Henry Venn--missionary statesman

by Wilbert R. Shenk

Henry Venn was born and bred among the British evangelical aristocracy at Clapham. Wilberforce, Grant, Macaulay, Stephen, and Thornton were at the height of their powers - leading the campaign against slavery, promoting public morals, founding philanthropic and missionary societies - at the turn of the nineteenth century. As powerful leader of the most prominent British missionary society from 1841 to 1872, Venn unhesitatingly used his connections with politicians and statesmen to further the missionary cause. He often found himself at odds with government, but he mastered the art of lobbying skillfully for his interest. Henry Venn was a man of generous hospitality who entertained countless guests in his home. Sir Leslie Stephen, his nephew, conjectured that in evangelical circles noted for their somber mood Venn must have been something of an embarrassment with his irrepressible humor. Venn was an outstanding administrator. Early on he perceived the need to provide the missionary movement with a clear theoretical framework. Out of his search for principles of missionary action emerged the indigenous church ideal that has figured prominently in all missionary thinking since.

175 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Dr. Wilbert R. Shenk, who is well known both as an international missiologist and as a specialist in the area of Anabaptism and Mission, has been the main speaker. He has edited a book with the same title, that is still a classic in this field. Until 2005 Shenk served as professor of mission history and contemporary culture at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California/USA. He lives in Elkhart, Indiana/USA. Dr. Peter F. Penner is Director of the Institute of Contextual Missiology at the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) where he has served since 2001 in different capacities. Prior to this, he was involved with the St. Petersburg Christian University (SPCU) in St. Petersburg, Russia six years as Rector and four years as Academic Dean as a missionary of the German Missionary Fellowship (Deutsche Missionsgemeinschaft). He is married to Katharina, who was actively involved at SPCU and presently continues to serve with him at IBTS. They have two children and live in Prague, Czech Republic.