I. 들어가는 말 1910년 스코틀랜드 에딘버러에서는 세계선교사대회가 개최되었다.세계 각국에 흩어져 있던 선교사들은 에딘버러에 모여 어떻게 하면 더욱 효과적으로 복음을 세상에 전할 수 있을 것인가를 논의하였다. 당시 실제적인 안건은 선교적 메시지, 선교지에 있는 교회, 교육, 선교사 훈련, 선교본부, 선교행정, 일치의 촉구 등이었다. 따라서 이 대회에 참석한 선교사들의 가장 공통되고 큰 관심사는 그들의 선교적 노력을 어떻게 하면 최대화하고, 그들의 계획을 조정하며, 필요치 않은 경쟁을 최소화하여 최선의 결과를 얻을 수 있을까 하는 것이었다. 제임스 쉐러는 이 대회의 의의에 대하여 “1910년 에딘버러 세계선교사대회는 수십 년간의 지구별적 선교사들의 협력을 절정에 오르게 한 획기적인 사건이다”라고 언급하였다. 이 대회는 세계를 복음화하자는 계획과 운동을 세계적으로 알리며 지구 전체적인 문제로 부각시킨 사건이었다. 이렇게 세계복음화 운동이 꿈틀거릴 수 있었던 것은 그것이 19세기의 낙관주의(optimism)적 배경 속에서 크리스천 학생들의 자발적인 헌신과 희생에 힘입어 그 당시에 세계를 복음화할 수 있다는 기대와 확신 속에서 추진되었기 때문이다. 그 당시 헌신적인 학생들은 “이 세대 안에 세계를 복음화하자 (The Evangelization of the World in this Generation)”라는 슬로건을 걸고 세계복음화운동의 불을 붙였다. 그리고 그들은 학생자원운동(Student Volunteer Movement)의 기수가 되었다. 에딘버러대회는 모든 피조물에 대한 하나님의 사랑과 예수 그리스도의 전도명령, 죽어가는 영혼들에 대한 긍휼, 주님의 임박한 재림, 자원하는 청지기직 의식이 동기가 되어 시작되었다. 대회 참가자들은 세계는 항상 복음 듣기를 간절히 원하고 있다고 전제하고, 이러한 목적 아래에서 세계 각 곳에 있는 선교지들을 위해 중보기도를 하였고 워킹그룹을 조직하였으며 무언의 신학적 가정에 동의하였다. 그들은 이 대회 기간에 어떤 신학적 선언문도 채택하지 아니 하였고, 세계를 복음화하자는 기치 아래 오직 예수 그리스도 안에 있는 구원의 길을 온 세계에 알려서 누구든지 그를 믿는 자들은 구원을 받도록 하자고 다짐하였다. 본 연구는 에딘버러대회가 개최된 기원과 배경을 여러 차원에서 살펴보되 그 대회의 기본 정신은 무엇을 반영하고 있는지와 그 대회가 출범하기까지 어떤 영적 리더들의 헌신과 노력과 운동이 있었는지를 살펴보고 그들의 신학적 배경이 무엇이었는지를 살펴보고자 한다. 또한 본 연구는 에딘버러대회가 그 후 세계선교에 어떤 직접적 영향을 끼쳤는지를 살펴보고 한국적인 상황에서 한국교회는 이 대회를 통하여 무엇을 배울 수 있는지를 살펴보고자 한다. 한국교회는 이제 1910년 에딘버러대회 100주년을 맞이하여 이 대회의 기본정신을 이해하고 세계복음화에 기여해야 하며 하나님의 선교에 동참해야 할 것이다.

This study explores the 1910 Edinburgh conference in terms of its historical background and its effect upon the history of Christian missions. The Edinburgh conference was an epoch-making event in the course of Christian missions mainly because it distinguished between the 19th century, “Great Century” and the 20th century, “Ecumenical Movement Century”. First, Edinburgh conference was rooted in Pietism. Pietism developed from great spiritual pioneers like Johann Ardnt(1555-1621), Philip Jakob Spener(1635-1705), August Hermann Francke(1663-1727), Nikolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf, 1700-1760), and John Wesley(1703-1791). Pietism carried out world missions through conversion, translation of the Bible, contextualization, and education. In particular, Francke challenged many students to be missionaries in different countries. He sent B. Zigenbalg and H. Plutschau to India. Zinzendorf became a spiritual leader of the Moravian mission which sent many missionaries all over the world. John Wesley was himself a missionary to Georgia, North America. Second, the Great Awakening Movement affected the Edinburgh conference. The spiritual leaders of the Great Awakening Movement were Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Timothy Twight, Charles Finney, Dwight L. Moody. They not only evangelized the people but also spiritually awakened them in North America through revival movements. They made a great impact upon the people's lives and challenged some of them to be cross-cultural missionaries. Third, the Student Volunteer Movement (SVM) had a great influence upon the Edinburgh conference in terms of leadership and strategy. The great leaders of the SVM were John R. Mott, Luther D. Wishard, Robert P. Wilder, and Charles K. Ober. Pierson stated, “All should go, and go to all.” Speer said, “The aim of foreign missions is to make Jesus Christ known to the world with a view to the full salvation of men, and their gathering into true and living churches.” As a result of the SVM, 20,500 foreign missionaries were sent to the world by 945. Further, Mott and Speer led the SVM to the 1910 Edingburgh conference by sharing the passion and vision for world mission. Fourth, the 1910 Edinburgh conference was able to be held through the persistent efforts of Mott, Speer, and James L. Barton.Mott said, “The end of the conference is the beginning of the conquest” in the closing address, while Speer mentioned “the immediate conquest of the world” at the opening service. The conference was centered on strategy, consultation, and cooperation to completethe task of evangelizing the world based on the Great Commission. In conclusion, both the evangelical movement of soul winning and the ecumenical movement, like the orgainization of IMC, began as a result of the great conference.

This study explores the 1910 Edinburgh conference in terms of its historical background and its effect upon the history of Christian missions. The Edinburgh conference was an epoch-making event in the course of Christian missions mainly because it distinguished between the 19th century, “Great Century” and the 20th century, “Ecumenical Movement Century”. First, Edinburgh conference was rooted in Pietism. Pietism developed from great spiritual pioneers like Johann Ardnt(1555-1621), Philip Jakob Spener(1635-1705), August Hermann Francke(1663-1727), Nikolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf, 1700-1760), and John Wesley(1703-1791). Pietism carried out world missions through conversion, translation of the Bible, contextualization, and education. In particular, Francke challenged many students to be missionaries in different countries. He sent B. Zigenbalg and H. Plutschau to India. Zinzendorf became a spiritual leader of the Moravian mission which sent many missionaries all over the world. John Wesley was himself a missionary to Georgia, North America. Second, the Great Awakening Movement affected the Edinburgh conference. The spiritual leaders of the Great Awakening Movement were Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Timothy Twight, Charles Finney, Dwight L. Moody. They not only evangelized the people but also spiritually awakened them in North America through revival movements. They made a great impact upon the people's lives and challenged some of them to be cross-cultural missionaries. Third, the Student Volunteer Movement (SVM) had a great influence upon the Edinburgh conference in terms of leadership and strategy. The great leaders of the SVM were John R. Mott, Luther D. Wishard, Robert P. Wilder, and Charles K. Ober. Pierson stated, “All should go, and go to all.” Speer said, “The aim of foreign missions is to make Jesus Christ known to the world with a view to the full salvation of men, and their gathering into true and living churches.” As a result of the SVM, 20,500 foreign missionaries were sent to the world by 945. Further, Mott and Speer led the SVM to the 1910 Edingburgh conference by sharing the passion and vision for world mission. Fourth, the 1910 Edinburgh conference was able to be held through the persistent efforts of Mott, Speer, and James L. Barton.Mott said, “The end of the conference is the beginning of the conquest” in the closing address, while Speer mentioned “the immediate conquest of the world” at the opening service. The conference was centered on strategy, consultation, and cooperation to completethe task of evangelizing the world based on the Great Commission. In conclusion, both the evangelical movement of soul winning and the ecumenical movement, like the orgainization of IMC, began as a result of the great conference.

Edinburgh Conference, Pietism, Great Awakening Movement, Student Volunteer Movement, International Missionary Council