To strengthen the collective voice of churches on global economic issues, 20–25 current and emerging church leaders are invited to participate in the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, and Management for an Economy of Life (GEM School). The programme will take place in Panama City, Panama (venue to be confirmed), from 17–28 August 2026.
The GEM School is co-organised by the Council for World Mission, World Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, and United Society Partners in the Gospel. It responds directly to recommendations from the Sao Paulo Statement: International Financial Transformation for an Economy of Life and the policy framework Economy of Life for All Now: An Ecumenical Action Plan for a New International Financial and Economic Architecture. Both documents highlight the urgency of building economic expertise within churches and identify economic competency development as a strategic priority.
Churches bring vital ethical, moral, and theological perspectives to global economic debates. Yet these voices often have limited influence on financial and economic policymaking, business practices, and dominant economic thinking. The GEM School seeks to close this gap by strengthening economic literacy within faith communities and equipping participants with the concepts, language, and analytical tools needed to advocate more effectively for urgent transformation of the global financial and economic system.
Programme objectives
The 10-day curriculum addresses the following objectives:
- Identify theological starting points for economic justice (i.e. why and how theology and ethics are intertwined with economics)
- Provide a basic understanding of mainstream economic thinking
- Identify, relativise and contextualise methodologies and normative fundamentals of economics
- Widen the horizon of economics by introducing ecological, feminist and other alternative approaches
- Develop the interdisciplinary structure and ethical implications of combining theological dimensions with economics
- Lay out the political and strategic implications for churches and their advocacy for an Economy of Life
Application details
- Application deadline: 1 March 2026
- Notification of selected participants: by 31 March 2026
Apply through this link.
