"Exploring the Global History of American Evangelicalism": A Special Issue of the Journal of American Studies

Lauren Turek

The Journal of American Studies recently ran a special issue entitled "Exploring the Global History of American Evangelicalism." According to organizers Kendrick Oliver, Uta A. Balbier, Hans Krabbendam, and Axel R. Schäfer, the collected articles aim to "explore the changes over time in American evangelical conceptions of the 'global," "document the diversity of means used by American evangelicals in their efforts to make the world one in Christ," examine "the role played by the politics of affection in relations between American evangelicals and the outside world," and "identif[y] the overseas work of US evangelicals as making an integral contribution to the expansion and perpetuation of their nation’s influence as exercised across a global horizon through the long twentieth century" (1038-41). With essays by Heather Curtis, Axel R. Schäfer, Hans Krabbendam, David R. Swartz, Timothy Stoneman, Uta A. Balbier, Melani McAlister, Kendrick Oliver, and John Maiden, the issue does not disappoint. These articles will be of great value for those interested in the history of American evangelical internationalism. 

The special issue features the following articles:

• Heather D. Curtis, "Popular Media and the Global Expansion of American Evangelicalism in an Imperial Age," pp. 1043-1067.
  
• Axel R. Schäfer, "Evangelical Global Engagement and the American State after World War II," pp. 1069-1094
  
• Hans Krabbendam, "Full Members of the TEAM? Evangelical Women in the European Mission, 1945–1980," pp. 1095-1116.
  
• David R. Swartz, "Christ of the American Road: E. Stanley Jones, India, and Civil Rights," pp. 1117-1138.
  
• Timothy Stoneman, "Global Radio Broadcasting and the Dynamics of American Evangelicalism," pp. 1139-1170.
  
• Uta A. Balbier, "The World Congress on Evangelism 1966 in Berlin: US Evangelicalism, Cultural Dominance, and Global Challenges," pp. 1171-1196.
  
• Melani McAlister, "The Global Conscience of American Evangelicalism: Internationalism and Social Concern in the 1970s and Beyond," pp. 1197-1220.
  
• Kendrick Oliver, "The Origin and Development of Prison Fellowship International: Pluralism, Ecumenism and American Leadership in the Evangelical World 1974–2006," pp. 1221-1242.
  
• John Maiden, "Renewing the Body of Christ: Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA) USA and Transnational Charismatic Anglicanism, 1978–1998," pp. 1243-1266.