In recognition of the growth of global Christianity, many biblical scholars and theologians have advocated opening the theological conversation to scholars outside the West. Publishers have begun to answer this call by increasingly publishing works on global exegesis and global theology (GT). This call has resulted in a variety of approaches toward the generally accepted goal of giving global Christians greater access to and prominence in the theological conversation. Today GT should be a significant component in theological formulation, but the question remains as to an adequate approach to GT: What even is GT? And how should GT affect Evangelical theology?
Among Evangelicals, three general approaches exist: (1) The Pasadena Multicultural Approach, (2) The Lexington/London Supracultural Approach, and (3) The Chicago Transcultural Approach.
The Pasadena Multicultural Approach, represented primarily by William A. Dyrness, Amos Yong, and Oscar García-Johnson, seeks Christian truth in a conversation between many (multus) diverse local theologies (e.g. Asian theology, African theology, etc.). In this approach, the unity of Christian truth can be found in the whole of this multicultural conversation rather than in any doctrinal core.
By contrast, the Lexington/London Supracultural Approach, represented by Timothy Tennent and Langham Publishing, holds that a universal core of Christian truth exists “above and beyond” (supra) culture. Contextualization, then, involves isolating this core and dynamically translating it into a new cultural expression and application.
Finally, the Chicago Transcultural Approach, represented by Paul Hiebert and Kevin Vanhoozer, believes that eternal Christian truth can be discerned more-and-more clearly and comprehensively by means of a global conversation of local theologies. Christian truth thus can be found “across” (trans) cultures.
The Chicago and Lexington/London approaches share confidence in a doctrinal core of Christian truth but differ in describing how this core can be discerned—beyond (supra) culture or across (trans) cultures. Likewise, the Chicago and Pasadena approaches are united in promoting the necessity of diverse local theologies in the pursuit of Christian truth. These two approaches differ, however, concerning how diverse local theologies help Christians to discern truth. For the Pasadena Multicultural Approach, it is the common pursuit of theological truth that unites global Christians rather than a unity of theological content. But for the Chicago Transcultural Approach, Christians are led to greater conformity with theology as God knows it through cross-cultural theological conversation. As will be shown, each view possesses weaknesses. Thus in conclusion this article will make brief suggestions for a way forward in pursuing an Evangelical GT.