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40-728: The organization has its origins in the Evangelical Alliance , a British organization founded in 1846 by 52 evangelical denominations in London , England . In 1912, it took the name of World Evangelical Alliance. In 1951, the World Evangelical Fellowship was founded by evangelical leaders from 21 countries at the first general assembly in Woudschoten ( Zeist ) in the Netherlands . In 2001, after

80-636: A "docked network" with the WEA's Mission Commission. On 22 January 2015, the WCC and WEA announced plans for closer cooperation, worship and witness. In the same year, in June 2015, the WEA reported that discussions with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity were finalised, and that "the open questions of the 16th century are almost answered". The WEA representatives also reported that "still open

120-508: A North American network on ISM. The Association for Christians Ministering Among Internationals (ACMI) is another ISM networking body. Networking between European ISMs has been identified as a priority. Recent decades have seen a rapid increase in international student populations concurrent with the plateauing of some western markets, most notably the US. Students are turning to non-traditional centers of education, such as Asia. This shift

160-546: A Protestant confession of faith . The governance of the organization is ensured by a Secretary-General and regional secretaries in the 9 continental member regions. The office has been vacant since April 2024. A new Secretary General is to be elected by the end of 2024 at the latest. This list contains the former leaders of the WEA since 1951. In 1974, the WEA created six commissions to better achieve its mandates. In 2020, WEA brought together 143 national alliances of churches that would have 600 million believers. Moreover,

200-712: A dedicated department, the "Global Advocacy Department". The WEA has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) since 1997, which allows it to engage in the UN mechanisms with statements, reports, and recommendations, notably as part of the Human Rights Council sessions and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). In the context of the UPR, several recommendations from

240-668: A global gathering in Thailand of ISM leaders, and in 2007 he was appointed the Chair of the Lausanne ISM Issue Network. The two Lausanne Issue Groups of Diaspora and International Students then published Diasporas and International Students: The New People Next Door . Recent publications include those by Yaw Perbi , Jack D. Burke and Enoch Wan. The Lausanne 2010 Cape Town Commitment (section II-C-5) refers to reaching out to international students. In May 2014

280-505: A person renounces same-sex sexual relations." The Evangelical Alliance warned the Liz Truss government against a conversion therapy ban, warning that such a ban could end up criminalising church leaders and restrict religious freedom. The Evangelical Alliance calls "for world-leading support, services and legislation that seeks to protect the lives and health of both women and unborn children" through its Both Lives initiative, which

320-615: Is a major concern of the WEA. Publications and meetings of the Alliance are the means used to influence and inspire development initiatives and actions humanitarian in churches, NGOs and political. It is the origin of the Micah Challenge , an initiative to educate Christians and promote decision making among leaders. On June 5, 2010, Geoff Tunnicliffe , the International Director of the WEA, appeared alongside

360-634: Is based in London , with offices in Cardiff , Glasgow , Belfast and Stockport . The Evangelical Alliance was founded in 1846 by Ridley Haim Herschell , Edward Steane , John Henderson and Sir Culling Eardley . Eardley became the organisation's first chairperson, leading the Alliance in its various campaigns for religious freedom; in 1852, Eardley campaigned on behalf of the Tuscan prisoners of conscience Francesco Madiai and Rosa Madiai, who had been imprisoned for their Protestant faith. As of 2020 ,

400-449: Is considered part of the church's mission , within the broader framework of diaspora missions. The first two decades of the 21st century have seen a sharp growth in the number of international students globally with a corresponding development in ISM. ISM traces its modern roots to John R. Mott who established The Committee on Friendly Relations among Foreign Students in 1911, which was

440-879: Is motivated by biblical precedent and trends in migration. Chinn outlines ten reasons why ISM is strategic in relation to the Great Commission and nine reasons why it benefits local churches. Individual churches, such as Park Street Congregational Church in Boston , have welcoming ministries reaching international students. This modality -based model of ISM is attractive because every church member can be involved in cross-cultural mission at virtually no expense. Miller outlines key qualities leading to successful ISM by local churches. Chinn and Jones point out 6 strategic outcomes for international churches intentionally including international students in their ministry focus. Perbi and Brewster argue that ISM will be strengthened by

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480-709: Is the question to what extend [sic] evangelical Christians who stem from the reformation churches have full access to salvation according to the catholic view". On May 24, 2017, the WEA participated in a two-day Global Christian Forum meeting with the World Council of Churches , officials from the Vatican and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and the Pentecostal World Federation to facilitate moves 'towards greater oneness in Christ'. The meeting

520-587: Is underpinned by well-formed international education policy of countries like China, Malaysia, Singapore and India. The areas of diaspora missiology and its subset, international student ministry, have seen a theological and academic maturing. In 2018/2019 three key ISM-specific training resources were launched: the Lausanne Global Classroom, EveryInternational, and Look at the Fields Two ISM training workshops ran at

560-669: The International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) World Assembly in July 2019. While practical ISM training is offered by a number of ISM organisations, the Charlotte '17 conference considered the need for academic training and research in ISM led by seminaries and graduate schools. Columbia International University lists a course called "Mission to International Students" in their 2019-2020 Academic Catalog. Global mission sending organizations are recognizing

600-631: The 3rd International Congress of the Lausanne Movement . In the address he said, "we are called to participate in the one mission of God". The World Evangelical Alliance, Geoff Tunnicliffe, the International Director and other WEA leaders were involved at each level in the development of the programme, and helped choose its participants. In May 2014 the Lausanne International Student Ministry Global Leadership Network became

640-876: The Alliance supported the 'Thy Kingdom Come' initiative – an event organised by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury to bring more people to Christianity through a sustained period of prayer from the dates of the Feast of the Ascension to Pentecost annually. In a 2024 report on the results of surveys it conducted in Northern Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance uncritically used the term "Catholic Evangelicals" to describe practising Roman Catholics who are committed to "evangelisation" and "renewal" but whose theological views do not necessarily align with

680-610: The Alliance's basis of faith. According to a 2016 Private Eye report, the Evangelical Alliance is openly opposed to homosexuality and same-sex relationships , preaching sexual abstinence for those with same-sex attractions, with membership for openly lesbian and gay people open only to those who " come to see the need to be transformed " from their same-sex attraction. The Evangelical Alliance's website distinguishes between same-sex attraction and same-sex sexual relations, calling on people who want to live within God's purposes to renounce

720-615: The Christian Voluntary Sector in Wales); and former Conservative MP for Congleton Fiona Bruce , a member of the Alliance. The Evangelical Alliance has historically supported ecumenism – the principle of unity between different church doctrines – with the Roman Catholic Church , an approach criticised by some as in direct contradiction to the beliefs of the Evangelical Alliance's founders. In 2019,

760-570: The Evangelical Alliance as the Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund, and CARE ( Christian Action, Research and Education ). A number of UK Members of Parliament are associated with the Evangelical Alliance, including Labour MP Stephen Timms , a member of the Alliance's Council; Conservative MP and former Conservative Party leadership candidate Stephen Crabb , associated with the Alliance through Gweini (the Council of

800-1040: The General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, WEF became the World Evangelical Alliance. As of 2005, the WEA had collegiate management under the leadership of Canadian leader Geoff Tunnicliffe . Offices were opened in Vancouver, Canada (Leadership), San Francisco (Information Technology), Washington (Publications), and Geneva (International Relations). In 2006, it opened an office at the United Nations in Geneva, which added to that in New York City . In 2018, it established its headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois . The Alliance has

840-664: The Indian hospitality concept of Atithi Devo Bhava ("the guest is god"), Emmanuel F. Benjamin describes the impact of welcoming foreign students in Pune, India . Nascent ISMs exist in South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. Bill Dindi of Kenya explores the viability, trends and features of ISM in Africa. Identifying the gaps and opportunities, he seeks to "build a case for a more robust ministry among international students in Africa as well as

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880-650: The Lausanne ISM Global Leadership Network became a "docked network" with the World Evangelical Alliance 's Mission Commission. It operates as WIN (Worldwide ISM Network). In September 2017 the Lausanne ISM Global Leadership Network hosted a global ISM forum Charlotte '17 which gathered 100 participants from 25 countries and 70 organizations. It is suggested that ISM is grounded in the Missio Dei and

920-484: The WEA Statement of Faith, recognizing the existing dynamic tension between unity and diversity. There are three types of membership, each with its distinct qualifications and responsibilities: A General Assembly takes place every six years in a country that differs depending on the year. It is a time of prayer and conferences for national alliances and associations. It is an opportunity for decision making and

960-599: The WEA have been reiterated by States, meaning that recommendations formulated in a very similar way than those suggested by the WEA, appear in the final recommendations addressed to the State under review, on behalf of a reviewing State. This was the case for its reports regarding human trafficking in Switzerland (2012) and Canada (2018), its report on religious freedom in Bhutan in 2019, and its report on Iran in 2020 for which

1000-614: The WEA successfully advocated for the inclusion of “Christian converts” as a group whose religious freedom should be respected by Iran. Regarding the Human Rights Council sessions, an example of the WEA’s impact was reported by Evangelical Focus . In 2020, the WEA made a statement, as part of the UPR's outcome adoption of Spain, mentioning unreasonably high standards for non-Catholic religious communities in Catalonia and discrimination against retired Protestant pastors who have been excluded from

1040-512: The WEA unites only a certain percentage of evangelical churches, because some churches are not members of a Christian denomination or national alliance. The World Evangelical Alliance embraces member-bodies whose identity and vocation are rooted in what it understands as historic biblical Christianity. WEA affirms and seeks the biblical unity of Christ's body, the Church, celebrating the diversity of practices and theological emphases consistent with

1080-474: The approaches and shape this might take." Citing the historical growth of Christianity in Africa and the central role of Christian African international students, Perbi and Ngugi argue that the continent that was a mission field now comprises a mission force. Kwiverr's 2022 research of 116 respondents from 16 African countries revealed that there are many "largely unaware and unprepared African Christian International Students [who are] virtually unseen and unsent by

1120-588: The first national ISM in the US. Some international Christian student organizations trace their origins back to the World Student Christian Federation. Since then, and particularly since the 1950s, there has been a growth of organizations doing this mainly in Western contexts. As of 2016 there were at least 57 organizations engaged in ISM in 22 countries. In 2004, after a century of intermittent ISM growth Leiton Chinn convened

1160-589: The gap in counseling services and interpersonal activities that the university fails to offer." Christian campus organizations, which are sodalities , have historically focused on domestic university students. These have developed campus-based ministries for international students directly linked to universities or colleges. At a global level, the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization has an ISM issue network which connects groups internationally and interdenominationally. This network now includes

1200-593: The intentional involvement of "workplace Christians." Some denominational groups have established an ISM focus such as Anglican (USA) , Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) , Assemblies of God (USA) and the Presbyterian Church in America . A 2019 study based in the US concluded that "Chinese international undergraduate students identify the church and its fellowship as (1) a social support community and (2) an informal learning community, one which fills in

1240-454: The latter. It states, "We encourage evangelical congregations to welcome and accept sexually active lesbians and gay men. However, they should do so in the expectation that they, like all of us who are living outside God's purposes, will come in due course to see the need to be transformed and live in accordance with biblical revelation and orthodox church teaching. We urge gentleness, patience and ongoing pastoral care during this process and after

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1280-526: The leaders of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches (WCC) in a press conference, entitled “Christian unity today”, at the Edinburgh 2010 Conference. The gathering marked the centennial of the 1910 World Missionary Conference . In the same year, on 17 October 2010, Olav Fykse Tveit , the general secretary of the WCC, gave an invited address to

1320-646: The leadership of the Evangelical Alliance consisted of Past leaders of the Evangelical Alliance include Clive Calver (1983–1997), Joel Edwards (1997–2009) and Steve Clifford (2009–2019). The Evangelical Alliance is a membership organisation whose members subscribe to its Basis of Faith and are expected to relate to one another in accordance with its Relational Commitments. As of March 2024 , its website listed over 650 organisations, over 2,300 churches, and two corporations as members. It also has an unspecified number of individual members. Member organisations include Tearfund , an organisation originally established by

1360-560: The pension system since Franco’s regime. The Spanish ambassador responded to WEA’s statement at the Human Rights Council session and both recommendations were accepted. At the end of 2020, the Evangelical Council of Catalonia announced that an agreement had been reached with the municipality of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to avoid the closure of five churches. The WEA was criticised for its positive assessment of

1400-629: The situation of the churches in China after meeting with Chinese government -approved representatives in 2009. ChinaAid and Church in Chains claimed, "There are many Christians in China who are not free to worship, do not have Bibles of their own and are not free to organise their own affairs and this situation is not mentioned in your press release… our concern is that you have turned your back on these brothers and sisters." One exemplary case of abuse, that of imprisoned Uyghur Christian Alimujiang Yimiti ,

1440-542: The strategic nature and necessity of diaspora missions, and especially ISM. Some have refocused ISM efforts in traditional contexts because of the perceived global impact. Asia has been identified as an emerging region for ISM. It is beginning to take shape there, for example among international churches in China. Regarding the international students in, from and within Asia, Phil Jones has identified 8 challenges and 6 opportunities that Asian ISMs encounter. In tandem with

1480-618: The training of leaders of each country. The last GA was held in 2019 in Jakarta in Indonesia and the leaders notably committed to building alliances in the 62 countries that do not have them and getting more involved in the religious freedom . There are two quarterly publications: a journal Evangelical Review of Theology (published on behalf by Paternoster Periodicals since 1977) and a newsletter Theological News (since 1969). Books are published occasionally. The fight against poverty

1520-694: Was formerly known as Both Lives Matter . In a 2019 UK government consultation on proposed abortion legislation in Northern Ireland, the Evangelical Alliance responded 'Yes' to the question, "Do you agree that provision should be made for abortion without gestational time limit where: Termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl?". International student ministry International Student Ministry ( ISM ) refers to evangelical Christian ministry among international students within an academic context, often carried out by Protestant college religious organizations , volunteers and churches. It

1560-436: Was held at the WCC's Bossey Ecumenical Institute. Some criticism was voiced of the WEA for lack of consultation about this move, the absence of regional and national discussion, or a vote of the General Assembly prior to the meeting. The WEA is also advocating for the respect of human rights , including freedom of religion and belief for all. Furthermore, its involvement with UN mechanisms (Human Rights and other) has grown into

1600-461: Was raised in the criticism, but the WEA did not respond in detail. Evangelical Alliance The Evangelical Alliance ( EA ) is a UK organisation of evangelical individuals, organisations, and churches, which is itself a member of the World Evangelical Alliance . Founded in 1846, the Evangelical Alliance aims to promote evangelical Christian beliefs and advocate for evangelical Christians in politics and society. The Evangelical Alliance

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