Dear ###USER_name###,
While we are celebrating Easter across many Christian traditions, we are full of joy and hope for Jesus' presence in the world. It's just 55 days to go until the Edinburgh 2010 Study Process peaks in a 5-day conference in Scotland; we are buzzing with excitement, and are looking forward to a great event. I received this uplifting message from Sister Mary M. Motte (Franciscan Missionaries of Mary). During her ministries, Sister Mary has been a child care worker, nursery school worker, teacher and provincial secretary in different countries and contexts:
"The centenary of Edinburgh 1910 emphasises a new path for ecumenism and mission now including Orthodox and Roman Catholic voices along with those of various Protestant traditions. Insights of persons from different cultures, varied styles of worship, shared respect for God's Word and a search to understand how God is acting in our times have increased our common ground. Our friendships have unfolded deeper levels of spirituality and energised our search for unity in face of differences. We can no longer speak adequately of mission and discipleship from only one tradition. And the journey continues as we celebrate Edinburgh 2010!"
Happy Easter!
Jasmin Adam
Communications Officer
jadam@cofscotland.org.uk
The Edinburgh Conference and the Korean Church
By Rev. Prof. Kyo Seong Ahn
Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary, South Korea; former missionary to Mongolia commissioned by the Presbyterian Church of Korea
It is said that the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh in 1910 was the culmination of the modern missionary movement and paved the way for the ecumenical movement. For the non-western churches, particularly in Korea, it meant much more than that. It signalled the rise of national churches and the beginning of a new relationship between missions and churches. Furthermore, it was unwittingly associated with nationalism. It gave an opportunity for the Korean Church to demonstrate its distinct identity: the speech of Baron T. H. Yun, the single although unofficial Korean delegate, left a lasting impression on the delegates. But for this, the emerging Korean Church, a miracle of mission, would have been represented only vicariously by missionaries. However, imperialism blinded the delegates to the agony of colonialism. For instance, at the Conference, which was held immediately before the annexation of Korea to Japan, it was reported that Japan would show "such justice and generosity towards the Koreans as presently will make them proud of the flag of the Rising Sun." (W.H.T. Gairdner, Edinburgh 1910: An Account and Interpretation of the World Missionary Conference. Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier: Edinburgh and London, 1910, 80)
When the Korean National Christian Council (KNCC), a national branch of the IMC, was formed in 1924, the Korean Church was able to maintain a distinct identity, although it was ecclesiastical not political. It sent its delegates to Jerusalem Conference in 1928, where Miss Helen Kim “impressed the German delegates by her stand in a debate with Bishop Uzaki from Japan." (Hans-Reudi Weber, Asia and the Ecumenical Movement, 1895-1961. London: SCM, 1966, 155) By the mid 20th century, however, even such limited identity was denied by the Japanese, when they closed the KNCC and merged the Korean Church into its Japanese counterpart.
In the post-Liberation years, the ecumenical movement helped Korea stand on its own feet in various ways. During the Korean War, the World Council of Churches condemned the aggression of North Korea, and, thus, was criticized as anti-communist; but, ironically enough, it was soon alleged in Korea to be pro-communist, and in turn to be blamed for church disunity in the 1950s. At the same time, in the post-bellum years, the ecumenical bodies and churches greatly facilitated the resuscitation of Korea. In the third quarter of the 20th century, the ecumenical network helped the Korean Church maintain international solidarity in the midst of the struggle for democratisation.
Nowadays, the Korean Church takes the initiative in both world mission and ecumenism. On the one hand, it is to host the 10th General Assembly of the WCC; on the other, it plays an important role in various meetings to commemorate the Centenary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference, such as Tokyo in May, Edinburgh in June, and Cape Town in October.
What's New?
Global Discussion on Mission
"At Edinburgh 1910 V.S. Azariah made his famous appeal to give us friends. Looks like he would approve of our facebook group," says one of the members of our online community. The Edinburgh 2010 facebook group has almost reached the critical mark of 1,200 members. In 1910 the same number of delegates met in Edinburgh for the World Missionary Conference. Today we don't necessarily need to meet in person to discuss mission topics, to get to know each other better, and to fight for our common cause. You are invited to leave comments on the wall and discussion board, post information and connect with each other. This month we added our motto, Witnessing to Christ Today, to the group name. This change has triggered off an interesting discussion on the wall. One group member, Heinrich Bolleter from Swizerland, suggests, "Mission will become more practical, ecumenical, less denominational, and less exclusive but more Christ oriented and cross-cultural. This means Witnessing to Christ today." To join or follow the discussion, click here.
Results Youth Multimedia Contest
In October 2009 young Christians were invited to take part in the Edinburgh 2010 Youth Multimedia Contest. The installation art piece entitled "Dwelling Within" (USA) has been chosen as the winning project. The artist (who wishes to remain anonymous) will receive a sponsored invitation to attend the Edinburgh 2010 conference in June to display her project. The second place project, "The Stations of the Cross of Globaliyation" by Luiz Coelho of Brazil, will also be showcased at the Edinburgh 2010 conference. Both projects, along with the essays of the Youth Writing Contest, will be available on our website soon.
Study Process Update
Edinburgh 2010’s Transversal Topics
It is well known that the study process leading to Edinburgh 2010 is organised around nine substantial themes which reflect key issues facing Christian mission today. A further layer is added to the texture of Edinburgh 2010 by seven "transversal" topics:
1. Women and mission
2. Youth and mission
3. Healing and reconciliation
4. Bible and Mission – mission in the Bible
5. Contextualization, inculturation and dialogue of worldviews
6. Subaltern voices
7. Ecological perspectives on mission
These topics are seen as representing perspectives of great importance for the understanding of Christian mission today. They are expected to run like threads across the nine study tracks which constitute Edinburgh 2010’s primary focus. Each of the seven transversals represents a way of looking at mission, like a set of binoculars which enables you to see things that you might otherwise miss.
As the Edinburgh 2010 study process has developed it has been exciting to be able to draw on the experience and expertise of people in various parts of the world with a particular affinity to each of the transversals. Representatives of each transversal will bring their particular perspectives to the discussions of the Edinburgh 2010 conference in June. Material pertaining to each transversal is already available on the Edinburgh 2010 website. It is hoped that a small book bringing these perspectives together in an accessible way will be published in time for the conference and that they will inform and inspire the rethinking of Christian mission in our time.
Kenneth Ross
Events & Opportunities
14-15 May 2010
Fjellhaug Symposium 2010 - Mission and Globalization
Venue: Fjellhaug Mission Seminary, Oslo (Norway)
This conference, which focuses on the relationship between mission and globalisation, will have a number of key inputs relating to Edinburgh 1910-2010. It is hosted by the Fjellhaug Mission Seminary in Oslo and includes international as well as Norwegian speakers. Download the programme as a pdf file here. For more information on the symposium programme and registration, please contact the coordinator, Erling Lundeby. To download the papers for the lectures to be presented at the symposium, click here.
26-30 April 2010
Fifth Magna Conference of the World Mission of the Church - Crossing new frontiers... a great commission
Venue: SETECA, Guatemala (Central America)
The Central American Theological Seminary (SETECA) invites to a 5-day conference to inform, motivate and reflect on the worldwide mission of the church against the background of current challenges in Latin America. The programme includes papers given by Valdir Steuernagel, Joel van Dyke, and Guillermo Taylor. For more information, visit the conference website, or contact Professor Abel Morales at amorales (at) seteca.edu.
11-15 May 2010
Global Mission Consultation & Celebration - From Edinburgh to Tokyo
Venue: Nakano Sun Plaza, Tokyo (Japan)
The May 11-14 consultation in Tokyo will mark Christian missionary activity in the 100 years since the Edinburgh 1910 gathering, and set priorities for the future. It will take as its basis the "Lausanne Covenant", which resulted from the 1974 International Congress on World Evangelisation held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Tokyo meeting is organised by the Thrid World Association, a Seoul-based organisation that has members in Asia, Africa and Latin America. For more information and registration visit the website of Tokyo 2010.
New Mission Resources
Second Primer now available
Edinburgh 2010: New Directions for Church in Mission
By Kenneth R. Ross
(2010), ISBN 9-78086-585009-5
A second primer on the centenary of the 1910 World Missionary conference is now available as free PDF download and will be published soon by William Carey International University Press in the United States. New Directions for Church in Mission provides a summary of the material yielded by the Edinburgh 2010 Study Process. Since 2005 nine international and inter-denominational groups have been working in depth on crucial themes in regard to Christian mission today. This small study book, written for ordinary church members or enquirers, is a condensed version and interpretation of the Edinburgh 2010 pre-conference book. The pre-conference book Edinburgh 2010: Witnessing to Christ Today, edited by Daryl Baliy and Kirsteen Kim, will be available soon.
By kind permission of the publishers, Edinburgh 2010: New Directions for Church in Mission is available for download here.
Mission Studies in a University without Walls
Joy to the World: Mission in the Age of Global Christianity
By Dana L. Robert
(2010), Stock number M3074-2010-01
Joy to the World: Mission in the Age of Global Christianity by Dana L. Robert is a denominational study for United Methodists in the United States of America in celebration of the centennial mission event. Capturing the centennial journey of mission in brief, this book explores the theology of mission and evangelism in the 21st-century context of Christianity as a wordwide religion.
Glory E. Dharmaraj, Director of Spiritual Formation & Mission Theology in the United Methodist Church, explains the background of the publication: "As for the ecumenical women, the year 1910 was a milestone and a Jubilee year of their mission work. This resource, also, explores women and changing structures of mission. It is a mission study undertaken for two years 2010 & 2011 across the United States. The United Methodist Women's Division trained a core group of study leaders in January 2010, in the methods of teaching this study. In fact, a study guide by Reverend Toby Gould is attached to the main text. In turn, this core group of various leaders from the five regions of the U.S. will train conference leadership across the country in June of this year. They will take it to the district and local leaderships in the months to come. The centers of such a learning are called Schools of Mission, otherwise known as university without walls."
The book together with the study guide is available from the Mission Resource Center at www.missionresourcecenter.org.
Pray with us
You are invited to join in prayer with all those who look with faith and hope towards the events of Edinburgh 2010.
Take time to listen to the Word of God
Late that same day, the first day of the week, when the disciples were together behind locked doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. "Peace be with you!" he said; then he showed them his hands and his side. On seeing the Lord, the disciples were overjoyed. Jesus said again, "Peace be with you! As the Father sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit!"
John 20:19-22
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To ponder that Word, the source of mission, and to pray
Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, thank you for your presence in the world.
You know our pain and fear; you bring to us your peace.
Fill us with your joy, send us in your name; wherever we are, make us faithful messengers of your Gospel. Let your Holy Spirit be the source of our life, guiding us in all our ways. May we bring your life and joy to the hopeless, the abandoned ones, the weary and the dying. May we be truly channels of your peace. Amen, amen, may it be so.
