Christian Theology and Mission
Christian Theology and Mission is a research topic within Religious studies. Science Explorer counts 19k research works in it since 1950. 13.0% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.
This cluster of papers explores the transformation of global Christianity since 1945, focusing on topics such as the impact of short-term missions, the role of religious experience, migration and mission, public theology, African Christianity, missionary movements, ecological crisis, and the church in global cities. It delves into the changing landscape of Christian mission and the diverse challenges and opportunities it faces in a rapidly evolving world.
- Global Christianity
- Short-Term Missions
- Religious Experience
- Migration and Mission
- Public Theology
- African Christianity
- Missionary Movement
- Ecological Crisis
- Church in Global Cities
- Women in Mission
- Research works
- 19k fractional, since 1950
- In the world top 10%
- 2.5k per year above
- Top-10% rate
- 13.0% share of its works in the world top 10%
- Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
- +15% the tick is no change
Which countries lead Christian Theology and Mission research?
By volume, the United States and Indonesia publish the most (772 and 435 works in 2022–2025).
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 United States 772 works
- 2 Indonesia 435 works
- 3 South Africa 361 works
- 4 United Kingdom 270 works
- 5 Germany 106 works
- 6 Brazil 85 works
- 7 Canada 85 works
- 8 Australia 82 works
- 9 Nigeria 71 works
- 10 Kenya 68 works
How concentrated that is
The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.
Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.
Which institutions lead Christian Theology and Mission research?
By volume in 2022–2025, University of South Africa publishes the most Christian Theology and Mission research, followed by Jakarta Theological Seminary and Institut Sains dan Teknologi Terpadu Surabaya.
By volume, 2022–2025
- 1 University of South AfricaSouth Africa 94 works
- 2 Jakarta Theological SeminaryIndonesia 92 works
- 3 Institut Sains dan Teknologi Terpadu SurabayaIndonesia 78 works
- 4 University of PretoriaSouth Africa 64 works
- 5 University of the Free StateSouth Africa 55 works
- 6 North-West UniversitySouth Africa 47 works
- 7 Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa 46 works
- 8 Institut Agama Islam Negeri BengkuluIndonesia 33 works
- 9 Universitas Teknologi YogyakartaIndonesia 25 works
- 10 Fuller Theological SeminaryUnited States 24 works
Who are the leading researchers in Christian Theology and Mission?
The most-cited researchers publishing on Christian Theology and Mission include David Gordon.
- 1 David Gordon Australia 1.4k citations
Ranked by citations received across their whole record, among researchers with at least three works on this topic.
Where is Christian Theology and Mission research done?
The largest centres of Christian Theology and Mission research in 2022–2025 are Pretoria (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Surabaya (Indonesia) and Bloemfontein (South Africa).
Largest cities, 2022–2025
- 1 Pretoria South Africa 161 works
- 2 Jakarta Indonesia 113 works
- 3 Surabaya Indonesia 81 works
- 4 Bloemfontein South Africa 55 works
- 5 Stellenbosch South Africa 48 works
- 6 Potchefstroom South Africa 47 works
- 7 London United Kingdom 45 works
- 8 Nairobi Kenya 37 works
- 9 Bengkulu Indonesia 36 works
- 10 Chicago United States 34 works
Where is the best place to study Christian Theology and Mission?
Among universities, judged by research, University of South Africa, Jakarta Theological Seminary and North-West University score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.
One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.
| # | University | Score | Top 10% | Specialisation | Works | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South AfricaSouth Africa | 78.2 | 36.2% | 72.6× | 94 | +25.7% |
| 2 | Jakarta Theological SeminaryIndonesia | 76.7 | 24.5% | 274.4× | 92 | +321.1% |
| 3 | North-West UniversitySouth Africa | 73.5 | 39.6% | 56.4× | 47 | -23.0% |
| 4 | Institut Sains dan Teknologi Terpadu SurabayaIndonesia | 72.2 | 33.2% | 95.5× | 78 | — |
| 5 | University of the Free StateSouth Africa | 69.6 | 29.6% | 77.4× | 54 | +2.5% |
| 6 | University of the Western CapeSouth Africa | 66.9 | 45.5% | 23.0× | 10 | +14.9% |
| 7 | University of PretoriaSouth Africa | 65.6 | 21.5% | 50.6× | 64 | +0.9% |
| 8 | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyGhana | 63.6 | 25.7% | 30.8× | 18 | — |
| 9 | Stellenbosch UniversitySouth Africa | 62.9 | 21.2% | 41.6× | 46 | -2.9% |
| 10 | Universitas Teknologi YogyakartaIndonesia | 60.8 | 30.1% | 45.0× | 24 | — |
Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.
Is Christian Theology and Mission research growing?
Output in 2018–2022 was 15% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Christian Theology and Mission.
The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.
Which topics inside it are moving
Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.