The Council for World Mission (CWM) Board convened from 13-14 June in Songdo, South Korea, prior to the Annual Member’s Meeting (AMM) scheduled for 16-18 June.
CWM Moderator, Dr Natalie Lin, opened the meeting with a reflection based on Mark 14:1-9 which describes an encounter in Bethany between Jesus and an unnamed woman who anointed the Messiah with an expensive perfume made of pure nard – a costly ingredient in biblical times.
Using the actions of the woman as an example, Lin reminded the Board of the value of the woman’s action and that, through her decision to anoint Jesus, she recognised Jesus for who He was despite being labelled as wasteful by Christ’s disciples.
The story, Lin elaborated, was an illustration to do one’s best for Christ without considerations of the cost. She also offered a secondary reflection that as Christ Himself praised the woman and added that her act would be remembered in perpetuity, it was a clear reminder that Christ would recompense the works done upon Him despite earthly objections and opposing perspectives.
“Let us love Jesus spontaneously,” urged Lin as she closed her sermon.
General Secretary’s Report
CWM General Secretary, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, delivered his report to the Board, offering an overview of concluded Member’s Mission Forums. He also gave an account of the recent successful Finance Conference held in Hong Kong as well as the series of member church engagement trips to the Congregational Christian Church Samoa (CCCS) for the 150th anniversary celebration of its General Assembly and the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan during the Taiwan Ecumenical Forum.
Keum also gave the Board a preview of planned activities for the second half of 2025 such as the CWM Sunday celebration on 18 July, as well as the upcoming Board meeting in November that will be held in conjunction with the biennial General Secretaries’ Conference.
He also highlighted to the Board the CEVAA, CWM, and UEM Joint Mission Consultation in November to promote dialogue, learning, and shared strategies for contemporary global challenges and the urgent need to decolonise mission work.
Envisioning the CWM Jubilee
With the advent of the CWM Jubilee in 2027, Rev. Dr Amelia Koh-Butler, CWM Mission Secretary for Education and Empowerment, led the Board in brainstorming on potential Jubilee programmes.
The ideas and feedback of the Board will feed directly into the plenary discussion on the CWM Jubilee during the upcoming AMM.
Membership Taskforce Report
The Board received and approved the various reports from the Membership Taskforce. The final approval decisions of the new member churches will be announced during the AMM.
Closing of the Board meeting
The meeting was closed with a worship session led by Board Director of the Pacific region, Ms Mina Tupu Saifoloi.
