The World Congress on Evangelism 1966 in Berlin: US Evangelicalism, Cultural Dominance, and Global Challenges

TY - JOUR

T1 - The World Congress on Evangelism 1966 in Berlin

T2 - US Evangelicalism, Cultural Dominance, and Global Challenges

AU - Balbier, Uta

PY - 2017/11/1

Y1 - 2017/11/1

N2 - This article uses the World Congress on Evangelism held in Berlin in 1966 to explore the cultural dimensions of US leadership in the world of global evangelism post-World War II. It shows how a close alliance with technology and business, as well as traditional anti-Communism and belief in Western civilization spurred US evangelicals to assume global leadership. A closer examination of the cultural and spiritual atmosphere of the Congress reveals, however, that beneath the apparent American leadership tensions emerged around race and social issues, expressed forcefully by new theological and political voices from the developing world. These tensions were negotiated through common practices and behaviours, such as during prayer session, dinner conversations, and discussions groups, and allowed a genuine transnational evangelical community to rise.

AB - This article uses the World Congress on Evangelism held in Berlin in 1966 to explore the cultural dimensions of US leadership in the world of global evangelism post-World War II. It shows how a close alliance with technology and business, as well as traditional anti-Communism and belief in Western civilization spurred US evangelicals to assume global leadership. A closer examination of the cultural and spiritual atmosphere of the Congress reveals, however, that beneath the apparent American leadership tensions emerged around race and social issues, expressed forcefully by new theological and political voices from the developing world. These tensions were negotiated through common practices and behaviours, such as during prayer session, dinner conversations, and discussions groups, and allowed a genuine transnational evangelical community to rise.

U2 - 10.1017/S0021875816001432

DO - 10.1017/S0021875816001432

M3 - Article

SN - 0021-8758

VL - 51

SP - 1171

EP - 1196

JO - Journal of American Studies

JF - Journal of American Studies

IS - 4

ER -