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”.