1888 London Centenary Missions Conference
The 1888 London Centenary Missions Conference was the first major international missionary conference. Spanning from June 9–19, the conference included delegates from 139 different Protestant denominations and societies representing ten countries. The conference was a precursor to the later, 1900 New York World Missionary Conference and the 1910 World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh.
The Conference
The conference was meant to commemorate a loose "centenary" of Anglo-American missions in the late 1780s. It was considered by some as an "Oecumenical Council" and, as such, the originals of the modern ecumenism. The term "ecumenical" would later be added to the title of the 1900 New York conference.The conference was divided into three sections. The first section discussed the state of worldwide religions in relation to missionary efforts, including Islam, Buddhism, Catholicism, local missionary support, and commerce. Section two centered on the various mission fields as delegates highlighted India, China, Japan, Africa, Turkey, the Oceania, and the Americas. The third and final section focused on specific missionary subjects such as the Jews, and alternative missionary methods like medical missions and women's mission.
In addition to missions, prominent themes throughout the conference include imperialism and internationalism. Colonization allowed for western nations to more easily send missions across the globe, at times with the goal of strengthen their territorial holdings. This symbiotic relationship was challenged by attendees cognizant of imperialism's hindrance for missionary success. Internationalist perspectives emphasized Christianity unity across borders.