World Council of Churches -
News Release
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release:
10 May 2005
Where and when the Holy Spirit comes
Free photos available at
www.mission2005.org
About 700 representatives from churches and mission bodies from all over the world were advised to recognize that the presence of the Holy Spirit is not to be claimed by themselves, but acknowledged by their neighbours.
The 9-16 May Conference on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) opened this morning in Athens with two thematic presentations on the general theme "Come Holy Spirit, Heal and Reconcile".
The two complementary presentations were linked to the speakers' own traditions - more theological for the Presbyterian lecturer, Dr Kirsteen Kim from the UK, more narrative for the Pentecostal missionary, Dr Wonsuk Ma from South Korea. While Kim focused on the question of discernment of the Holy Spirit's presence and action, Ma mainly presented Pentecostal experiences through the history of the past 100 years.
Both Pentecostals and "historic" churches have much to learn from each other about their different views and traditions on this theme, Ma said. "As a 'new kid on the block,' Pentecostals have much to learn from the historic churches with their rich histories and traditions. At the same time, the rise of a new movement, particularly of the renewal type such as this, itself serves as God's reminder to his people of his missionary mandate to the world."
Recalling theological educator Stanley Samartha's words, Kim reminded participants that "the claim that the Spirit is with us is not ours to make; it is for our neighbours to recognize". This discernment is "a matter for ecumenical debate" she said, and "it requires wide horizons and humility".
Delegates to the World Council of Churches CWME conference from Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, Roman Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches or mission bodies are called to this humility, so as to recognize the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in all of them.
The
full text
of both presentations is available on the conference website at:
www.mission2005.org
> Resources> Speeches
Conference website:
www.mission2005.org
Additional information:
Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org
The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, from the Methodist Church in Kenya. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
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