A statement from the Third Lausanne Congress outlines six key reasons for meeting in Cape Town, and the survey asked leaders to choose which one they personally consider the most urgent.23 The most frequently cited reason is “the brokenness of our world” (35%). As explained by LCWE Executive Chair Doug Birdsall, this phrase refers to the need for Christians to serve as “agents of reconciliation” identifying “with the pain and suffering in the lives of individuals, families, communities and nations.”
About a fifth of leaders say that shifts in global Christianity (21%) and globalization (20%) are the most urgent reasons for holding the Congress.
Less frequently cited reasons include “the reality of Islam” (11%), “the impact of hedonism” (5%) and “the challenge of the new atheism” (5%).
Most of the leaders are optimistic that the Cape Town 2010 gathering “will make a significant contribution” to evangelical Christianity around the world. Overall, 44% of leaders say it definitely will do so, 49% say it probably will do so and just 6% think it will not make a significant contribution.
Leaders from the Global South are more certain than those from the Global North that the Congress will make a difference. Among leaders from the Global South, 57% say the Congress definitely will make a significant contribution; this compares with 27% among leaders from the Global North.
Footnotes:
23 See www.lausanne.org/cape-town-2010/why-cape-town-2010.html. (return to text)
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