Global Connections represents the Lausanne Movement in the UK, in conjunction with the Evangelical Alliance UK.
In October 2010, the third Lausanne congress met in Cape Town. This Congress was run in association with the WEA and brought together over 4,000 Christian leaders from 198 nations from all over the world in order to reflect upon and discuss key issues relating to seeing God at work in the world. In addition many other took part through the 650 GlobaLink sites in 91 countries.
The morning Biblical reflections were based on the study of Ephesians. The biblical reflections, morning plenaries, afternoon workshops and evening celbrations are all available to view on the Cape Town 2010 website.
Each day had a theme - truth, reconciliation, world faiths, priorities, integrity and partnership. On the theme of reconciliation, Shadia Qubti (Palestinian) and Dan Sered (Jewish Israeli) discussed Jewish-Palestinian reconciliation.
On the theme of integrity, Chris Wright, International Director of Langham Partnership International, challenged the Congress to confront the idols of power and pride, popularity and success, and wealth and greed. He called the Church to repentance and simplicity.
On the last day, Patrick Fung, Director of OMF international, spoke about the inadequacy of many partnerships which were based on power rather than equilibrium in understanding diversity in unity.
There are also a wide range of blogs and reports about the Congress. One such blog by Mel Lawrenz's makes the comment: Perspective–real, incisive, and global–is what we need. And it will take time, and grace, to get it.” A report from Agape tells of some of the moving stories shared at the Congress.
The Congress closed with a ringing call to action. The Cape Town Commitment is a declaration of belief and a call to action, standing in the historic tradition of The Lausanne Covenant, which issued from the 1974 Congress, held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The WEA have said: "We urge you to prayerfully read this document. We are urging all our members to distribute this document widely for serious reflection and stimulation”. The document is available for free download and will be published in booklet form as part of the Didasko Files series.
For further information about how some of the issues from Lausanne will be taken forward in the UK, contact Sandy Morgan.
