Hugo du Plessis’ theology of mission as influenced by missiological debates in ecumenical circles

Abstract

The quest to understand the church’s missionary calling will remain a significant exercise in the life of the church of every age. Transformation in the world context compels the church to rethink its missionary calling and to strive towards a theology of mission that will respond positively towards the changing context. Hugo du Plessis lived and worked in the 20th century as the first missionary and missiologist of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (GKSA). It is the thesis of this article that Hugo du Plessis’ theology of mission, which had great impact on how the GKSA responded to the challenges of the day, was informed and shaped by missiological debates which took place within ecumenical circles.