World Council of Churches opens mission, evangelism conference

Published: 2005-05-10

ATHENS, Greece (CNS) -- In an increasingly secularized world, where most communities reflect a mix of religious and cultural traditions, missionary activity must rely primarily on humble witness, said the head of the Orthodox Church of Greece. Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens and all Greece welcomed some 700 participants to Athens May 10 for the weeklong Conference on World Mission and Evangelism sponsored by the World Council of Churches. Although the Roman Catholic Church is not a member of the council, it sent an official 25-member delegation of observers. Bishop Brian Farrell, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, led the delegation, which included members of the WCC-Catholic Church Joint Working Group and officials from the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the pontifical councils for interreligious dialogue, health care and migration.

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