The Council for World Mission’s (CWM) Annual Member’s Meeting (AMM) kicked off on 16 June in Songdo, South Korea, with 32 delegates from CWM member churches attending.
Hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK), the AMM is a yearly gathering of CWM’s members to celebrate and share stories of their ministries in their unique contexts.
In his greeting to the assembled delegates, partners, and CWM staff, Rev. Young-Gul Kim, Moderator of PCK, reflected on the deep ties shared between CWM and PCK even as the Korean church celebrates its 140th year of Christian mission in the country.
“For more than two centuries, CWM (formerly the LMS) has faithfully connected churches across the globe, fulfilling the precious mission of proclaiming the light of the Gospel. We are proud that the PCK has been part of this meaningful journey,” Kim said.
“I hope that this meeting will serve as a precious opportunity for the PCK and the CWM family gathered from around the world to share our faith journeys and missional visions, and build deeper fellowship and friendship with one another.”
Burnt but not consumed
Dr Natalie Lin, CWM Moderator, opened the meeting with a reflection from Exodus 3:1-4 which recounts Moses’ encounter with God through the burning bush, that remained un-singed despite being engulfed in flames.
Lin then showcased a poem referencing the burning bush written by Rev. Kao Chun Ming, a Taiwanese church leader who was incarcerated during the 1979 Formosa Event – a government crackdown on prodemocracy elements during Taiwan’s martial law period.
Lin went on to describe Kao’s time in prison where he, fully surrendering to God’s will, continued to inspire inmates with his quiet strength and faith.
Through her story on Kao, Lin exhorted the delegates to embody the Taiwanese church leader’s unwavering spirit in facing up to the challenges of the world today.
Vital role of Jubilee
Rev. Dr Yoon-Jae Chang, Dean of the School of Theology, Ewha Womans University, gave the keynote address highlighting the important role that the Jubilee year plays in the Bible as well as how it is the answer to today’s rampant rise in injustice, inequality, and suffering.
In the Bible, the Jubilee year signals the start of a period that comes every 50 years when the ancient Israelites would write off debts, return properties to their owners, allow agricultural lands to lie fallow, and release slaves and hired hands. It was a God-mandated social and economic reset.
However, the world today, according to Chang, has largely abandoned this model, compelling societies to engage in zero-sum systems that divide people into winners and losers, and partake in wanton consumption habits that destroy the earth and devastate biodiversity.
“Jubilee is not just a one-time event or a special program that happens every 50 years. Jubilee is a paradigm. Jubilee is a system. Jubilee is an institution. It stands as both a resistance to—and an alternative to—neoliberalism, which once called itself an ‘institution of liberty.’ ”
As the original biblical idea of Jubilee also espoused the idea of environmental care by making provisions for arable lands to rest, an idea that the modern consumer-driven world would baulk at, Chang once again sounded the warning of an ecological collapse.
“According to a climate research institute in Europe, global warming has already reached 1.6°C as of last year. The 1.5°C threshold, once agreed upon in Songdo in 2018, has effectively been broken,” warned Chang, who added that if left unchecked average global temperatures could rise by as much as 3.5°C by the end of this century.
Despite the grimness and darkness surrounding the world today, Chang offered a ray of hope – a sliver of light that is the Jubilee concept. He proffered that the future can still be changed, depending on the policies and systems that humanity chooses.
“… our choices today can shape a very different tomorrow. We must go forward with the belief that this imperfect order is not necessary. We must keep moving toward Jubilee,” exhorted Chang.
Moderator’s report: CWM must look beyond institutional maintenance
Delivering her first report as CWM Moderator during the AMM, Dr Natalie Lin gave the assembled delegates an overview account of Board activities and CWM initiatives in the year in review.
Regional challenges, missional opportunities
The report focused on findings from reports produced by each regional Member’s Mission Forum.
Lin commended the member churches that, despite their unique regional issues, share a deep commitment to discerning God’s will, responding to contemporary challenges, and seizing new opportunities for faithful witness and transformative mission.
Lin concluded that through the various global partnerships, CWM is uniquely positioned to serve as a prophetic voice amidst global challenges.
General Secretary’s report: God’s transforming power is key
Putting trust in faith, hope, and love
Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, General Secretary of CWM, delivered a report with a sobering message that the world is deeply wounded, with the rise of global powers vying for control through military operations and trade wars amidst technological disruptions such as the advent of artificial intelligence threatening jobs and livelihoods and the increasing threats posed by climate change.
Yet, the world is not without hope. Keum drew the eyes and minds of the delegates to focus upon God and his transformative power.
“… the Holy Spirit is the spring of transforming power, [it] reminds us that mission is not about maintaining the status quo but about participating in God’s work of radical transformation,” declared Keum.
Keum also cautioned against presenting God’s love selectively by only witnessing in ways that are safe and comfortable.
“It is time to question the integrity of the ecumenical and missional movement: Are we true disciples of the gospel?” challenged Keum.
“The depth of our discipleship will ultimately determine whether we rise to the challenge of these times.”
Looking towards Jubilee
In addition summarising CWM programmes and engagements as well as other governance matters, Keum unveiled the AMM to be a platform where the delegates must come together to envision the upcoming CWM Jubilee collectively.
“This Jubilee will be a season of discernment, an opportunity to critically examine the last 50 years of our journey as a partnership of churches in mission and chart a bold way forward,” said Keum who highlighted that a detailed plan for the Jubilee celebrations will be presented at a separate session during this AMM.
Onwards to an Eco-Jubilee
The first day of the AMM was concluded with a Bible study led by Rev. Dr Nāsili Vaka’uta, the Professor of Biblical Studies and Principal of Trinity Theological College, Auckland, New Zealand.
Vaka’uta shared from Leviticus 25:1-13 that gave an outline on the Sabbath year and what it entailed for the land in Israel, linking his message to the need for a communal effort in working towards an eco-jubilee for CWM.
