Scottish Churches prepare for World Mission Conference

A broad partnership of Scottish churches will welcome 300 delegates from over 60 countries for the Edinburgh 2010 conference from 2 to 6 June.

The conference is the culmination of an international and multi-denominational study process inspired by the transformational 1910 World Missionary Conference, also held in Edinburgh.

Since 2007, across the world, several hundred theologians and mission experts have worked together to identify and to discuss the crucial topics in Christian mission in the 21st century.

"This unique global conversation will both inform future mission practice and stimulate further mission studies," said Dr Kirsteen Kim, Study Process Coordinator of Edinburgh 2010.

The high-profile mission summit is being hosted by New College of the University of Edinburgh, and funded by over 30 international churches and mission organisations from the Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Evangelical Christian traditions.

In Scotland, representatives of the major denominations and church groups, including the Baptist Union, Church of Scotland, Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, Salvation Army, Scottish Episcopal Church, United Free Church of Scotland, and the Evangelical Alliance are working closely together to support the international project.

In April 2010, Brother Stephen Smyth was seconded by ACTS (Action of Churches Together in Scotland) to help coordinate conference arrangements in the run-up to the sessions which commence on 2 June.

The Edinburgh 2010 conference will take place in Pollock Halls. On 6 June the conference will conclude with a celebratory service in the Church of Scotland General Assembly Halls on the Mound, the historical venue of the 1910 conference. Organisers expect 1,200 visitors from all over the world.

Guest preacher at this service will be the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu.

The final celebrations will be live streamed to an international audience on the project website www.edinburgh2010.org.