This week sees the opening of the Edinburgh 2010 Missionary Conference in Pollock Halls. It was one hundred years ago that the same conference was held in the General Assembly Hall on The Mound. Its remit then was to think strategically with other from around the world about sharing the Gospel and fulfill the great commission of Jesus to go into all the world and preach the gospel. The World Missionary Conference in 1910 drew together more than 1,200 Christians from various countries who were passionate about evangelising the world. Those who participated recognised the need to move beyond colonialism and to welcome the birth and maturing of independent and self-governing churches around the world. The Edinburgh 1910 Missionary Conference is often regarded by some to be the birthplace of the modern ecumenical movement. One thing it did do was to encourage co-operation and unity in the study and practice of mission, even if it was initially among the reformed churchesperhaps its greatest achievement was that it raised the vision of the Church to recognise its influence globally. Edinburgh was chosen in those days as a conference venue since Scotland had an importance in worldwide mission out of all proportion to its size. The country had produced some of the most celebrated figures in the modern missionary movement: Alexander Duff, David Livingstone and Mary Slessor, to name just a few. And it had established some of the most highly regarded centres of mission work, such as Lovedale in South Africa, Livingstonia in Malawi and the Scottish educational institutions in India. Some say that there is no passion left for World Mission in the church today. I'm not so sure. As I write I can think of the creative work the Vine Trust is involved with in Peru under the amazing leadership of my friend and colleague Willie McPherson. We are sending around 300 volunteers per year to be involved in medical work or practical building work. I can also think of Scottish Love in Action, working in India, brought about by the leadership of Gillie Davidson, a nurse who inspired young people in her congregation to make a difference. The list could go on and on. I'm meeting people everyday who want to make a difference. There are still individuals and congregations throughout Scotland engaging with the poor and seeking to help the needy. Sharing and preaching the gospel is often reintepreted in another way. A great deal of the old faith sharing passion has vanished as Scotland becomes a pluralist culture and the church in Scotland struggles to engage meaningfully with the implications of faith sharing. I think we talk less and try to live it out. Therein lies the danger. I think we need a balanced approach. I'm reminded of the quotation from the Apostle Peter in one of his epistles, he says, " Always be ready to give a reason for the hope that lies within you" . No one likes an over zealous loud mouth always trying to convert them, but there is a place whenthe opportunity presents itself to speak about jesus. All this means what was termed mission one hundred years ago may well be refined in different terms this time round at the Conference. One thing I hope they will not forget is that Christianity has at its centre a call to make disciples and to do anything less is to deny our identity. rememember Jesus called his first disciples to become 'fishers of men'. The make up of this week's conference will be quite different from that of 100 years ago. It will have a broader perspective on theology bringing together church leaders from across the theological divide. One hundred years on Orthodox and Roman Catholics, Baptists and Presbyterians, Anglicans and Lutherans, will all no doubt contribute to the discussions. It will be interesting to see and hear the outcomes. It is my hope that all those who write and contribute to the discussion and conversation will do so using language and ideas that will inspire the Church to rise to her full potential. Over the next few days I hope to visit the conference and make a few posts on the blog.