Ecumenical Patriarchate Permanent Delegation to the World Council of Churches
The Conference on World Mission and Evangelism,
organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) with the theme “Moving
in the Spirit: Called to Transforming Discipleship,” has started on 8
March 2018, gathering representatives of mainline Protestant, Orthodox,
Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal, and African-instituted
Churches.
In his opening remarks, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr
Olav Fykse Tveit reflected that this conference is a milestone in modern
church history. “I believe that God is reminding us particularly in our
time of what is the force driving the mission of church.” Tveit added
“It is the love of God, expressed in the love of Jesus Christ through
his life, crucifixion and resurrection, bringing salvation and
reconciliation to the world. We should be stamped by the words of the
Apostle Paul: “The love of Christ urges us on” (2 Cor 5:14).” He
continued: “In our reflections these days about where the Spirit is
moving us as disciples of Jesus Christ today and tomorrow, we see
ourselves in a world in desperate need of peaceful and just patterns of
living together as one humanity in the one, vulnerable creation of God.”
In a video message
to the conference Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said “Despite all
of the past challenges and hardships experienced by the African
continent, we find ourselves today surrounded by a vibrant African
community dancing and singing in the joy of the resurrection, marching
onward on the rythm of the Holy Spirit in celebration of Humanity’s
emancipation”.