A plea to cease the unique world opportunity

The first duty of a World Missionary Conference meeting at such an auspicious time is to consider the present world situation from the point of view of making the Gospel known to all men, and to determine what should be done to accomplish this Christ-given purpose…It is earnestly hoped thatthe way may be pointed to a more scientific study of the fields and problems, and, above all, that enough may have been done to impress the Church with the unprecedented urgency of the situation, and to create a sense of deep solicitude as to the grave consequences that must ensue if the present unique world opportunity be not improved.

Introductory note to the Commission One: “Carrying the Gospel to all the Non-Christian World”, Edinburgh 1910

 

Commission 1: Carrying the gospel to the Non Christian World

Of the Eight Commissions at Edinburgh 1910, Commission One dealth with “Carrying the Gospel to all the Non-Christian World”. The Commission was chaired by John R Mott, General Secretary of the World’s Student Christian Federation, New York.

The Report of the comission was divided into four parts.

1. The opportunity and urgency of carrying the Gospel to all the Non-Christian world.
2. Survey of the non-Christian world.
3. Factors in carrying the Gospel to all the Non-Christian world;
4. Findings.

V.S. Azariah and the Spirit of Nationalism

Why did V. S. Azariah speak what he did at Edinburgh 1910? Every one is a product of his social location/s. About this time,the spirit of nationalism found its expression among Indian-Christian leaders. Boyd contends, ” Meanwhile a strong feeling had arisen among Indian Christians that work of evangelism should not be left to only foreign organizations, with the result that in 1903 the Indian Missionary Society (IMS) of Tinnelveli was founded under the leadership of V.S. Azariah and A.J. Appasamy while in 1905 came the foundation of the National Missionary Society (NMS) of India, both of them staffed and supported entirely from within India. (Robin Boyd, Indian Christian Theology, p. 87 -88). It is no surprise that V.S. Azariah spoke of indigenous efforts at the International Arena.

Breaking the walls of division

At Edinburgh 1910, there was a spirit of voluntarism. Any and every wall of division was taken care. Of particular interest is how Edinburgh 1910 dealt with the divisions of denominationalism. First, they did not focus on theology explicitly. Secondly,  they decided to bury their denominational identities (as far as possible). Up to the time of the Edinburgh Conference in 1910 even prominent leaders of the Church took part in the growing Ecumenical Movement only as individuals and not as representatives of the churches.

Study Commissions and Edinburgh 1910

About eight study commissions were organized for Edinburgh 1910. Among the eight, three commissions of the Edinburgh conference had a special bearing on the growth of the ecumenical movement in the global South.

• The first Commission was carrying the Gospel to all the Non-Christian world.
• The second commission, “ The Church in the Mission field” stressed the development of what later were called the younger churches. The purpose was clearly to bring self-governing, self supporting churches in every field.
• The eighth commission directly dealt with “ Co-operation and promotion of Unity”.

It would be well worth to read the commission reports