CWM GS brings greetings to UEM silver jubilee

COUNCIL FOR WORLD MISSION GENERAL SECRETARY BRINGS GREETINGS TO UNITED EVANGELICAL MISSION SILVER JUBILEE COUNCIL FOR WORLD MISSION GENERAL SECRETARY BRINGS GREETINGS TO UNITED EVANGELICAL MISSION SILVER JUBILEE

ouncil for World Mission (CWM) General

Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum brought gree�ngs to 73 delegates of the interna�onal fellowship of churches in Africa, Asia and Germany in the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) which was celebra�ng its Silver Jubilee under the theme “Be the salt of the Earth: ac�ng together against violence and extremism for peace, jus�ce and reconcilia�on” in St. Reinold Church, Dortmund, Germany on 25 September.

The Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the UEM, and is the only occasion for representa�ves of the 38 member churches in Africa, Asia, and Germany and the von Bodelschwinghschen S��ungen Bethel to gather to pray, deliberate and celebrate together as a communion of Churches at the invita�on of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia (EKvW).

As they met to discuss challenges faced in this polarised world with inequali�es exacerbated by the pandemic and economic recession, Dr Keum spoke about how they are called to a ministry of peace, jus�ce and reconcilia�on. It is crucial for mission to be transformed into one that struggles against and resists forces – strengthening military regimes, spreading of extremist ideologies, populist ultra-right-wing groups, and resurgence of neo-cold war structures – that inflict pain and suffering in the world.

To par�cipate in God’s ongoing work of libera�on and reconcilia�on by the Holy Spirit requires us to discern and unmask exploita�ve forces, and challenge social, economic and poli�cal structures that divide and enslave people. This necessitates our commitment and willingness to work with all people involved in movements and ini�a�ves commi�ed to the causes of jus�ce, dignity and fullness of life for all.

In closing, he expressed his firm belief that UEM will con�nue to carry out this mission of struggle and resistance, and assured them of CWM’s accompaniment as a sister organisa�on in this missional endeavour.