John R. Mott, an American Methodist, presided at the 1910 Edinburgh Missionary Conference

Edinburgh 1910 was both the culmination of nineteenth-century missions and the formal beginning of modern ecumenism. Protestant denominations and missionary societies from around the world sent 1,200 representatives to Edinburgh, Scotland. John R. Mott, American Methodist and leader of the Student Volunteer Movement for foreign missions, was conference chair. The conferees took stock of the gains made since 1810 in evangelism, Bible translation, mobilizing church support, and training indigenous leaders. Looking to the future, conferees worked on strategies for worldwide evangelism and cooperation. The conference led to the founding of several ecumenical projects and agencies, including the World Council of Churches in 1948.