Bible scholars, mission theologians and mission leaders from around the world gathered in Bossey, Switzerland, over the weekend to draft a paper on mission ahead of Edinburgh 2010.

Thousands of Christians from across the denominational spectrum are expected to gather in Edinburgh next July for the conference, which marks the centenary of the 1910 World Missionary Conference.

In preparation for next year’s conference, groups of theologians have been given the task of exploring the original key themes of the 1910 conference, including ‘Christian mission among other faiths’, ‘Mission and post-modernity’, and ‘Foundations for mission’, which formed the focus of the Bossey meeting.

Research coordinator Dr Kirsteen Kim said authors of the Foundations for mission paper would draw on their own expertise as well as existing research by several ecumenical, evangelical and academic mission groups in the UK who have been exploring the motivation and justification for mission.

Conferences are being planned by other study groups. In July, theologians will meet in Bangalore for a pre-Edinburgh 2010 gathering on inter-faith relations.

Papers drafted by the groups are to be compiled in a pre-conference publication that will inform discussion at the Edinburgh conference and around the world throughout 2010.

Edinburgh 2010 is being coordinated by a broad council, which includes representatives of the World Council of Churches, the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation and the World Evangelical Alliance.