Symposium on Edinburgh 2010
Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS), in collaboration with several of its global partners, on 4th September 2015, hosted the symposium of the Edinburgh 2010 centenary conference and brought the Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series of 36 books to completion. 80 mission thinkers joined the series editors – Dr Wonsuk Ma of OCMS, Dr Knud Jorgensen of the MF Norwegian School of Theology, Prof. Kirsteen Kim of Leeds Trinity University and Tony Gray of Words by Design – to mark the close of a series that is remarkable for its global scope. The event, which was addressed by Professor Dana Robert of Boston University, also celebrated the enormous diversity of the churches, mission agencies and academic institutions involved in the project. Dr Robert surveyed the relationship between mission and Christian unity from the Edinburgh 1910 conference to the present, identifying several key themes in contemporary missiological reflection: global networking as an expression of common witness, the power of testimony in building unity, the centrality of the Holy Spirit in church growth and the ecumenism of blood experienced in the crisis situation of Christians around the world, especially in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. Prof. Petros Vassiliadis of the University of Thessaloniki, Revd Dr John Kafwanka of the Anglican Communion, Bishop Hwa Yung of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Revd Dr Hielke Wolters, representing the World Council of Churches, all offered insightful responses to this challenging keynote address.
The Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series grew out of the Edinburgh 2010 project. Five years on, the series has become the most comprehensive and accessible study of contemporary Christianity. It aims not only to be a scholarly resource but also to build mutual understanding among the churches. The 600 contributors are from all continents – with a special focus on Asia, Africa and Oceania – and all strands of Christianity – Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostal. Other invitees reviewed the series to date: Dr Rose Dowsett of the World Evangelical Alliance, Revd Jacques Matthey, formerly programme at the World Council of Churches, Revd Dr Kenneth Ross of the Church of Scotland and Prof. Steve Bevans SVD of the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Rev. Andrew Anderson, Chair of the Edinburgh 2010 General Council and now Chaplain at OCMS led the worship. Bishop Graham Kings, Mission Theologian in the Anglican Communion, gave the closing address in which he quoted the Archbishop of Canterbury on new forms of mission for the digital age, and Revd. Canon John O’Toole, representing the Roman Catholic Church, closed the event with prayer.
The Series is published by Regnum Books International in the UK and Wipf and Stock in the USA. Dr. Wonsuk Ma, Executive Director of OCMS and one of the series editors stated, “we believe mission should not be expensive” therefore, “the series is made available through a world library programme and through electronic download to encourage further study and collaboration in mission”. Topics include Freedom of Belief; Global Diasporas; Mission at and from the Margins; Christian Communities in Global Societies; Ministry of Reconciliation; Authentic Discipleship; Christian Mission among Other Faiths; and Creation Care. For further information visit www.ocms.ac.uk/regnum/edinburgh.