Roger E. Hedlund, India, Project Director and Chief Editor.
E-mail: rogerhedlund@earthlink.net

Report

The Dictionary of South Asian Christianity Project

The Dictionary of South Asian Christianity is an ecumenical, international project dedicated to preserving Christianity's critical role and cultural contributions in South Asian history. Demonstration of the historical presence and cultural contributions of Christianity to the South Asian region and its integral role in nation building and socio-economic development is vital, particularly in the present context.

Despite the longevity and vitality of Christianity in the region, South Asia is not well represented in the world of missiological scholarship. What is presently available is either outdated or not comprehensive. India and Pakistan are home to some of the most ancient Christian traditions. Christians in South Asia need a greater awareness of their apostolic heritage.

The recent upsurge of Christian growth in some regions (e.g. Nepal and North East India) requires documentation and exploration. Ongoing vitality, exhibited in a proliferation of churches of indigenous origin, requires objective portrayal. Identification of archival deposits and points of need for collection and preservation of priceless documents is crucial.

Hindu nationalism in India, Buddhist resurgence in Sri Lanka, and Islamic fundamentalism in Pakistan have created a climate of tension with persecution and violence on the increase. During this time of strident religious rhetoric and growing religious nationalism in South Asia, this project is critical to the quest for a clear and confident Christian identity and witness in South Asia.

Historically the church in South Asia has carried on witness in a context of religious pluralism, and is on the cutting edge of contextual theology and Christian social and political theory. There is a lack of documentation and objective portrayal of the lengthy apostolic heritage and the post-missionary growth of the indigenous church. In light of the direct challenges to Christian Faith in the region, the need is urgent to empower South Asian Christians for bold witness in a hostile environment. This is the vital mission of the Dictionary Project in each of the South Asian countries.

The purpose is to provide an instrument to support, preserve, and promote Christianity's integral role in nation building and socio-economic development throughout the region. Rising religious fundamentalism has led to an alarming disregard of the historical impact of Christianity on the history and culture of South Asia. Human rights are violated, and the historic presence and contributions of Christians are deliberately ignored. Against this trend The Dictionary of South Asian Christianity will present a witness and defense of the gospel.

The Dictionary of South Asian Christianity will meet the need for documentation of the presence and contribution of Christianity as part of the history and culture of the South Asian region. The DSAC will serve to empower and equip South Asian Christians for effective witness in a hostile environment. In light of the increasing violent opposition and attacks against Christians, the DSAC is an essential tool for preserving the Christian presence and to enable the mission of the indigenous Church to continue.

The Dictionary of South Asian Christianity -- a single volume ecumenical encyclopedia -- is the first of its kind. It is a major international effort to produce a one-volume reference work of 1000 pages on the various facets of Christianity in each of the South Asian countries. This encyclopedia or dictionary will record the historical presence and cultural contributions of Christianity throughout the region. The Dictionary will be composed of scholarly contributions on Christianity in each of the South Asian countries by Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal, and indigenous independent writers and editors with expertise in a wide range of disciplines. South Asia is vast and varied. The vital Christianity of the region requires a depth of exploration representing a wide range of academic disciplines and ecclesiastical traditions from each of the South Asian countries.

The plan is for publication in India of the Dictionary of South Asian Christianity as a handy, one-volume, affordable reference work in understandable English! A first edition of 5,000 copies is projected for publication simultaneously in India and in North America for distribution throughout South Asia and beyond.

The DSAC is expected to serve as a basic reference tool for Christian laity, students, scholars, historians, researchers, church leaders, pastors, missionaries and apologists for several decades to come. Its 900+ articles will provide a summary of information for use by Christian workers worldwide. Brief bibliographical entries will offer scholars suggestions for further research. The ongoing "fruit" will be seen in a new generation of better-equipped teachers and defenders of the Christian faith in the South Asian context.

The project is underway. Half of the budget has been raised. Heads of churches and Christian organizations in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh were contacted and a Council of Reference created with leaders from Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Pentecostal and Indigenous Independent churches. A panel of international consultants has been assembled. An editorial board consisting of seven South Asian scholars was formed and is active. Regional and country editors have been appointed. A fulltime project manager has been employed as well as a part-time assistant. Writers have been identified and about 100 articles assigned and written out of more than 900 topics in the DSAC data bank. An editors' consultation was conducted in November 2003 at Chennai with about 30 editors and consultants. A writers' workshop was requested for Nepal and was conducted during April 2004 at Kathmandu. The Pakistan country editor met with the Chief Editor during March 2004, and the Pakistan data was finalized and topics assigned. The Pakistan articles are expected by September 2004. South India articles have been assigned and some articles received. Articles from Sri Lanka have been received. The Project is on target.

We aim for publication by 2006, earlier if possible. Much will depend on receiving all the articles from the writers, then the editorial work by the various editors will require some time including inevitable re-writing of some articles. Hopefully much of the writing may be completed during 2004.

The project is fully ecumenical representing the various Christian traditions of the seven countries of South Asia. This includes Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Independent groups from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the South Asian Diaspora. Essays on Myanmar and Afghanistan also are included. The DSAC is being produced from a South Asian perspective. Entries are being written by South Asians or by persons with experience in the South Asian context and expertise in a wide range of disciplines. As Professor Walter Hollenweger states, "This Dictionary is overdue since South Asian Christianity plays an important role in Asia and within Christianity." The DSAC will be an encyclopedia of vital information. The vibrant indigenous churches of South Asia have much to contribute to global Christianity.


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