AN INVITATION TO PRAYER

EUROPEAN MISSION CONFERENCE

Living the Story of Christ - Mission in Europe Today

26 - 31 October 1999

Amersfoort, The Netherlands

PRESS RELEASE

EUROPEAN MISSION CONFERENCE: RENEWED VISION AND HOPE

A REPORT

"We have been challenged to rethink and to move forward in mission with renewed vision and hope." That was the conclusion of the participants to the first European Mission Conference, held in Amersfoort, the Netherlands, from 26-30 October 1999. The approx. 60 participants, for the greater part under 40 years of age, came to Amersfoort from all over Europe, at the invitation of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the European Evangelical Missionary Alliance (EEMA), the Council for World Mission (CWM) and the (national) Mission Councils in Europe. It was for the first time that such a conference had been organised, to concentrate on the missionary challenge in Europe. It was also for the first time that evangelicals and ecumenicals, Catholics and Orthodox co-operated to bring about this concentration on mission. The theme of the conference was

"Living the story of Christ- Mission in Europe Today"

The aim of the meeting was not so much to develop new declarations but it was oriented towards an exchange of stories and experiences between those engaged in mission from different European countries.

To start the debate, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Serafim gave his vision on the role of mission in Europe. The metropolitan, himself based in Germany and responsible for the work of his Church in seven West European countries, indicated clearly what the centre of Christian mission is: the risen Christ. But he also underlined how important it is that the 'missionary' (that is everyone who is publicly living the story of Christ!) has to be a person full of faith and love: heart and mind both have to be evenly engaged in mission! He warned against divisions among Christians. An attitude of competition ('proselytism') is incompatible with true Christian love.

Ms. Berit Schelde Christensen, from Denmark, also indicated that a new vision for mission in Europe can only be realised if we are willing to work together "face to face - heart to heart - fully present." Too often, the difference in confessional and cultural background on the continent brings to mind words such as danger, suspicion, fight or fear. "We need to be converted - to dare let go of our fear and making space for curiosity. These are my hopes - for myself, for you and our churches: -that we will continue to experience new aspects of God - that we may live and share our faith, and that we will have courage, hope and a deep urge to live", Ms.Christensen told the conference. She also warned against the negative sides of globalisation: "Make life better for the poor!"

On three consecutive days participants were engaged by Bible studies, led by Rev. Ermal Kirby, United Kingdom. He showed what he had discovered as the priorities for mission today in Europe. First, it should be a diversified mission. Rev. Kirby indicated four different models, stemming from the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 15: the rescue model, the recovering/restoring model, the receiving model and the re-education model. A different model for mission has to be applied for each time and in each situation. These Bible studies brought up so many reflections in the conference, that the programme had to be altered in order to make more room for discussion on this point.

In different working groups, the participants then discussed the sub-themes:
  Mission in Europe Today ­ Engaging with Our Culture
  Mission in Europe Today ­ Living the Gospel in a Multifaith Society
  Mission in Europe Today ­ The Challenge of Divided Christianity

There, the stories about the situation back home, about the missionary character of the participants own church, about hope and despair, were told. These groups finally created a proposal for prayer to the churches in Europe (see attached "Invitation for prayer"). Other catchwords that emerged from the working groups were: freedom -mandate -engagement -plurality -sending -Christ the fountain.

The rare written reflection on mission that was brought to the conference was the first draft of a new mission statement, "Mission makes sense", now being prepared by the Conference of European Churches. Rather than formulate amendments to this statement, participants began their own reflections on what mission meant in their own context.

An important feature of this meeting was the worship life creatively led by the Rev. Philip Woods, United Kingdom, and Mr. Arnold van Heusden, the Netherlands. The public closing worship, took place in the Janskerk in Utrecht, and featured the play entitled "Conflict in Corinth" by the Pentecostal scholar Prof. Walter Hollenweger, Switzerland.

EUROPEAN MISSION CONFERENCE

Living the Story of Christ - Mission in Europe Today

26 - 31 October 1999

Amersfoort, The Netherlands

AN INVITATION TO PRAYER
from the participants of the European Mission Conference

Touching, seeing, walking, sending, proclaiming, involving, praying, healing, sharing, weeping,- this is the mission Christ's way!

We have interacted and have been challenged to look at God's mission through the three themes that form the core of the context in which we are called to live this mission - our complex cultures; our multifaith society (context) and the divided state of our churches.

We have been challenged to rethink and to move forward in mission with renewed vision and hope. This challenge calls for unity among churches, commitment to the gospel, respect for other faiths and constant awareness of the implications of our cultures.

Through the stories we shared we realised how complex mission is and that it can only be possible in the power of the Spirit received through constant communion with God through Christ. This calls for constant prayer. So we invite you to join us in our prayer:

Lord, our God,
whose power is beyond compare,
whose glory is beyond understanding,
whose mercy is boundless,
whose love for us is everlasting:
look upon us; help us to bring your light to the world.

Our Creator and Sustainer,
we bring before you our painful situation of the divided Church.
Give us peace, stability for the holy Church of God
and unity for all of them.
We pray for Christians all over the world
to be tolerant and helpful in unity.
Please give us courage and love to serve everyone who is in need.
Jesus Christ, our Saviour,
you came to this world full of wonder and beauty
but also a world of misunderstanding, violence and persecution,
even on religious grounds.
Inspire us here and now to enrich our common humanity
by seeking peace,
pursuing justice,
and comforting those who suffer.

Holy Spirit,
We thank you that your love in Christ
has touched the cultures and peoples of Europe in many ways.
Today we bring before you
the painful divisions
and situations of greed and inhumanity
on our continent.
These contradict your loving purposes.
We pray that you, Holy Spirit,
will transform us
to be a living symbol of your communion and peace.

Lord,
may you be glorified
in all that we seek to do.
In the name of Christ we pray.

Amersfoort, October 30, 1999