|
 |
|
Edinburgh 2010 – Mission in humility and hope
From 2 to 5 June 2005 the Scottish Towards 2010 Council hosted an International Consultation in Edinburgh bringing together representatives from a wide variety of relevant bodies, to assess the possibility of and, if appropriate, to begin a process of preparation for the centenary of the Edinburgh 1910 World Missionary Conference.
In reflecting on the history of Christian mission since the 1910 conference, the Consultation was profoundly aware of the role of the Holy Spirit as the author of mission, often working in ways completely unanticipated by mission strategists. Sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading was therefore at the core of the work of the Consultation and members are deeply grateful to all who have been praying for God’s presence to be manifest in the meeting.
A History of Mission 1910-2010
The context, understanding and practice of mission have changed out of all recognition in the course of 100 years. It was therefore agreed that a thorough historical study would be a preliminary requirement. This would include: an analysis of global trends; regional/national studies; an acknowledgement that mission has been a source of conflict and division among Christians during this period and that there is need for a ‘the healing of memories’; and an attempt to account for the role of the original Edinburgh 1910 conference in the developments of the 20th century.
Proposed Commissions
The work of the Edinburgh 1910 Conference was based on the findings of eight research projects or ‘Commissions’. A new round of Commissions was proposed as a suitable preparation for the centenary. Towards 2010 received many suggestions as to matters which might be considered by new Commissions. These were set out for the Consultation and, through a system of cluster groups, it reflected intensively in order to identify the key issues for Christian mission in the 21st century. The Consultation was deeply grateful to all who contributed the ideas and suggestions which formed the basis of its discussion. The following topics were identified as calling for the establishment of Commissions for Edinburgh 2010: 1. Good news to share! – inspirations and foundations for mission2. Christian mission in relation to/among other faiths3. Mission and Postmodernities4. Mission and Power5. The Agency of Mission – Forms of Missionary Engagement6. Theological Education and Formation7. Development of Christian Communities in Contemporary Contexts8. Mission Spirituality for the Kingdom of God
The Consultation completed initial work on each of the above Commissions and committed itself to further effort in order to be able to issue a comprehensive document in September 2005. Comment and reflection on this document will be invited from all who are interested so that it can be further developed before the Commissions are launched in 2006.
The Consultation also recommended that a number of “transversals” should be developed, i.e. important themes which would run like a thread across all eight Commissions. Some of these, e.g. women and mission, call for a specially constituted group to ensure that they take effect. “Transversals” would include:
The Consultation also agreed to give encouragement to the planning of an Atlas of Global Christianity and of an International Art Exhibition in association with the Towards 2010 process.
Organisational Framework
A Poly-Centered Process Recognising the global character of the church today, it was agreed to recommend that there should be a poly-centred approach to preparing the Commissions. The organisational base would be a web of institutions located in different parts of the world. Each would need: high academic standards; strong links to church life and a sufficient communications infrastructure. Institutions recommended at the meeting were:
Akrofi-Kristaller Centre, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia, Trinity Theological College, Singapore Chicago Center for Global Ministries ISEDET, Ecumenical Centre for Higher Education, Buenos Aires Nordic Institute for Mission and Ecumenical Research Southern African Missiological Society United Theological College, Bangalore
It was recognised that these centres would work as part of a network of institutions in their particular context. From this local base they would be responsible to coordinate a worldwide network of prayerful study on their particular topic. In order to ensure the participation of a broad constituency, it was agreed that there would be need to ensure effective participation of Orthodox, Pentecostal and Roman Catholic institutions.
The Towards 2010 International Council It was also recognised that a coordinating body would be required to hold the process together and ensure that the Commissions work in a consistent and coherent way. It was therefore recommended that a Towards 2010 International Council should be formed to serve for the five-year period 2006-10. It would aim to include a broad cross-section of world Christianity. Organisations hoping to be involved in marking the centenary of Edinburgh 1910, or to participate in the common study process leading up to 2010, would be invited to nominate representatives to serve on the Council. These representatives would be empowered to share in the decision-making of the Council and would not have to go back to their organisations for authority every time a decision has to be taken. Organisations would cover the costs of their representatives. The centres which host the Commissions would also be represented on the International Council. It was agreed to recommend that the Council should be formed on 1 January 2006.
It was agreed that the members of the Consultation should immediately form a Towards 2010 Interim International Council in order to take responsibility for the process in the period from June to December 2005. It was further agreed to ask the Towards 2010 Scottish Council to coordinate the work during this period.
The Interim International Council formed a sub-committee to prepare an organisational and financial plan for the Towards 2010 process with membership as follows: Kwame Bediako, Frans Dokman, Jacques Matthey, Fergus Macdonald, Birger Nygaard, Kenneth Ross.
There still exists a high degree of flexibility in planning for 2010 but the hope is to generate a unique resource for the world Church through the new Commissions and to feed their fruits into one or several centenary events assessing the challenges of a new century and hearing the missionary call of God for our changed world in 2010.
Participants
Co-Chair Philomena Mwaura, International Association of Mission Studies Lalsangkima Pachuau, United Theological College, Bangalore, India
Kwame Bediako, Akrofi-Kristaller Centre, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana Steve Bevans, Catholic Theological Union, Chicago Nico Botha, Southern African Missiological Association Ruth Bottoms, World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism Frans Dokman, International Association of Mission Studies Rose Dowsett, Global Missiology Track, Mission Commission, World Evangelical Alliance Tormod Engelsviken, World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism Kofi deGraft-Johnson, Church Mission Society, Anglican Communion Michiko Kyoko Ete-Lima, Council for World Mission Sebastian Kim, College of York St John, University of Leeds Moonjang Lee, Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia, Trinity Theological College, Singapore Carlos Rodriguez Linera, SEDOS, Service of Documentation and Studies on Mission, Rome Wonsuk Ma, Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Philippines Fergus MacDonald, Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization Jacques Matthey, World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism Nestor Miguez, ISEDET, Buenos Aires Birger Nygaard, Areopagus Foundation, Denmark Miguel Palomino, Latin America Graduate School of Theology
Secretariat David Kerr, University of Edinburgh David Miller, International Christian College, Glasgow Kenneth Ross, Church of Scotland Jack Thompson, University of Edinburgh
|