London Missionary Society

The London Missionary Society ( LMS) was a Christian non-denominational missionary society in the UK. Today it is part of the worldwide Council for World Mission ( CWM ), a global association of Christian churches for the purpose of the mission.

History

The London Missionary Society was founded in September 1795 in London under the name " The Missionary Society " was founded with the intention to unite Christians of all denominations to serve in the mission. Although inspired by an idea William Carey, the founder of the " Baptist Missionary Society ", the LMS from the start was not purely determined by a specific faith expression Missionary Society. Both Presbyterians, Anglicans and Congregationalists were from the beginning to the circle of supporters and missionaries. The interdenominational character of the LMS was marked by the 1796 wrote "Fundamental Principle". This reflects the fact that the mission is not the spread of Presbyterianism, the Independentism nor the Episcopalian nor should serve another form of ecclesiastical organization, but only the distribution of the " glorious gospel of the blessed God" had the goal. The agreement can be seen as the first sign of the emerging ecumenical movement in the late 18th century in Europe and America. However, soon managed to both the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church 's missionary structures, so that the LMS henceforth received little support from these churches.

The first missionaries of the LMS arrived in 1797 in the South Pacific. A total of 13 men, five women and two children set up mission stations in Tahiti, Tonga and Marquesas.

In 1799 the first missionaries of the LMS started their work at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, later in today's Botswana and Zimbabwe. Among the missionaries of the LMS in Africa included, among others, John Philip and David Livingstone, who tried to defend indigenous interests against the claims of the settlers. In Guyana and the Caribbean to the LMS missionaries involved in the fight against slavery. In China, the LMS was one of the largest missions. In the 19th century, the time of their largest investments, the LMS employed about 250 missionaries worldwide.

In 1966, the LMS went to the Congregational Council for World Mission, which in turn 1977 went to the Council for World Mission ( CWM ).