wfn.org | WCC NEWS: Where and when the Holy Spirit comes

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

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

WHERE AND WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES

     Free photos available at
     www.mission2005.org

About 700 representatives from churches and mission bodies from all over
the world were advised to recognize that the presence of the Holy Spirit
is not to be claimed by themselves, but acknowledged by their neighbours.

The 9-16 May Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) opened this
morning in Athens with two thematic presentations on the general theme
"Come Holy Spirit, Heal and Reconcile".

The two complementary presentations were linked to the speakers' own
traditions - more theological for the Presbyterian lecturer, Dr Kirsteen
Kim, more narrative for the Pentecostal missionary, Dr Wonsuk Ma, both
from South Korea. While Kim focused on the question of discernment of the
Holy Spirit's presence and action, Ma mainly presented Pentecostal
experiences through the history of the past 100 years.

Both Pentecostals and "historic" churches have much to learn from each
other about their different views and traditions on this theme, Ma said.
"As a 'new kid on the block,' Pentecostals have much to learn from the
historic churches with their rich histories and traditions. At the same
time, the rise of a new movement, particularly of the renewal type such as
this, itself serves as God's reminder to his people of his missionary
mandate to the world."

Recalling theological educator Stanley Samartha's words, Kim reminded
participants that "the claim that the Spirit is with us is not ours to
make; it is for our neighbours to recognize". This discernment is "a
matter for ecumenical debate" she said, and "it requires wide horizons and
humility".

Delegates to the World Council of Churches CWME conference from Orthodox,
Protestant, Roman Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches or
mission bodies are called to this humility, so as to recognize the
presence and action of the Holy Spirit in all of them.

The full text of both presentations is available on the conference website
at:
www.mission2005.org > Resources> Speeches

Conference website: www.mission2005.org

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

Sign up for WCC press releases at
http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

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.