Eleven years later in the same city the possibility of creating “a larger meeting of European missiologists which might lead to the creation of a worldwide interconfessional missiological society” was again discussed.
[3] A European consultation on mission studies held at the Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham, England, in April 1968 brought things closer, but the decisive turning point was in Oslo in 1970 at a second European conference on mission studies when 74 participants from different denominations, countries and continents decided that an organization would be established.
IAMS' main goal is to bring together scholars, theologians, missiologists and missionaries who research in mission studies and can contribute to the science of missiology.
The main objectives of IAMS are; Since 1972, thirteen international assemblies have been held in different countries on the different continents, each exploring specific mission studies themes: The association is managed by a 10-person Executive.
Within the association, five major study groups have been active in continuing research and consultation, which is an indispensable part of the purpose of the membership.