A meeting described as the most diverse Christian gathering in recent history has decided that the experience was so profound that further such meetings in its particular style of faith sharing and deep listening should take place at regional, national and international levels.

In a final message the second Global Christian Forum (GCF), meeting in Manado, Indonesia from 4 -7 October said building such an open space "is a helpful model for building authentic Christian relationships in every place" the message said.

Those present at Manado included church leaders from Anglican, Charismatic, Evangelical, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Protestant, Roman Catholic, African Instituted, mega churches and contemplative communities. 
Coming together in unprecedented numbers and variety, the leaders represented 12 world Christian communions and 9 global ecumenical organizations.

Across their diversity the participants decided to continue the task of building trust but to take the next step and confront pressing issues: "We have heard the Spirit calling us not only to continue to foster respect for one another but now also to move forward together exploring and addressing common challenges", the message said.

People from the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance and the Pentecostal World Fellowship, sat sit side by side with national councils of churches, evangelical organizations and mega church leaders from around the world.

The Vatican was represented through representative of the Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity.

The meeting involved four days of faith sharing, discussion and trust building between groups of Christians, many of whom rarely meet together, but which was as wide and as varied as global Christian faith itself.

This was the second such GCF gathering, the first being held in Kenya in 2007.

Importantly, the membership of the forum reflected the dramatic demographic and theological shifts in world Christianity.

The last two decades has seen the majority of Christians coming from in the ‘global south’, while much institutional strength for traditional Christianity remains in Europe and North America, but with declining church attendances.

In what some called ‘relational ecumenism’ the forum gathered around the theme ‘Together in Jesus Christ; empowered by the Holy Spirit and focused most directly on the question, ‘What is the Spirit saying to the churches?’

In a final message, agreed to by consensus, the delegates believed that the GFC provided an open space as a “gift of God” and that the process should continue at regional, national and international levels.
The GCF also decided to keep its non-institutionalized structure, being run by a small mainly voluntary committee with minimum staff.

Guidelines given to the GCF committee said participants value the opportunity to take concrete steps toward a greater experience of Christian unity without abandoning theological distinctiveness and traditional identities.

 “We believe that this recognition of sharing in God’s mission must be manifested at the local level, as well, and that the expansion of the GCF via regional, national, and local forums could improve our understanding of unity.”

In the final session the local Indonesian church, concretized their experience of the GCF by launching their own Indonesian Christian Forum, which contained Pentecostal, Evangelical, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches as well as the traditional ecumenical organization for Indonesian Christians, the Indonesian Community of Churches.

The GCF gathering also saw Rev Dr Larry Miller introduced as the new Secretary to the GCF. He will take up his position in January 2012 following in the footsteps of Hubert van Beek, who has been a strong force in nurturing the concept and formative gatherings of the GCF. He will re-enter retirement at the end of the year.

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