Theological reflections on the mission of the WCRC
During the 27th General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), four theologians offered reflections on the theme “Persevere in God’s Mission in Areas of Crisis.”
Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum, general secretary of the Council for World Mission (CWM), spoke on the future vision and mission of the WCRC beyond the 27th General Council.
Describing the current global situation as “catastrophic,” Keum emphasised the need for the WCRC to cultivate and expand a de-colonial theology—one informed by feminist, Indigenous, and post-national perspectives—as a continuation of the resistance expressed in the Accra Confession.
He cautioned that to persevere without witness amounts to “survival without transformation,” representing institutional endurance rather than the embodiment of a transformative mission.
“Our task, therefore, is to persevere in witness—to embody faith as resistance and hope as imagination,” Keum said.
Concluding his address, Keum urged that as the WCRC moves from Chiang Mai into its next chapter, it must not only confess against the idols of empire but also create life-flourishing communities that live God’s Jubilee here and now. In an age marked by climate collapse and artificial intelligence, he declared, “The most radical confession remains the simplest: God is God, and life belongs to God.”
WCRC elects new leadership
The 27th General Council elected a new president, five vice presidents, and 17 members of the Executive Committee to serve the next seven-year term.
Rev. Dr Karen Georgia Thompson, general minister and president of the United Church of Christ in the United States, was elected as the WCRC’s next president.
Outgoing president Rev. Najla Kassab—who made history in 2017 as the first female to hold the role—described Thompson’s election as a continuation of the WCRC’s commitment to empowering women in leadership.
The newly elected Executive Committee reflects the Communion’s diversity, comprising 12 women and ten men, three youth members, nine laypeople, and 13 ordained leaders from across all regions.
Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, who was unanimously elected in September 2025, will make history as the first WCRC general secretary from Asia when he begins his term on 1 February 2026.
Release of the Communion Message
The General Council also issued a Communion Message, developed alongside reports and caucus statements, which will guide the WCRC’s programmes and relationships with ecumenical partners and governmental bodies in the years ahead.
Addressing current global realities, the message reaffirmed the WCRC’s dedication to supporting people affected by armed conflict and advocating for the rights of Indigenous communities.
It also underscored the Communion’s understanding of Christian mission as both disruptive to the prevailing world order and transformative in the lives of the marginalised, oppressed, and hungry.
“Through our commitment to mission, we live out the call to be disciples of Jesus Christ… the church bringing the good news to the poor,” the statement affirmed.
Reflecting on the gathering, the newly elected WCRC President, Rev. Dr Karen Georgia Thompson, said:
“This week, this has been God’s house for us—a place where we are reminded of God’s love given to us. We ask for your prayers as we commit to lead in the years ahead.”
