More than 1,000 evangelicals and missionaries from the World Council of Churches' conference on world mission and evangelism (CWME) have issued a 'Call to Discipleship' warning of 'death-dealing forces' and the 'shocking accumulation of wealth' in the world today.
The Christians from different traditions around the world, who had gathered in Arusha, Tanzania, for the conference, said in a statement: 'Despite some glimmers of hope, we had to reckon with death-dealing forces that are shaking the world order and inflicting suffering on many. We observed the shocking accumulation of wealth due to one global financial system, which enriches few and impoverishes many.'
The statement added that millions of people are being marginalised by the 'global imperial system' which had 'made the financial market one of the idols of our time and has strengthened cultures of domination and discrimination'.
The call said that 'we are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ – the fullness of life, the repentance and forgiveness of sin, and the promise of eternal life – in word and deed, in a violent world in which many are sacrificed to the idols of death and many have not yet heard the gospel'.
The statement, issued on the final day of the CWME which ran from March 8-13, came under the umbrella ofthe World Council of Churches which includes many Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant denominations.
Though the Catholic Church is not a member, Pope Francis sent a message to the conference endorsing its theme, 'Moving in the Spirit: Called to Transforming Discipleship'. The pope said that it 'powerfully reminds us that the Lord's mandate to bring the gospel to all people is not a matter of power and influence in the world. Rather, it is a pressing call to discipleship which manifests itself in unfailing love of neighbour, whoever that may be. By transforming people, beginning with each one of us, the gospel transforms the world.'
Francis continued: 'I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill your hearts with the joy of the Gospel, the Good News of salvation in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. To evangelise is to offer a convincing witness to this extraordinary truth. I pray that the Conference will remind Christians of the magnificent, unique and challenging responsibility we have to share this transforming message. God's word is unimaginable in its power. The Gospel speaks of a seed which, once sown, grows by itself, even as the farmer sleeps.'
Meanwhile, in a video message to the CWME, the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said that there was 'no question about the importance of world mission and evangelism'. He went on: 'Everybody is talking about transformation... And I know in my own life, the biggest transformation is to be born again. That's the truth. And it is the Holy Spirit who does that. It is not us. We can't twist people's arms to it. We can't make it happen: it is the Holy Spirit moving who does that.'
The Anglican Communion's director for mission, Rev Canon John Kafwanka, organised a meeting for Anglican Communion delegates, with the archbishops of Tanzania and Kenya.
He told the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS): 'Many people said that they felt a high sense of hope especially that many leaders, particularly in the Anglican Communion, had realised the need to take intentional discipleship as central to being church and being Christian.
'It has been a remarkable experience being here and sensing the moving the world of the Holy Spirit sweeping across the world calling the whole people of God to live a Jesus shaped life that transforms communities, nations and the world, and for continuous equipping of whole people of God.'
