Spirit and “Spirits” at the Canberra Assembly of the World Council of Churches, 1991

At the World Council of Churches Assembly in Canberra, Australia, in 1991, the theme of the Holy Spirit's presence and activity in creation led to discussion of “spirits,” stimulated particularly by the plenary presentation of Chung Hyun Kyung. The term was variously understood to refer to evil spirits in the New Testament tradition, the spirits of traditional religions, or as a metaphor for sociopolitical structures. The discussion caused considerable controversy and was dismissed by some as syncretistic. At the same time, it suggested a new framework for missiology in a plural world. In this paradigm discernment of spirits will be crucial.