ! His Gospel in laity to the work of evangelization is changing ecclesiallife, while no way detracts from man's freedom, from the respect that is particular churches are more willing to meet with the members owed to every culture and to whatever is good in each religion. of other Christian churches and other religions, and to enter into By accepting Christ, you open yourselves to the definitive Word dialogue and cooperation with them. Above all, there is a new of God, to the one in whom God has made himself fully known awareness that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians, and has shown us the path to himself. for all dioceses and parishes, church institutions and associations. The number of those who do not know Christ and do not Nevertheless, in this "new springtime" of Christianity belong to the church is constantly on the increase.