The Council for World Mission (CWM) Board of Directors convened in Auckland, New Zealand, from 19 to 20 June, focusing on key organisational priorities ahead of the Annual Members’ Meeting (AMM), which opens on 22 June.
“All for Christ”
CWM Moderator Dr Natalie Lin opened the meeting with a reflection titled “All for Christ,” drawing on Galatians 2:20 and the life and ministry of Rev. Dr George Leslie Mackay, the first Presbyterian missionary to Taiwan.
Lin recounted how Mackay arrived in Taiwan, then known as Formosa, in 1872 and devoted nearly three decades to serving local communities through church planting, education, healthcare, and leadership development. Despite significant challenges, he became fluent in Taiwanese and invested deeply in nurturing local leadership.
Reflecting on Mackay’s lifelong commitment to mission, Lin encouraged Board members to embrace the same spirit of faithful discipleship and service.
“In his journal, Mackay repeatedly wrote, ‘Not for money, not for fame. Everything I had done was all for Christ,’ ” Lin said.
Jubilee 2027 and Assembly 2028
In his report to the Board, CWM General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum highlighted preparations for the CWM Jubilee in 2027 as a major organisational priority.
“Jubilee provides an opportunity not only to celebrate God’s faithfulness throughout CWM’s journey but also to reflect critically on our history, discern our future vocation, and renew our commitment to God’s mission,” Keum said.
Keum noted that the Jubilee celebrations will culminate in the CWM Assembly 2028, where the global fellowship will engage in collective discernment on CWM’s future direction and post-Jubilee mission.
“The Assembly is the highest governing body of CWM and serves as a significant moment of worship, discernment, fellowship, and strategic decision-making for the global partnership,” he said.
MSP-V and programme priorities
Keum also provided updates on the Mission Support Programme (MSP-V), noting that its fifth cycle will run from July 2026 to 2031 and provide long-term mission support to all 36 member churches across the CWM family.
Presenting the Programme Reference Group (PRG) report, Chairperson Prof. Kenneth Ross affirmed the current direction of CWM’s programmes and commended the work of the mission secretaries and programme teams during the reporting period.
Ross noted that rising xenophobia, racism, migration pressures, and exclusionary nationalism continue to present significant challenges across many regions.
“These realities reinforce the need for CWM’s programmes to engage the intersections of faith, power, democracy, and public witness,” Ross said.
He also encouraged greater integration of Jubilee 2027, The Onesimus Project (TOP), and MSP-V within CWM’s evolving missional priorities.
Worship with local congregations
On 21 June, Board members and AMM delegates joined worship services in local congregations across Auckland as part of their engagement with member churches and ecumenical communities.
The groups visited St Columba at Botany, St John’s Presbyterian Church Mt Roskill, St John’s Papatoetoe, Onehunga Co-operating Parish and Grey Street Church, Cook Islands Christian Church (CICC) East Tamaki, EFKS Magele I Sisifo, and CCCAS Wiri.
The visits provided opportunities for fellowship, worship, and deeper engagement with the diverse CWM communities.
The next CWM Board of Directors meeting will be held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, in November 2026.
