History will repeat itself this week as mission leaders from across the globe including India will convene at Edinburgh, UK to celebrate the centenary of the World Missionary Conference and cogitate on reinforcing Christian mission in the 21st century.
Over 300 delegates from over 60 countries and 50 denominations will make it to the June 2 - 6 event which will conclude with a celebratory service in the Church of Scotland General Assembly Hall, the historical venue of the 1910 Conference. Guest preacher at this service will be the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.
Significantly, the 1910 event was the first-ever global missions conference and was seen as the beginning of the modern Protestant Christian ecumenical movement. That landmark summit drew together more than 1,200 Christians from mainly Protestant churches to think strategically about the worldwide mission of the Christian Church.
An important result of the Edinburgh Conference in India was the setting up of the National Missionary Council in 1914, which in 1923 became the National Christian Council. Additionally, the inspiration for the merging of South India's Protestant denominations is also credited to the landmark 1910 Conference.
According to John R Mott, the Conference Chairman, “Edinburgh 1910 is the most notable gathering in the interest of the worldwide expansion of Christianity ever held, not only in missionary annals but in all Christian annals."
Remarkably, while the 1910 conference was confined to mainline Protestant churches, the participants in 2010 are drawn from the whole range of Christian traditions and confessions, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Independent Churches.
The theme of the 2010 Conference is "Witnessing to Christ today”. It aims to get directions for the future mission movements through 9 study themes that will be deliberated by 100 representatives joined by 200 mission leaders all over the world.
The 9 study themes are: Foundations for Mission, Christian Mission among other Faiths, Mission and Post-modernities, Mission and Power, Forms of Missionary Engagement, Theological Education and Formation, Christian Communities in Contemporary Contexts, Mission and Unity – Ecclesiology and Mission and Mission Spirituality and Authentic Discipleship.
In India, the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) had conducted major mission consultations at Bangalore, Kolkata and Aizawl on topics related to the main themes of the 2010 Conference.
Apart from celebrating the growth of Church worldwide last hundred years, the 2010 mission summit intends to “prayerfully commit to God the witness of the churches in the 21st century.”
Guidelines will be developed and studies published to help church and mission leaders evaluate for their own situation models of mission which are proving effective elsewhere.
Additionally, networks will be mobilized and alliances formed so as “to develop greater strategic collaboration and greater synergy in fulfilling the mission mandate.”
Missions
Mission leaders to mark historic World Missionary Conference
By: Dibin Samuel
Monday, 31 May 2010, 14:49 (IST)
Copyright © 2010 Christian Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior permission.
Have your say on this article
Added: Monday, 31 May 2010, 15:19 (IST)
Praise God! This is absolutely stunning news. May God give help the event conclude successfully. I pray that this meeting will strengthen Indian mission as well.
Pastor Albert, India
Added: Monday, 31 May 2010, 16:55 (IST)
One of the most important event of Christian history. Wish the organisers a good luck!
Johnny, Mumbai, India
Added: Monday, 31 May 2010, 20:14 (IST)
I pray God will give wisdom to those leaders attending the Conference so God's great Commission can be filled among us. Thank you for this information.
Rev. Michael, UK
Added: Tuesday, 1 June 2010, 10:32 (IST)
Praying for the success of this historic event.
John Cunningham , UK
Top Stories
Missions Headline
