This is Ralph D Winter’s plenary session at the first gathering of what has become known as the Lausanne Movement. Many have noted how this presentation helped to spark the missions movement beyond existing churches (with good and necessary evangelism) to evangelism (and mission) among those without a church in their culture context.

We encourage you to listen carefully, as Winter packs in many small points along the way.

One crucial note: Each Plenary presenter was to submit a written version of their presentation in six months before the Lausanne 1974 gathering. In turn, those were sent to each registered participant, alone with a feedback form, which and they were encourage to fill out in order to give feedback to the presenters. The first paper Ralph Winter submitted received 58 responses. Scans of those responses are posted below both transcribed versions of Winter’s paper/presentation.

All the plenaries and many other elements of the 1974 Congress are printed in the book: Douglas, J. D. 1975 Let the Earth Hear His Voice, Minneapolis, World Wide Publications.

Below is first one document that includes both Winter’s pre-congress paper, official responses from four selected delegates and Winter’s Congress plenary (you can listen to the audio above). Then, below that document are 58 hand-written responses to Winter’s pre-Congress paper, turned in and mailed to Winter before the Congress. There is also some detail there about other elements and background to Winter’s presentation and other Plenaries from the Congress.

For in-depth study of these issues, see:

Parsons, Greg H., 2015 Lausanne ’74 : Ralph D. Winter’s Writings with Responses Pasadena, William Cary Publishing.

Parsons, Greg H.,  2012 Ralph D. Winter : Early Life and Core Missiology, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Religious Studies Department, PhD. (Published by WCIU Press in 2012).

Below are 58 hand-written responses to Winter’s pre-Congress paper, turned in and mailed to Winter before the Congress