The Council for World Mission (CWM) Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM) issued two public statements addressing urgent challenges affecting communities in the Pacific and Africa.
Adopted by delegates representing CWM’s global partnership of 36 member churches, the statements focus on the growing promotion of deep-sea mining in the Pacific and rising xenophobic violence against African migrants in South Africa. Both statements reflect the AMM theme, “Oceans of Hope: Envisioning Jubilee from the Pacific,” and affirm CWM’s commitment to justice, dignity, self-determination, and life-flourishing communities.
In its statement on deep-sea mining, the AMM warns against the industrialisation of the ocean floor and highlights the ecological, cultural, and spiritual risks posed to Pacific peoples and marine ecosystems. Delegates affirm that the Moana is not merely a resource for economic gain but a sacred inheritance that sustains identity, livelihood, and community life. The statement calls on governments and international bodies to uphold environmental protections, respect Indigenous rights, and ensure the free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities.
The second statement expresses concern over escalating violence and hostility directed at foreign nationals living in South Africa. Delegates lament the loss of life, displacement, and destruction caused by xenophobic attacks, describing such violence as contrary to both Christian teaching and the African value of Ubuntu. Churches are urged to promote peaceful coexistence, provide pastoral care to victims, and challenge narratives of exclusion and fear. The statement also calls on authorities to protect all residents and address the structural causes of social frustration and inequality.
Click here for the full statements:
Statement on Rising Social Tensions and Violence Against African Migrants in South Africa
