The Mission of God Consultation Programme
Monday 2 September
1715 – 1845 Cheese and Wine reception at St. Vlash Monastery
1900 – 2130 Opening Reception and Dinner
Welcome address by His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios on behalf of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania. Response by Mrs. Grace Mathews Vice Chair of the Lausanne Movement. Welcome to Albania by Pastor Ali Kurti President of the Evangelical Allliance of Albania (VUSH). Presentation “The Miracle of Albania”. Performance by the Albania Youth Choir
Tuesday 3 September
0800-0830 Bible Study Groups
0930-1115 Plenary Session Why are we here?
His Grace Bishop Angaelos and Mrs. Grace Mathews will introduce the theme of the consultation and set out the challenges that face us.
Our Vision of Mission
His Beatitude Archbishop Anastasios and Dr. Darrell Jackson will present an Orthodox and an Evangelical vision of Christian mission. This will be followed by a brief period of plenary discussion but the main opportunity for discussion will be in groups later in the morning.
1145-1245 Group Discussion
1500-1645 Plenary Session Four Cameos of Mission Praxis
Four of our participants will describe what Christian mission looks like in their contemporary context.
1715-1845 My journey in mission
Participants meet in their Bible Study groups (see Pg. 19) to share with each other their own personal journey as a ‘Christ carrier’, those called to be His witnesses, to give an ‘account of the hope that is within you’ – your journey in mission.
2015-2115 Regional Group meetings
Wednesday 4 September
0800-0830 Bible Study Groups
0930-1115 Plenary Session Facing Hard Issues : Proselytism and Canonical Territory
Dr. Kostake Milkov and Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky will present Orthodox and Evangelical insights into these difficult issues. This will be followed by a brief period of plenary discussion but the main opportunity for discussion will be in groups later in the morning.
1145-1245 Group Discussion
1500-1615 Hope and Collaboration
We will hear a report of a joint Orthodox/Evangelical mission programme in Egypt during June 2013
Rev. Dr. Parush Parushev and Fr. Martin Ritsi will then make a presentation on the challenges, opportunities and resources for Orthodox/Evangelical collaboration in mission.
1730-1900 Meeting with Evangelical Leaders in Tirana
During the evening we will meet with many of the Evangelical church leaders in Albania and hear from them about their mission experience. This visit is designed to both inform our more formal consultation sessions and to provide informal time for our discussions together. During this evening visit we are invited to join Evangelical leaders in prayer and worship in an Evangelical Church
Thursday 5 September
0800-0830 Bible Study Groups
0930-1115 Plenary Session Are you hearing what I’m saying?
* Rooted in Tradition and Grounded in Scripture
* Justification/Salvation/Theosis
Dr. James Stamoolis and Dr. Brad Nassif will present Evangelical and Orthodox understandings in these two areas of theology and suggest how we might hear and understand each other better. This will be followed by a brief period of plenary discussion but the main opportunity for discussion will be in groups later in the morning.
1145-1245 Group Discussion
1500-1730 Plenary and Discussion Groups Where next?
This plenary session will be led by the LOI Core Group and chaired by our co-chairs Mrs. Grace Mathews and His Grace Bishop Angaelos. We will also hear by video from Mr Doug Birdsall, former Executive Chair of Lausanne, who initiated the LOI process. Our task during this afternoon (in plenary and in groups) will be to determine what actions are possible and desirable as a follow up to this consultation.
1500-1545 Plenary Session
1545-1615 Discussion Groups in Regional Groups
1645-1730 Concluding Plenary
1800-2130 Reception for Local Orthodox and Evangelical Church Leaders
We will attend Orthodox Vespers at the Orthodox Cathedral in Tirana and then gather with local church leaders at a nearby venue for a Reception and Dinner.
Friday 6 September
0830-10.00 Orthodox Liturgy
Departures
