wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Time for confession and conversion, Kobia says

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World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 10/05/2005

FOR CHRISTIAN MISSION, IT'S TIME FOR CONFESSION,
REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION, KOBIA SAYS

Free photos available at
www.mission2005.org

It is time for confession, repentance and a deep conversion in thinking
and attitudes, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev.
Dr Samuel Kobia told participants at the Conference on World Mission and
Evangelism.

Kobia addressed some 700 participants at the opening session of the
conference being held 9-16 May near Athens. In his remarks, he acknowledged that "'mission' carries a heavy historical baggage, having played a part
in fostering division and conflict - between peoples, and even between
families of churches". "So perhaps the time has come for confession, and
repentance," he suggested.

The WCC general secretary affirmed that Christians are summoned to
"conversion" both in "thinking and attitudes". The shift of the demographic centre of Christianity from the North to the South has "spiritual, moral,
theological, (and) missiological" implications". "Our vision must undergo
a corresponding conversion," he said.

According to Kobia, "forms of expressing our faith that grew out of
European culture are no longer normative". Today, mission spreads from
unexpected directions, "borne by brothers and sisters who have received
gifts of the Spirit that were never monopolized by European or North
American intermediaries".

The ecumenical movement therefore faces a double challenge. On the one
hand, it must open itself up to "new manifestations of the Spirit" that
"though often providing healing, joy and comfort, may also create tensions
and disunity among churches". On the other hand, it needs to avoid
becoming "detached from the truth, tradition and theology of historic
communities that have faithfully served God for 2000 years".

At this historical juncture, the "first mission conference of the new
millennium" gains a strategic relevance. "It is my hope that this
conference will encourage broad dialogue on Christian witness, joined by
participants from diverse traditions," Kobia said.

In addressing some of the challenges that Christians face in the world
today, he highlighted the manipulation of religious identities "for narrow
nationalistic and economic ends". "I encourage this mission conference,
focusing on a theme of healing and reconciliation, to highlight peace and
non-violence as gospel imperatives", he said.

The full text of the remarks is available on the conference website at:
www.mission2005.org > Resources> Documents

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org

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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, in
more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.