Following my first post on the UK Lausanne meeting, we then went on to look at how we as delegates prepare for Cape Town 2010.

Cape Town 2010 Statement

Firstly we looked at what the expected outcome from the conference will be.  The hope is to have a statement at the end of the conference which builds on the existing Lausanne Covenant and the Manila Manifesto, and whilst there is no need to re-write them, we do need to look at how we clarify and develop them.

The final statement is likely to have two parts based around the Greatest Command, and the priorities for evangelism:

1. For the Lord we love our commitment of faith – a confession of sin but also confession of faith, and then from that a commitment; this will be sent in advance to all delegates.
2. For the world we serve our commitment to action – a group of 8 senior theologians will seriously seek to listen in advance and during the conference and then attempt to articulate the key challenges and priorities for the church.

How do we prepare

• Identifying key people: in our country, our constituency (in my case youth ministry and youth work) and in our small group.
• Out of this identifying key ways of networking and preparing.
• Reading up on Lausanne and the areas of discussion.
• Ask your network what it is they want to be discussed, what questions they’d like to hear answers to.

What happens next?

• Informed – we’ll be inspired through a global understanding of the church and mission.
• Involved – we’ll see development of new networks and life-long partnerships and friendships.
• Ideas – we’ll be challenged to think in new ways leading to more creativity within the UK-based church.