The newly-elected Board of Directors of the Council for World Mission (CWM) met from 2-3 September.
The Board, meeting largely via video conference, appointed members for CWM subcommittees and elected a Singapore-based Director. In addition, the meeting also served as an orientation and onboarding exercise for the fresh leadership team.
Present for the meeting alongside CWM General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum and CWM staff were new CWM Moderator Dr Natalie Lin; and new Treasurer Mr James Ronnie Kaboke.
United in spirit, recognising God’s calling
CWM Moderator Dr Natalie Lin opened the 2-day meeting with a short, informal worship segment with three hymns and a sharing of God’s message taken from Ephesians 4:1-3 and 23-24.
Lin’s sharing touched on the importance of being united through the Holy Spirit, casting away one’s old self, putting on a new self, renewing one’s spiritual attitudes, and clearly visioning God’s calling.
“God calls everyone to Him but His calling to each one of us is different. Our lives should be spent in pursuit of understanding what that calling really is and live a life that is consistent to it,” said Lin, who reflected that Paul chose to see his imprisonment as his calling as he wrote the letter to the Ephesians.
She exhorted the new Board to meditate and ruminate over the message while forging a new path for CWM.
“Since we, as Christians, have received a new life in Christ Jesus, it behoves us to bring others around us to the same relational understanding of God’s love through our renewed outlooks, attitudes, and works.”
Getting the Directors up to speed
CWM General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum was also on hand to give the new Board an overview of the various processes and structures of the organisation. He also outlined the many functions and responsibilities of Directors and the roles that they play in ensuring CWM is operated with transparency and accountability.
Keum, along with the Mission Secretary for Finance, spoke on the financial aspects of CWM, sharing information on various investment portfolios, mechanics behind the spending policies, and budgets.
Sub-Committee and 13th Director appointments
The Board appointed members for various CWM subcommittees. The following committee members will be serving over the next quadrennium from September 2024 to June 2028.
Staffing Committee
- Rev. Anthony Chung, Chair – Caribbean
- Rev. Kudzani Ndebele – Africa
- Dr Ming-Chu Lin – East Asia
- Ms Gwen Aeron Down – Europe
- Ms Mina Tupu Saifoloi – Pacific
- Bishop Sunil Mankhin – South Asia
Finance Committee
- Mr James Ronnie Kaboke, Chair – Pacific
- Elder Lim Kar Hor – East Asia
- Mr Mark Tucker – Europe
- Ms Celeste Khoo – Independent
- Ms Zodinpuii – South Asia
Audit Committee
- Mr Sanjay Patra, Chair – South Asia
- Ms Yu Chia-En – East Asia
- Ms Betty Kuili – Pacific
- Dr Marie-Aimée Tourres – Europe
- Mr Markel Virgo – Caribbean
- Dr Godwin Kimaro – Africa
- Mr James Ronnie Kaboke – Treasurer
Investment Committee
- Mr Richard Morgan, Chair – Europe
- Rev. Melanie Smith – Europe
- Ms Priya Lukka – Ecumenical
- Mr Mark Tucker – Europe
- Rev. Chipasha Musaba – Africa
- Elder Simon Chou – East Asia
- Mr James Ronnie Kaboke – Treasurer
Programme Reference Group
- Prof. Kenneth Ross, Chair – Expert
- Rev. Goodwin L. D. Zainga – Africa
- Ms Michelle L. N. Ashwood – Caribbean
- Prof. Byung Joon Chung – East Asia
- Prof. Kathleen Ferrier – Europe
- Rev. Neil Armstrong Pitakaji – Pacific
- Dr Lalmuanpui Hmar – South Asia
- Mr Siosi Opao – Youth
- Bishop Geevarghese Mor Coorilos – Ecumenical
- Mrs Sarah Phua Yi Ran – Board
Onesimus Project Core Group
- Rev. Dr Roderick Hewitt, Chair
- Ms Afika Babazile Rwayi – Africa
- Rev. Dr. Wonbin Park – East Asia
- Ms Karen Campbell – Europe
- Rev. François Opura Pihaatae – Pacific
- Rev. Samuel Mall – South Asia
- Mr Trevor Llewellyn Benn – Caribbean
- Rev. Dr Minwoo Oh – Ecumenical
- Dr Ming-Chu Lin – CWM
- Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum – CWM
The Board also unanimously affirmed the appointment of Mrs Sarah Phua Yiran as the 13th Director. She will continue serving on the Board for a second term.
The meeting was brought to a close in prayer led by Ms Afika Rwayi, Director for the Africa region.
The next Board meeting will take place in person from 10-12 November in Singapore.