Mission and global governance: A Convergence of pneumatology and human flourishing

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to connect a thread of ecumenical pneumatology with a view of Christian mission actively engaged with global governance. This thread starts with the Holy Spirit working in creation, continuing in and through human history, and finally bringing the whole created order, human and nonhuman, into Christ’s New Heavens and New Earth. A special emphasis is given to the Indian missiologist Samuel Rayan (1920-2019) and German theologian Jürgen Moltmann. In this light, efforts after WWII to found the United Nations, draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), work for peace and development, and especially the current global convergence behind the Sustainable Development Goals – all these efforts, despite their dysfunctions and weaknesses, should be seen as signs of God’s Spirit sowing values already stamped on human beings at creation and marked for redemption and renewal in the Kingdom to come at the Parousia. Christians can be found at all levels of global governance, from politicians and diplomats at all levels of the G7, G20 and various UN summits, to those working at the UN, or in various NGOs or in the business community. Many more are needed.

Keywords

missiology global governance United Nations Samuel Rayan Jürgen Moltmann pneumatology Sustainable Development Goals human flourishing

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