World church leaders head for the Capital

HUNDREDS of senior religious leaders from across the world are to meet in Edinburgh next year to commemorate the 1910 World Missionary Conference.

The five-day, multi-denominational summit will take place between 2 and 6 June at the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall on the Mound and Pollock Halls on Holyrood Park Road.

Among the 250 attendees will be the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who will deliver a keynote address, along with figures from the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical and Pentecostal churches.

It is hoped new perspectives for the Christian mission for the 21st century will emerge from the event.

Reverend Andrew Anderson, chairman of the Edinburgh 2010 General Council, said: "This is a complex and challenging event to organise, given the wide range of representation from the world church, but it is immensely exciting, and we have received already the kind of worldwide support and commitment that promises to make it really successful.

"All eyes will be on Scotland and Edinburgh next June."