Edinburgh Convention 2008

Seminars

1. ‘The Suffering Church’ - Wednesday 12.00noon
A recent estimate suggests that one in ten Christians worldwide live with persecution. The ‘other nine’, especially rich Christians of the West, have a Biblical duty to love, support and stand firm with our suffering brothers and sisters. This seminar will give up-to-date insights into the varied difficulties faced by the suffering Church across the globe, and the ways in which we can help our fellow believers through prayer, finances and campaigning for religious freedom.

2. ‘Effective Christian Work’ -  Wednesday 12.00noon
This seminar will look at some of the practical issues that everyone in Christian work encounters. It will be a personal view of what has helped me over the years. This will be an interactive session and those attending are invited to accept, reject or modify what they hear in relation to their own work. It will deal with things like ‘learning when to say no’,‘the importance of preparation’ and ‘making time for yourself’.

3.‘How is God Using Christian Literature around the World?’ - Thursday 12.00noon
In this seminar William MacKenzie will give insights into the many situations at home and abroad where God is using Christian literature in both evangelism and teaching and encouraging the Church. This seminar aims to help you think of ways you too can be part of this vital ministry.

4. ‘Understanding the Times’ - Thursday 12.00noon
We often have a stereotyped view of the ‘Missionary’ and world mission, perhaps coloured by our experience of missionary work several decades ago or more recent exposure to people’s perception of world mission. In today’s fast moving and constantly changing world, the challenge for both Church and missionary is to remain culturally relevant without jettisoning the essential values and message of the Christian Gospel. This seminar will identify the issues confronting mission and missionaries in the 21st century and the impact of these on the Church’s global mission.

5. ‘Helping the Bereaved to Cope Better’ - Friday 12.00noon
Bereavement, whether caused by loss through death or some other circumstance, can be a debilitating experience. This seminar looks at some of the issues involved and aims to help both sufferers and aspiring comforters.

6. ‘Communicating the Word of God in Contemporary Society’ - Friday 12.00noon
Our secular, post-modern, visually-driven, sound-bite culture has little appetite for God’s Word. The propositional truth of Scripture and preaching are regarded as ‘out of touch’, ‘out of date’. Of much more concern, however, are soundings and shifts in the ‘evangelical’ church, suggesting a loss of confidence. This seminar seeks to tackle the ‘cultural accessibility’ issue head on.

7. ‘Challenges Facing Tomorrow’s Church’ - Saturday 12.00noon
We live in strategic times. And strategic times need strategic thinking. Focusing on the likely challenges facing tomorrow’s Church lays important responsibilities on today’s Church to invest in the future. This seminar offers a broad perspective on some of the pressing issues today which will affect tomorrow’s Church.

8. ‘The Challenge of Pluralism’ - Saturday 12.00noon
Globalisation and increased immigration means that Christians in Britain are rubbing shoulders with adherents of other religions to an unprecedented degree. Advocates of multiculturalism and tolerance have argued that all religious viewpoints should be regarded as equally valid and worthy of respect. This seminar will address questions such as: Should we concede the arguments for religious pluralism? If not,how can the uniqueness of Jesus Christ and the exclusive claims of Christianity be defended? What constitutes a biblical response to contemporary pluralism?