An Evaluation of the work of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society, 1841-2011.

This evaluation of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society (EMMS) between 1841-2011 concludes that it met its three original objectives. To assess EMMS’ archives and contemporary accounts of missions the paper uses three broad phases: pioneers,teachers and partners. EMMS’ advocacy of the role of medical missionaries was very effective. As demand for missionary doctors rose, EMMS facilitated the supply of around 440 missionary doctors with grants and training. This was a substantial proportion of the medical missionary workforce and constituted its major achievement. During a period of major missiological, medical and social change it was progressive in its attitudes to women and racial minorities in medicine, in its opposition to the opium trade, and its interdenominational character. Its Livingstone Memorial Medical Missionary Training Institution for serving the sick poor and training mission doctors was much imitated. After enjoying medical missions’ hey day in the first half of the twentieth century EMMS latterly focussed onits Nazareth Hospital.While this ensured its survival while other organisations withdrew from missionary medicine, it meant it was slow to respond to primary healthcare initiatives in developing countries.It was also by-passed by theological debates aboutthe Christian healing ministry in which its German sister organisation Difäm participated at theTübingen consultations. However after demerging from the Nazareth Hospital EMMS reoriented itself with faith based partners and became involved in primary healthcare in Malawi, Nepal and India. Because EMMS was an auxiliary organisation supporting missions with medical staff, isolating and precisely quantifying its unique contribution to Christian Mission is impossible. However its contemporary peers flattered it by imitation, which suggests that the Western world’s old medical missionary society’s achievements were more considerable than its low historic profile suggests.Its archives invite further research.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

mth

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Andrew, John

• BL Crefydd
• R Meddygaeth (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:1665