Participants at the Patmos Global Summit for Bible engagement have established the “Patmos Commitment,” a formal affirmation of the essential role sacred Scripture plays within faith, ministries and churches.
The commitment emphasizes that for individuals to truly engage with Scripture, it must be available in a format and language they can understand. Participants acknowledged a “unique moment in history” where the possibility of Bible access is approaching a global scale for the first time.
Defining Bible Engagement
The Patmos Commitment describes Bible engagement as a lifelong journey. This process involves interacting with, reflecting on, and understanding Scripture personally, contextually, and communally to encounter the risen Christ.
According to the commitment, this journey allows individuals to grow in the knowledge of God and be transformed into the likeness of Christ. Participants have pledged to take active steps to articulate the mission tasks and Bible engagement framework developed during the summit.
Global Research and Representation
The summit utilized data from the Patmos survey to establish a new understanding of how people relate to the Bible. The research covered diverse cluster groups, including the Sahel, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Latin America, the Philippines, and sub-Saharan Africa, among others.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) played a significant role in the proceedings. The WCC delegation served on the Visionary Steering Committee, led workshops, conducted prayers, and participated as panelists.
Key members of the WCC delegation included Marianne Ejdersten, director of communication; Rev. Karen Erina Puimera, a youth member of the WCC executive committee and moderator of the commission Young People in the Ecumenical Movement; Rev. Dr Mery Kolimon, a WCC central committee member; and Rev. Dr Henriette Hutabarat-Lebang, WCC president from Asia and president of the Indonesian Bible Society.
Historical Roots and Future Outlook
The vision for the summit is rooted in events from 2,000 years ago on the island of Patmos, where seven letters were written to churches in seven different contexts to reveal insights into their spiritual conditions.
Organizers hope that the audience and missiological insights gained from the Patmos survey could shape a shared framework for mission. This shared imagination may enable future collaboration and innovation, which could potentially allow the entire world to encounter the Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary goal of the Patmos Commitment?
The commitment affirms the life-giving role of sacred Scripture and emphasizes that the Bible must be accessible in understandable languages and formats for people to encounter and engage with it.
What was the scale of the Patmos survey?
Produced in 89 languages, the survey analyzed 150 countries and encountered 91,000 people in partnership with Gallup.
What role did the WCC delegation play at the summit?
The delegation served on the Visionary Steering Committee, participated as panelists, and led workshops and prayers.
How do you think accessibility and language impact a person’s spiritual journey?
