The staff of the Council for World Mission (CWM) Singapore office gathered on Sunday, 20 July, at the Parish of Christ Church (POCC) to celebrate the organisation’s 48th anniversary. The celebration was marked with a thanksgiving service with the Immanuel Congregation of the Church of South India (CSI) in Singapore.
CWM General Secretary, Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, delivered a sermon reflecting on the prophetic vision of Bishop Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, the first Indian Bishop of the Anglican Church and one of a few non-Western participants at the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh.
Azariah challenged the prevailing Western missionary hegemony with an emphatic call for equal missiological partnerships. His speech would give rise to the Singapore Consultation in 1975 that ultimately birthed CWM.
The Singapore Consultation marked a historical turning point, recognising that the former structure of the London Missionary Society (LMS) has systematically denied the full participation and stature of the global south churches as missional contributors to their communities. This led to a unanimous agreement amongst all 56 LMS representatives that radical structural changes were necessary to realise Azariah’s progressive vision.
As a result, the LMS underwent significant structural changes in 1977. “The old missionary society ceased to exist, and a new community of churches in mission — the CWM — was founded on the principles of mutuality, sharing, and partnership,” Keum explained.
A world torn by conflict, greed, and allure of comfort
Reflecting on CWM’s 48-year journey, Keum also highlighted the growing challenges facing today’s world: climate crises, wars, and dysfunctional democracies.
Keum also decried the plethora of economic and technological headwinds brought on by cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence (AI), and tech companies that threaten to grow into massive empires that influence global economies and politics insidiously, taking away humanity’s role as main agents of labour, and usher in a passive economic life created by AI and robotics.
In a rejection of this outcome, Keum urged the congregation to always remember that a true Christian missiological love for people and justice is never passive.
“Missionary work is a courageous love that crosses boundaries and is fearless… a transformative power that overturns injustice… and pursues radical inclusion,” emphasised Keum.
A call to be a ‘Jubilee Community’
Despite the darkening global landscape, Keum encouraged the church to embrace God’s Jubilee vision — a vision of life-flourishing communities. He reaffirmed CWM as a global community of churches in mission committed to proclaiming the Kingdom of God where fullness of life is possible, even for those without money.
Looking ahead to CWM’s 50th anniversary in 2027, a biblical Jubilee year, Keum called on the congregation to return to God as a collective ‘Jubilee Community’ rooted in discipleship and a heart that repents, restores righteousness, and rejoices in hope.
“Jubilee is not solely a utopian dream in heaven but indicative of a historical vision that the Reign of God is entering into this world from the eschaton,” Keum said, “Affirming life in all its fullness is Jesus Christ’s ultimate concern and mission — and it is our mission as CWM, his disciples.”
Each year, the CWM community gathers for worship and reflection to mark CWM Sunday, with this year’s celebration held on 20 July 2025 — the closest Sunday to 18 July, commemorating the start of CWM’s restructuring in 1977.
To support member churches in their celebrations, CWM has circulated liturgical resources including prayers, songs, readings, and visual materials.
