Editing Missiology (section)

== Current developments ==
Today missiology is taught at many Christian theological schools and its scope of study and relations with the other theological and social sciences differ to a great extent. While it continues to be considered a Christian theological discipline,<ref>Gensichen Hans-Werner, "Missiology as a Theological Discipline" in Karl Müller, ''Mission Theology: An Introduction'' (Nettetal, Germany: Steyler Verlag, 1987.</ref><ref>Tennent Timothy C. ''Invitation To World Missions. A Trinitarian Missiology For The Twenty-First Century''. Kregel Publ., Grand Rapids, 2010.</ref> some have contested whether missiology is a strictly church discipline or academic one.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jongeneel |first1=Jan A.B. |title=Is missiology an academic discipline? |journal=Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies |date=July 1998 |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=27–32 |doi=10.1177/026537889801500308}}</ref>

There are several academic societies for missiology, such as the North American organizations the [[American Society of Missiology]] (ASM) and [[Evangelical Missiological Society]] (EMS), and the [[International Association for Mission Studies]] (IAMS). In European academia, especially in German-speaking contexts, there is the growing dominance of the term "intercultural theology."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ustorf |first1=Werner |title=The Cultural Origins of "Intercultural Theology" |journal=Mission Studies |date=2008 |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=229–251 |doi=10.1163/157338308X365387}}</ref>

The close interaction between missiology, social sciences and culture made scholars to shape the discipline within the framework of history and sociology<ref>Taber, Charles R., ''To Understand the World, to Save the World: The Interface between Missiology and the Social Sciences, Christian Mission and Modern Culture''. Harrisburg, Pa.: Trinity Press International, 2000.</ref> and remind about the "colonial past of missions" when Christians often attempted to use their political and economic power in evangelism. Many missiologists are now disavowing these methods and attempt to construct a new paradigm that does not employ such imperialistic approaches which lead to language and cultural imposition.<ref>Murray, Stuart. ''Post Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strangle Land''. Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2004, 83-88.</ref>