The development of an Asian theology of mission must be grounded in a reassessment of current theology. In the West, it was argued, theology has distanced itself from the context, and the Church has become discontextualized. This was seen to result from the absolutizing of formulations, world views, and practices that were in fact contextualizations in a bygone era, but are no longer suitable even for the West. Theology must be rooted in faith experience.
There was, in the discussions, a substantial level of awareness that contextualization, to some extent, goes on automatically and not necessarily consciously. We are already, to some degree, contextualized. Asia has already influenced us. The replacement in Catholic theology of a purely individualistic notion of salvation with a more relational concept was given as a case in point.
At the same time, an Asian theology of mission ought to be based on a policy of attraction rather than promotion. It must be oriented towards the restoration of human dignity, the founding of local communities, the promotion of new forms of activity, and the development of local theologies. Since the stress is always to be on plurality within communion, it should promote dialogue between the universal magisterium and local theologies. It should deal with the issue of extra-biblical revelation, seeking means and criteria for assessing God's word in other cultures.