News

Sixty evangelical Christians met on 8 July at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in a ground-breaking private consultation to explore the issues raised in building relationships with people of other faiths. The event took place in connection with Edinburgh 2010 which is a multi-denominational and international project set up to commemorate the 1910 World Missionary Conference.

Archbishop John Sentamu issued a reminder at the closing worship service of “Edinburgh 2010”. Jesus told his followers, “You are my witnesses.” The Anglican archbishop of York appealed on behalf of “the crucial importance of Christian witness.”

In a statement published at the Edinburgh 2010 conference, the 21 Pentecostal delegates acknowledged the historical significance of Edinburgh 1910, and rejoiced over the participation of Pentecostals in the centenary celebrations, which took place from 2-6 June in the Scottish capital.

The video recording of the closing celebration which took place at the Assembly Hall in Edinburgh, the same place where the first world missionary conference took place in 1910, is available online.

Interview with Dr. Tinyiko Sam Maluleke, Director for Research at UNISA in Pretoria, Current president of the South African Council of Churches

“Mission is a commandment, and unity is a prayer,” according to Bishop Brian Farrell of the Roman Catholic Church. The commandment to make disciples is found in the “great commission” of Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20, and John 17:21 records Christ’s prayer that all his followers may be one.

By Fofo Lerefolo

The youth delegation would like to give ‘a thumbs up’ to Edinburgh 2010 for recognizing them as part of the Conference. Youth tends to be marginal in most proceedings and that makes their voice be silent. It is high time we move forward as the world and identify youth as the mission practitioners of today. This is the historic moment for young people who came to represent their churches and countries in witnessing to Christ...

By Fofo Lerefolo

It’s been 100 years since delegates met in Edinburgh to discuss the state of world missions, and many momentous, world-changing decisions were made. I sit now, a young South African, in 2010, part of the centenary celebrations. My presence here shows just how much the times have changed. In 1910, a mostly male, all-Western, all-adult delegation met. I represent the opposite of all that – young, female and African.

Cutting-edge concepts for mission and evangelism have been introduced in texts prepared for the Edinburgh 2010 Conference. On Friday 4 June presenters from four continents, focusing on the topic “mission worldwide”, suggested the following phrases for inclusion in the lexicon of mission and unity.

Pope Benedict XVI has sent a formal greeting to delegates, visitors and staff attending the Edinburgh 2010 anniversary event commemorating the World Missionary Conference held at Edinburgh in June 1910.