The long-awaited Conference on World Mission and Evangelism sponsored by the World Council of Churches (WCC) has commenced on Tuesday in Athens, Greece. It is expected to draw more than 500 Christian leaders and theologians in the world across denominational lines from evangelical movements to the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Church.

Gathered under the theme "Come, Holy Spirit, heal and reconcile", the delegates are called to reflect on the mission of reconciliation and healing driven not by man but by the Holy Spirit, in the churches and the world today.

In face of the warring churches due to the potential schism over homosexuality and women ordination, these issues will be addressed at the event, seeking to bring consensus and reconciliation between opposite opinions.

"In our globalised and fragmented world, filled with much division and conflict, the gospel message of healing and reconciliation is vital," says Rev. Ruth Bottoms, a Baptist pastor from the United Kingdom who will moderate the conference.

As a world Church to show Christian witness to all mankind, social issues such as efforts to assist AIDS sufferers and prevention work; the rise of radical religious groups and limits by some governments on Christian missionary work, will be addressed.

Alexander Belopopsky, a WCC spokesman said to New York Newsday.com that AIDS and HIV issues have become priorities for the WCC. "AIDS and HIV is a major human tragedy," he said.

In addition, New York Newsday.com reported that religious freedom is expected to be highlighted following the effort of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) at last month’s UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland. As one of the NGOs presented on the event, the WEA appeals for more than 200 million Christians worldwide who are being suppressed in their religious rights.

Other topics that could be raised at the conference include whether new Pope Benedict XVI will seek more substantial contacts with other Christian churches. In addition, delegates will seek to find ways to energise mainstream churches in the West that are facing shrinking congregations and competition from non-denominational movements.

This is the first time in the history a WCC Conference on World Mission and Evangelism has been held in an Orthodox context. Prior to the arrival of delegates, the hosting Church of Greece delivered a welcome message on Sunday 8th May.

"The Church of Greece wishes to sustain Greek hospitality to the international community and to offer the floor to WCC member churches for a fertile and creative exchange of missionary experiences," said the archbishop of Athens and All Greece, His Beatitude Christodoulos.

Christodoulos invited the WCC member churches "to explore Orthodox theology" and he affirmed it is "an historic event both for the Orthodox participation in the ecumenical movement and for the missionary movement".

Among the first ecumenical fruits of the conference at the local level has been the creation of a host committee in which the Church of Greece is joined by four other churches: Roman Catholic, Evangelical Church of Greece, Armenian Evangelical and Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Conference venue is the Agios Andreas Recreational Centre. It is situated 30 kilometres Northeast of Athens.

On Tuesday morning, a 4-metre-high wooden cross made of Olive wood from Jerusalem will arrive by boat at the beach near the venue to mark the beginning of the conference. Brought from the Middle East and received by representatives from the other regions of the world, it is intended as a symbol of reconciliation and healing as well as of churches standing in solidarity with Christians in the Middle East.

The Conference will be carried out in the format of daily plenary sessions. For the first time ever, these sessions will be broadcast live via the internet. Some other 70 workshops will offer participants opportunities to discuss a wide variety of issues in depth.

The last such conference by the WCC was in Brazil in 1996.