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Who we are
That all of them may be one...
John 17:21
Our vision
The One People Commission wants to engage people from a range of diverse backgrounds within the UK evangelical church. Our work focuses on developing three key areas:
Intercultural church unity
We foster unity across national unity movements, church networks and denominations in a way that reflects the multi-ethnic Kingdom of God.
Intercultural church and ministries
We connect, resource and empower local congregations to develop and grow multicultural church communities, in particular to be reflective of the communities in which they are active.
Intercultural justice
We challenge and advocate against racial injustice, empowering and encouraging the church and wider society towards justice and reconciliation.
(national)
Intercultural justice
(racial justice)
(local)
Whole-life-discipleship Relationships Prayer mobilisation Developing emerging leaders
Our history
Since 1846, the Evangelical Alliance has been bringing Christians together and helping evangelicals to listen to and have a voice in the UK government, media and wider UK church society.
The One People Commission and South Asian Forum are both initiatives within the Evangelical Alliance and therefore, are part of the largest and oldest evangelical movement in the UK, one with a longstanding commitment to evangelical unity across denominations, ethnicity, and culture.
Established in 2010, the South Asian Forum has played a key role in championing much-needed representation for South Asian Christians and voices in the UK church.
One People Commission
As a result of a prophetic challenge at the Evangelical Alliance council meeting in 2010, the One People Commission was formed in 2012. Its aim was to help the Evangelical Alliance become more representative and a wider voice for the many cultures found within the UK church. Since its inception, it has grown to include representation from South Korean, South Asian, Chinese, Latin American and the different African and Afro-Caribbean Christian communities in the UK.
ONE PEOPLE COMMISSION
Why unity? Why now?
“Britain as a postmodern multicultural multi-ethnic society needs an intercultural mission movement to engage in mission. The One People Commission is a network initiative modelling World Christianity as a catalyst to enable this purpose.”
Rev Dr Israel Olofinjana, director of the One People Commission
“One of the challenges facing the church post-pandemic is maintaining the sense of togetherness amongst a growing narrative of the divisions that exist within the UK. At this time, the South Asian Forum has a vital role to play to model what the church stands for – bringing church leaders together and emphasising the necessity for ever closer genuine Kingdom friendships and partnerships to strengthen the communities around them.”
Dayalan Mahesan, director of the South Asian Forum
