June 20-22, 2025
St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
Since the world mission movement birthed modern ecumenism more than a century ago, a commitment to Christian unity has accompanied numerous efforts in mission. Obedient to Jesus’ desire that his followers “all be one… that the world may believe” (John 17:21), twentieth century Christians left a legacy of ecumenical achievements, just as the demographic center of the faith was shifting to the global south. Now, with the church fully inhabiting the era of world Christianity, the context for pursuing unity for the sake of mission is markedly different. Independency, sectarianism, and suspicion of the historic ecumenical movement challenge older ecumenical structures and new grassroots unity movements alike, while the vastly expanded scope of global ecclesial diversity enriches and complexifies the search for togetherness and common ground. Simultaneously, in wider human affairs, one increasingly sees “dark clouds over a closed world” (Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti 9) in a rising tide of divisiveness, an erosion of fraternity and solidarity, and accelerating crises of migration, war, and climate change—all of which cry out for a far less fragmented Christian witness to the world.
At this critical juncture, nearly two millennia after the council of Jerusalem and 1700 years after the first ecumenical council at Nicaea, how might churches and Christians in mission better advance cooperation, partnership, interconfessional friendship, mutual learning, stronger spiritual bonds, closer relations between churches and parachurch structures, and other forms of togetherness in response to Jesus’ prayer? Further, how might this be done with genuine freedom and respect for all, celebrating unity in diversity, and without overlooking hard differences or historic injustices? In fulfillment of Jesus’ new commandment (John 13:34-35), how might the Holy Spirit be calling the church today to more visible bonds of love between different Christian groups and traditions as they embark upon the many paths of mission?
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the ASM will take up this challenging theme and explore the intricate connections between the missio Dei, global Christian identities, and the many efforts “to pursue the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Papers are invited on a broad array of topics, employing the insights of mission leaders and global church practitioners, as well as contributions from biblical studies, history, theology, ecumenics, anthropology, liturgical studies, and other areas of expertise.
Contributors might examine such topics as:
Our ultimate goal in 2025 will be to reflect on the centrality of Jesus’ desire for the unity of the church in the work of mission so that the glory given him by the Father will shine more brightly across the many hued, beautiful face of the church. “I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23).
For ASM 2025, we will accept organized panels and individual papers, with preference given to organized panels on the conference theme. We will also host our round table session for doctoral students and our Korean-Language track for speakers of Korean.
Organized Panels – here is the link for panel submissions
Teams of three or more presenters collaborate and submit proposals for panels focused on a theme or topic. Panel sessions can take a wide variety of formats, including formal paper presentations, discussions, and digital media, book, or film discussions. Formal paper presentations can be accompanied by respondents or panel discussion. We especially encourage panels that are ecumenical and bring scholars and practitioners into conversation. Most panel sessions will last 2 hours. A few 90-minute panel sessions will be available.
Panel organizers should strive, if possible, for diverse (tradition, race/ethnicity/nationality, sex/gender, rank, linguistic, scholarly location, etc.) representation in the composition of presenters and perspectives engaged.
Individual Paper Presentations – here is the link for individual paper submissions
We give preference to organized panels but will accept individual papers that will be complete by the annual meeting on a selective basis. We will prioritize papers associated with the proposed meeting theme, and as space permits, may also accept non-related papers. Presenters should submit a title and abstract and prepare to present a finished paper for the conference.
Round Table Session – here is the link for round table submissions
We offer a unique Round Table experience to nurture emerging scholars! The Round Table Session utilizes a workshop model to provide doctoral students and candidates a platform in which to present their research to a distinguished panel of mission scholars. Round Table proposals need not focus on the conference theme but on the student’s doctoral dissertation or research project. Each presentation will be 7-8 minutes, followed by 10-12 minutes of feedback from the panelists.
Korean-Language Paper Track – here is the link for K-Track submissions
ASM proudly hosts a Korean-Language Track to gather Korean speakers to discuss issues of missiological importance. For questions, please contact Daniel Ahn at [email protected].
YOU MUST BE AN ASM MEMBER TO PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
You can become an ASM member by clicking on this link to join.
The American Society of Missiology announces its 8th Annual Graduate Student Paper Competition to recognize the best student paper presented at the society’s 2025 Annual Meeting. The award is $500 and an opportunity to publish a revised version of the paper in Missiology: An International Review.
The competition is open to any graduate student ASM member who presents a paper at the 2025 Annual Meeting and who is enrolled at an institution of higher learning at the time the paper proposal is accepted. The paper should be in English, approximately 5,000 words in length (including abstract and footnotes), and can engage with any subject in the field of missiology. The paper must follow Missiology style guidelines.
The deadline for submission is September 1, 2025. Submitted papers should be sent to [email protected] and participants should expect an email reply confirming their submission. The prize will be awarded at the 2026 Annual Meeting, and it is anticipated that the recipient will be present to receive the award at that time.
Please direct all questions regarding the Annual Meeting to the
ASM Conference Coordinator at [email protected].
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