North American Academy of Ecumenists

The Next 100 Years

New and Renewed Strategies
for the Ecumenical Mission

The Centenary of the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh 1910, the onset of the modern ecumenical movement, is an introspective moment for many who are seeking direction for Christian mission in the 21st century. Based on a critical assessment of the status of the world, a new vision of God's purposes for creation in Christ, a renewed spirituality and mission ethos need to be developed in the life of the churches worldwide.

This Montreal conference will explore ways of witnessing to Christ while acknowledging the religious plurality in a secular society. What is the meaning of "world evangelisation" today? How do we bear witness to the uniqueness of Jesus in a multi-religious world?

These and related questions will be explored in presentations from Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Independent perspectives. Participants will have the opportunity to offer insights from their own traditions in small group discussions and open dialogue.

Register for the Meeting using the Menu Conferences.

FRIDAY EVENING, September 24

“A Century of Ecumenical Engagement: The Legacy of Edinburgh 1910”

Rev. Dr. Thomas F. Best

Former Director and staff member, Faith and Order Commission
   of the World Council of Churches (1984-2007)
former Director, Institut zur Erforschung des Urchristentums
   (Institute for the Study of Christian Origins), Tübingen, Germany

Mission is integral to the nature and life of the Church. But what does this mean in the 21st century, in an era when the “old” world seems to be abandoning the Gospel in favor of secularism? We need urgently an ecumenical mission practice which would call the churches to new levels of mutual accountability and practical acts of common mission.

SATURDAY MORNING, September 25

“Secularization: Challenges to Christianity”

Dr. Gregory Baum

Professor Emeritus of Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University, Montreal
Former Editor of The Ecumenist (1962-2004)

The separation of church and state is widening rapidly in Western society. In the name of progress, secularization and hyper-individualism have become the objective. In a society that welcomes and protects immigrants and their religious cultures through a Charter of Rights, is Christianity still accorded the same benefit?

“The Orthodox Engagement in Ecumenism”

Hegumen Philip Riabykh

Vice-Chairman, Department of External Church
Relations, Moscow Patriarchate, Moscow

How does the Patriarchate envision its role in interchurch dialogue, and with other Orthodox? How important are relations with other World Religions?

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, September 25

Panel Reflections: Ecumenical Implications…

• …Councils of Churches
Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton
   Secretary General, Canadian Council of Churches
• …Academia
Dr. Daniel Cere
   Assistant Professor of Religion, Ethics and Law
   Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University, Quebec
   Director of the Institute for the Study of Marriage Law and Culture
   Co-director of the Newman Institute of Catholic Studies
Rev. Dr. Gilles Routhier
   Professor of Theology
   Faculty of Theology & Religious Science
   Université Laval, Quebec
• …Bilateral Dialogues
Rev. Dr. Peter Galadza
   Professor of Liturgy, Faculty of Theology
   Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies
   Saint Paul University, Ottawa

SATURDAY EVENING BANQUET, September 25

“Witnessing the Ecumenical Future Together”

Dr. Margaret O’Gara, Banquet Speaker
Professor of Theology,
Faculty of Theology, University of St. Michael's College, Toronto

What does the future hold for Christians? Are we on the verge of an ecumenical spring? Will the Christian message have greater impact on the world? Is our sense of mission up to the challenge?

SUNDAY MORNING, September 26

"Unity and Mission in 2010: The Changing Face of Global Christianity"

Dr. Catherine E. Clifford
Associate Professor of Systematic and Theology
and Vice Dean in the Faculty of Theology, Saint Paul University, Ottawa

In the past century the changing consciousness of global Christianity has had a profound impact on the way in which the churches understand their place in the world. The paper will attempt to sketch some of the significant developments in the understanding of the mission and identity of the Church of Christ since Edinburgh, 1910, and their implications in the search for Christian unity.

The conferences will be presented mostly in English. All speakers are bilingual; questions and discussions are welcome in both languages.

A complete information package will be mailed to you upon receipt of confirmed registration.