Call for Papers: Revival Movements in World Christianity: Key Themes and Methodological Issues

Revival Movements in World Christianity: Key Themes and Methodological Issues

An international conference organised by the Polin Institute of Åbo Akademi University in collaboration with the Oxford Centre of Mission Studies, UK.

Helsinki, Finland, 1-4 September 2025

The term revival has been loosely used to refer to various spiritual awakening movements in the history of Christianity. The Biblical narrative on the national restoration of Israel, the seventeenth-century Pietism, the recent spiritual awakening at Asbury in February 2023, and many such events or movements are described as revival. The varieties of these experiences, the differences in their historical period, and the particularity of their cultural location make revival studies in global Christianity dynamic and unpredictable. Several research traditions on revival studies are already in existence along various concepts including Pietism, the Great Awakenings, Methodism, and Balokole. Using such thematic approaches implies separate developments that are circumscribed by regional, linguistic, and confessional borders. Interpretative frameworks such as transatlantic studies, Nordic studies, charismatic studies, and studies on evangelicalism have given some avenues to acknowledge certain interdependencies, transnationality, and the trans-confessional nature of the revival tradition in Christianity. However, revival studies as a global movement remain fragmented and its stories are often lost in the narrative of confessional and institutional histories of Christianity. On the one hand, revivals are global phenomena in Christianity transcending both time and space; on the other hand, revivals are of polynucleated origin and exhibit contextual particularities. Hence, there are traditions within the revival tradition, each providing us with themes and methodological challenges. The conference has a particular interest in bringing together researchers on the various revival traditions into a discussion on key themes and methodological issues in revival studies.

The conference invites papers that explore the historical and cultural developments of the revival tradition in global Christianity and their contribution to Christian practice and thought. Potential themes to explore include but not limited to,

• History of revival movements
• Methods and approaches to revival studies
• Piety and spirituality
• Theology of revival
• Worship and church life
• Ecclesiastical and missional legacy
• Transformation and impact on society

The closer programme of the conference will be prepared later, but the invited esteemed keynote speaker has already been confirmed:

• Kirsteen Kim, Paul E. Pierson Chair in World Christianity, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA

The deadline for the submission of abstract (300 words) is 1 March 2025. The link for the conference registration will soon be posted. To submit your abstracts, please use this link. The link for submitting your preliminary paper will soon be posted.

The conference will be held at The Cultural Centre and Conference Hotel Sofia, Helsinki, Finland https://www.sofia.fi/en/

The conference fee, 580€, covers accommodation and board during the conference.

Organising committee:

Chongpongmeren Jamir, The Polin Institute, Åbo Akademi University, chongpongmeren.jamir@abo.fi

Marina Ngursangzeli Behera, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, mbehera@ocms.ac.uk

For any questions or inquiries, please contact Dr. Jamir or Dr. Behera.