Toolkits for discipleship -The vocation and mission of the whole people of God

Second Theological Conference of the Porvoo Communion convenes in Skálholt, Iceland

Delegates are today (Thursday 23rd September) gathering in Iceland for the second theological conference of the Porovoo Communion - a family of churches encompassing the four Anglican Churches of Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England, and eight Nordic and Baltic Churches (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithauania) as well as the Spanish Episcopal Reformed Church and the Lusitanian Church (Portugal). The purpose of the Porvoo communion is to draw the Churches involved into a new and closer relationship for the sake of greater unity and more effective mission.

A Theological conference is arranged by the Porvoo Communion every four years. The conference beginning today, entitled Toolkits for Mission, will feature papers from such eminent theologians as:

• Canon Professor Grace Davie, England, who will present the opening paper outlining the patterns of religion in Northern Europe at the start of the twenty-first century
• Rev Professor Carl Reinhold Bråkenhielm, Sweden, who will be speaking on "Church Values and Popular Culture"
• Prebendary Dr Paul Avis, England, who will present a paper on the relation between mission and ministry
• Rev Professor Heikki Kotila, Finland, who will speak on "New Ways of Reaching Post-Modern Society"
• Rev Erling Pettersen, Norway, who argues that Christian Vocation must be rooted in the family

The 40 or so delegates will also be afforded an opportunity to see mission and ministry in action in the local Icelandic church with visits to Selfoss and an opportunity to explore the question of "what tools does the church need to give to modern people?". The delegates will also have an opportunity of seeing something of the history and culture of Iceland with visits to a Viking farm and Hekla.

The Bishop of Iceland, Rt. Rev. Karl Sigurbjörnsson will welcome delegates to Iceland at an opening Eucharist to be celebrated in Reykjavik's Hallgrimskirkja in Reykjavik at 17:30 this evening.

END Thursday 23rd September 2004