'New Global Realities' Challenge European Churches

European Churches have reaffirmed their commitment to mission, evangelism and unity in the face of "new global realities" at the recent Mission Consultation of the Conference of European Churches.

The consultation brought together 65 participants from 21 European countries and many different Christian traditions when it met in the Hungarian capital Budapest between 23 and 28 January.

Delegates united to explore the theme "Come, Holy Spirit, heal and reconcile in Europe - Illuminate the whole of humankind with the light of Christ", and concluded the consultation with a challenge to European churches issued in a "Letter from Budapest".

In the letter, the delegates said that there was a "new impulse to mission in Europe" while they also acknowledged that "new global realities" were challenging European Christians to rethink their theologies of mission.

"In response, we recommit ourselves to working together in mission, seeing the many issues that face us not as threats but as opportunities to see the glory of God displayed," the letter read.

At the Budapest gathering, delegates acknowledged fresh challenges to the churches of Europe posed by ongoing changes across the continent.

"We are called to take our European context and the changing landscape of Christianity seriously," they said, as they listed globalisation, increasing urbanisation, tensions in inter-religious relations and "great economic realities" as just some of the challenges facing the European church.

"In this time of transition, we are struggling to make sense of our faith anew amidst a plurality of worldviews," they said, adding that the recent emergence of migrant churches "contributes to the new shape of the church in Europe".

"In this situation, we invite you to join with us in a renewed commitment to mission and evangelism," they said.

The consultation delegates ended with a call to churches in Europe to engage in reconciliation and healing-orientated mission.