The CWME took note that the WCC will mark the end of its programmatic Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010) with an international ecumenical peace convocation in the spring of 2011, and a mission conference could pursue related topics. They also looked forward to the Tenth Assembly of the World Council of Churches, that most likely will be held in 2013 at a site yet to be determined. A world conference in late 2011 would allow the CWME to offer the WCC assembly a future-oriented agenda for ecumenical mission and evangelism.
Despite the churches' crowded calendars, there was little doubt that the CWME will sponsor a conference early in the next decade. The commission has a mandate to convene such a gathering between WCC assemblies; in addition, the Porto Alegre assembly of 2006 stressed the essential nature of mission and evangelism in the continuing quest for church unity.
Mission and Evangelism within the WCC
As the Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, a Methodist pastor from Kenya and general secretary of the WCC, reminded the CWME at its April meeting: "We have been commanded by our Lord Jesus Christ to go out and proclaim the gospel to everybody."
He also reported on the beginning of a dialogue between the WCC and the Vatican that aims to help establish an inter-religious "code of conduct" for Christian witness and conversions in a pluralistic world.
The WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism was created through a 1961 merger between the International Missionary Council (established following Edinburgh 1910) and the WCC. The 50th anniversary of the CWME will occur in 2011, another reason for holding a mission conference in that year.
Not all observers of the ecumenical movement have been convinced that the cause of Christian mission has been best served by the merger of 1961. A reorganization of WCC programmes in 2007 recognises the centrality of mission and evangelism to the life and goals of the World Council of Churches. This concern has been closely linked to the quest for Christian unity in the Faith and Order Commission, to common prayer and to the WCC's historic emphasis on the inclusive nature of Christian community, and together these key matters now are being addressed through the programme on "Unity, Mission, Evangelism and Spirituality". Jacques Matthey, a Swiss Reformed pastor with a strong background in missiology, brings a wealth of ecumenical experience to his new role as director of this programme.
The CWME chose as their moderator Bishop Geevarghese Mor Coorilos from India, and as their vice-moderator Dr Kirsteen Kim from the UK. The commission emphasised the importance of new work on evangelism, expressed eagerness to collaborate in the inter-religious process leading towards a code of conduct on conversions, to cooperate with the Faith and Order Commission on questions of mission and unity and in particular on the study document, The Nature and Mission of the Church, and to continue ecumenical work on health and healing consistent with the 2005 Athens mission conference's deliberations on the theme "Come, Holy Spirit - Heal and Reconcile: Called in Christ to be reconciling and healing communities". Members of the commission will remain in contact until their next meeting, slated for 2008 in Bangalore, India.
