wfn.org | [APD] Adventists to participate in Edinburgh World Missionary Conference

[Christian B. Schäffler <APD@stanet.ch>]

[APD] Adventists to participate in Edinburgh World Missionary Conference
Church's study center director will co-chair Foundations for Mission session

Washington D.C./Edinburgh, 30.05.2010/ANN/APD   Seventh-day Adventists will
contribute to an historic mission conference 
in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 2 to 6. The Edinburgh event marks 100 years
since the last Edinburgh World Missionary 
Conference when 1,355 Christian delegates, including 208 women, representing
western Mission societies of numerous 
faiths and countries gathered to discuss the future of mission. One hundred
years later, the 1910 conference is recognized 
as a significant event in modern mission.

A symbolic act of reflection, thanksgiving and commitment will be held in
Edinburgh on 6 June 2010.

Among the 250 delegates of churches and Christian World Communions attending
the conference will be Seventh-day Adventists 
Cheryl Doss, director of the Church's Institute of World Mission in Berrien
Springs, Michigan, and John McVay, New Testament 
scholar and president of Walla Walla University in Washington. 

Ganoune Diop, director of the Adventist Church's Global Mission Study
Centers and member of the Edinburgh 2010 General 
Council, has been invited to co-chair the Foundations for Mission session
during the conference.

Andrew Anderson, chair of the 2010 conference, said Adventists have been
invited to participate because "it has been recognized 
that Adventist missionaries have been making a very significant contribution
to missionary work worldwide."

"Adventists can bring to the event their reflections on how their own
movement has been influenced by the success of its 
missionary outreach worldwide -- the diversity of nationality, race, and
language," Anderson said. 'The Adventist vision for the 
future shape of mission will be particularly valued at Edinburgh 2010."

The Adventist Church "holds in high esteem other Christians who are also
engaged in sharing God's love with the world," said 
Gary Krause, director of the Office of Adventist Mission. "It's a privilege
to contribute our distinctive approach to the agenda 
of this historic mission event and help place a higher emphasis on the
commission He has given us."

Edinburgh 2010 organizers say their goal is to explore the best ways to
share the gospel in the twenty-first century. Nine study 
themes have been chosen to aid discussion, including post-modernity,
relating to other faiths, unity, spirituality, discipleship, 
and mission and power. Diop, a theologian who focuses on the integration of
theology and mission, said, "I'm grateful to be 
part of a venue that explores ways to present Christ to our contemporaries."

At the original Edinburgh conference in 1910, three Adventist church leaders
attended the 1910 meeting, including L.R. Conradi, 
vice president of the General Conference and president of the European
Division, representing the Advent Mission as Mission 
director, and two Adventist pastors from North America.

"They were deeply interested in mission," said Jon Dybdahl who preceded Diop
as the Adventist representative on the Edinburgh 
2010 planning committee. "Now, 100 years later, we have been asked to be a
part of the planning and actual conference
 because we are perceived as a key part of international Christian mission."
[Editors: Laurie Falvo and Chrisian B. Schaeffler for 
ANN/APD]

For more information visit www.edinburgh2010.org

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