1. What will be the theme for the September 23-25, 2010, EMS annual meeting?
Papers should deal with some aspect of the theme for the 2010 annual meeting, which is “Diversity in Evangelical Mission Today.” This will also be the topic for the annual volume to be co-edited by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

2. Will the regional EMS meetings use this theme, also?
The regional EMS meetings will incorporate the theme “Diversity in Evangelical Mission Today” into their meetings; many will focus solely on diversity and mission.

3. What about a catchier title?
“Diversity in Evangelical Mission Today” is a working title. The exact wording used to publicize the annual meeting and to be used as the book’s title will be refined later.

4. What kind of papers qualify for the program and volume?
We are looking for papers that (1) provide in-depth analysis and reflection on significant diversity issues facing evangelical missionaries and that (2) document ways that evangelical missionaries are or are not attending to and coping with the challenges of diversity in mission work today. We are interested in hearing from diverse people, including those writing in other languages, in which case an English translation will be necessary for consideration in the national program or EMS volume. Regional VPs  may choose to have another track for papers in languages other than English.

5. Diversity in mission: could you give some examples of what this includes?
Scroll down to the list at the bottom of this page.

6. Can I present a case study?
Case studies are welcome, as are research- and survey-based papers. Especially desirable are studies that build upon field-based research or in-field missionary experience. Presenters are urged to grapple with actual issues faced by missionaries in the field and by mission agencies in carrying out their role.

7. What advice can you offer for presenters?
Papers should be grounded in the practice of missionaries and of mission agencies themselves rather than being analyses of the message that missionaries may put forth for others to adopt or to put into practice. Highly abstract papers or essays untethered to on-the-ground missionary practice are less likely to be viewed favorably. Writers of papers should interact with relevant current literature both within and outside mission-focused journals.

8. How are presenters and papers for the annual meeting selected?
To be considered for the annual meeting program, papers must first be presented at one of the regional EMS meetings. Papers presented at the annual meeting profit from the feedback and comments of colleagues at the regional meeting. We will give preference to presenters who represent diversity in mission.

9. How do I submit a paper?
The first step is to contact the EMS vice president for your region. See the list of vice presidents at www.emsweb.org for e-mail addresses. Send her or him an e-mail with (1) a working title, (2) a 200-word abstract or a couple of paragraphs describing your proposed topic or issue and the approach you will take, and (3) a brief identification of yourself. Decisions about papers to be included in the regional EMS meetings are made by the regional vice presidents.

10. Are all papers given at the regional EMS meetings automatically part of the program at the annual meeting?
Many more papers are presented in the regional meetings than will fit into the national annual meeting program. Papers presented at the regional meetings comprise the pool from which the program committee draws in preparing the roster of topics and presentations at the annual meeting. The program committee strives to provide breadth to the program and to achieve a balance among the issues, topics, and approaches included.

11. Which papers are included in the annual EMS volume?
Papers presented at the annual meeting are the primary pool from which a selection is made for inclusion in the annual volume. The editors seek to provide breadth in the issues covered and diversity of approach.

12. Do I submit my paper simultaneously to the regional vice president and to the national program committee?
No. Papers are submitted to the appropriate regional vice president. Following the regional meetings, the vice presidents forward eligible papers to the program committee.

13. What about the length of papers and endnotes?
Papers should be 4,500 to 7,000 words in length, including endnotes. Endnotes should be used to acknowledge intellectual debts and sources used or to point readers to additional resources. Endnotes should not be used for carrying substantive discussion further. If an observation merits inclusion, work it into the body of the paper.

14. What about the format of my paper?
Papers should be submitted to regional vice presidents in the format he or she specifies. Papers forwarded to the national committee will need to be in electronic format, preferably sent as e-mail attachments. They should be formatted for U.S. letter size paper (8.5x11) with one-inch margins. Please use Times New Roman, 12 point, single space, with endnotes rather than footnotes.

15. My paper involves some special formatting questions. Who do I talk to?
The co-editors will be happy to respond to questions about special formatting issues after papers have been accepted by the regional vice presidents.

16. If you give me advice on formatting my paper, does that mean it is accepted for the national program?
Decisions on the papers to be included in the national program will not be made until all the papers are available next spring.

17. My paper will be presented at a regional EMS meeting. Is anything else needed to be eligible for presenting it at the national meeting?
Check whether your EMS membership and dues are current. Various papers at regional EMS meetings are presented by non-member guests. To be considered for the national program, papers must have been presented at a regional meeting by a registered member of EMS whose dues are current.

18. I want to be sure that I am eligible. How do I become a member and pay my dues?
Click on the links toward the bottom of www.emsweb.org.

19. What are some topics?
At the broadest level, categories related to diversity in mission include such things as:

• Gender diversity
• Ethnic diversity
• Generational diversity
• Socio-economic diversity
• Doctrinal and theological diversity

Here are some questions we consider important for our topic—but remember that we are open to others not mentioned here:

• What are the realities of an increasingly internationalized mission force?
• The extent to which agencies from everywhere are (or are not) internationalizing their leadership (from the Board level on down)
• Are women being included in leadership roles? What are the cultural, theological and missiological issues related to this?
• What are the demands of the Kingdom of God in relation to diversity?
• What is the impact of diversification within agencies?
• What are the barriers to diversifying at all levels?
• How should we think more clearly about diversity?
• How do we work with agencies with different doctrines, traditions, methods, goals, and orientations?
• What should we do to ensure that we are not just giving in to PC demands?
• How does the next generation criticize current mission leadership models in relation to diversity?
• How does diversity in generational values and leadership styles affect inter-generational work teams?
• What challenges related to diversity do we anticipate will come for all of us?