EDINBURGH 2010: Call to Confess and Commorate
The Centenary of the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh 1910, for many, is a suggestive moment for seeking direction for Christian mission in the 21st century.
While looking forward to 2010 Centenary conference It is important to register, refer and recall the idea and proposal for the International Missionary Conference was suggested from India by the father of the Modern Mission movement. Rev. Dr. William Carry, the first Baptist missionary in Sri Rampur, West Bengal. The idea of a great international conference to discern the next steps for worldwide Christian mission is by no means the sole prerogative of the Edinburgh 1910 World Missionary 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.” Scott LaTourette’s says that “The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910, was the birthplace of the modern ecumenical movement.” The conference was not without its critics though. Many felt that the patronage of the colonial powers of the time to the conference paved the way for colonial expansion of the super powers of the day which subjugated many a people and their territories in far away lands.
The Conference worked under 8 themes including, Gospel, Church, Mission and Unity. Mott described the 1910 Conference as “the first attempt at a systematic and careful study of the missionary problems of the world”. In fact, the most oft-quoted and perhaps the most influential speech was made by the South Indian priest V.S. Azariah who concluded: “Through all the ages to come the Indian church will rise up in gratitude to attest the heroism and self-denying labours of the missionary body. You have given your goods to feed the poor. You have given your bodies to be burned. We also ask for love. Give us FRIENDS!”
This speech challenged the WMC towards considering the context first in the mission and this into Christian legend and become the landmark in the history of mission; the starting point of the modern theology of mission; the high point of the modern Western missionary movement and the point from which it declined; the launch-pad of the modern ecumenical movement; the point at which Christians first began to glimpse something of what a world church would be like.
The World Mission movements consider this congruence as guiding point which led them on a centurial journey and call the world Christian community to commemorate and celebrate the Edinburgh 1910 in the same place on the 02nd June 06th June 2010. The theme of the 2010 Conference is “Witnessing to Christ today”. It is also aims to get directions for the future mission movements under 9 study themes: 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.
The Centenary of the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh 1910, for many, is a suggestive moment for seeking direction for Christian mission in the 21st century.
While looking forward to 2010 Centenary conference It is important to register, refer and recall the idea and proposal for the International Missionary Conference was suggested from India by the father of the Modern Mission movement. Rev. Dr. William Carry, the first Baptist missionary in Sri Rampur, West Bengal. The idea of a great international conference to discern the next steps for worldwide Christian mission is by no means the sole prerogative of the Edinburgh 1910 World Missionary 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.” Scott LaTourette’s says that “The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910, was the birthplace of the modern ecumenical movement.” The conference was not without its critics though. Many felt that the patronage of the colonial powers of the time to the conference paved the way for colonial expansion of the super powers of the day which subjugated many a people and their territories in far away lands.
The Conference worked under 8 themes including, Gospel, Church, Mission and Unity. Mott described the 1910 Conference as “the first attempt at a systematic and careful study of the missionary problems of the world”. In fact, the most oft-quoted and perhaps the most influential speech was made by the South Indian priest V.S. Azariah who concluded: “Through all the ages to come the Indian church will rise up in gratitude to attest the heroism and self-denying labours of the missionary body. You have given your goods to feed the poor. You have given your bodies to be burned. We also ask for love. Give us FRIENDS!”
This speech challenged the WMC towards considering the context first in the mission and this into Christian legend and become the landmark in the history of mission; the starting point of the modern theology of mission; the high point of the modern Western missionary movement and the point from which it declined; the launch-pad of the modern ecumenical movement; the point at which Christians first began to glimpse something of what a world church would be like.
The World Mission movements consider this congruence as guiding point which led them on a centurial journey and call the world Christian community to commemorate and celebrate the Edinburgh 1910 in the same place on the 02nd June 06th June 2010. The theme of the 2010 Conference is “Witnessing to Christ today”. It is also aims to get directions for the future mission movements under 9 study themes: 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.
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