World Evangelical Alliance

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is a global organization of evangelical Christian churches founded in 1846 in London, England. It brings together 129 national alliances of churches, 104 member associations and 6 boards. It is the largest international organization of evangelical churches, and is now headquartered in New York, United States. The World Communion of Reformed Churches is a major partner organization. This organization brings together a part of the churches evangelical Christian. History: The World Evangelical Alliance was formed in London, England with 10 countries in 1846. Their shared vision was "a new thing in church history, a definite organization for the expression of unity amongst Christian individuals belonging to different churches." In 1951, 21 countries, under the leadership of American theologians Harold Ockenga and J. Elwin Wright, participated in the rebirth of the WEA, which became the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF). In 2001, after the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, WEF became the World Evangelical Alliance. As of 2005, the WEA is experiencing a collegiate management under the leadership of its Canadian leader, Geoff Tunnicliffe. Offices were opened in Vancouver, Canada (Leadership), San Francisco (Information Technology), Washington (Publications), and Geneva (International Relations). As of 2010, the central office is in New York, United State. Composition: The WEA includes 129 national alliances of churches. Some of the national alliances haveProtestant churches which are not traditionalEvangelical churches in the strict sense (anabaptism). The World Communion of Reformed Churches, which has 80 million members, is one of the main networks in the organization. Moreover, the WEA includes a certain percentage of individualevangelical Christian churches. Leadership: The WEA is headed by a Secretary-General whose function is to administer and represent the Alliance. Efraim Tendero, born in Philippines, is the Secretary-General since March 1, 2015. List of former leaders: This list contains the former leaders of the WEA since 1951. -Roy Cattell (England) and J. Elwin Wright (USA), co-secretaries, (1951-1953) -A.J. Dain (England) and J. Elwin Wright (USA), co-secretaries, (1953-1958) -Fred Ferris (USA), International Secretary, USA, (1958-1962) -Gilbert Kirby (England), International Secretary, (1962-1966) -Dennis Clark (Canada), International Secretary, (1966-1970) -Gordon Landreth (England), interim International Secretary, (1970-1971) -Clyde Taylor (USA), International Secretary, (1971-1975) -Waldron Scott, (USA) General Secretary, (1975-1980) -Wade Coggins, (USA) Interim General Secretary, (1981) -David M. Howard, International Director (1982-1992) -Agustin Vencer, International Director (1992-2001) -Gary Edmonds, Secretary General (2002-2004) -Geoff Tunnicliffe, Secretary General (2005–2014) Commissions: In 1974, the WEA creates 6 commissions to better achieve its mandates. -Theological Commission Function: Reflect on issues of evangelical theology, and the important issues concerning the churches and society in the world. -Missions Commission Function: Coordinate activities of evangelism and Christian humanitarianism. -Religious Liberty Commission Function: Monitor religious freedom in the world and participate in the defense of persecuted Christians. In the United Nations, the Commission shall field observation reports. -Women's Commission Function: Identify and address the special needs of women. The commission works with advocacy organizations women's rights. -Youth Commission Function: Equipping children for their development and protect their rights. -IT Commission Function: Sharing knowledge on Information technology and promote the quality of Christian websites. Membership: The World Evangelical Alliance embraces member-bodies whose identity and vocation are rooted in 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 the WEA Statement of Faith, recognizing the existing dynamic tension between unity and diversity. There are four types of membership, each with its distinct qualifications and responsibilities: -Regional & National Alliances are regional evangelical fellowships and their national fellowships/alliances. -Global Partners are independently incorporated organizations which work in harmony with WEA structures and serving the WEA constituency. -Associate Members are independently incorporated organizations with their own specific ministries and accountability, an international scope of ministry, and the capacity and authority to serve in and beyond the WEA community. -Church Networks & Denominations are networks of churches (located in one or a number of countries), in agreement with the Statement of Faith and objectives of the World Evangelical Alliance. General Assemblies: A General Assembly takes place every six years in a country that differs depending on the year. It is a time of healing and gathering for national alliances and associations. It allows the execution of administrative procedures and the training of leaders of each country. The last General Assembly was to be held in 2014 in Seoul in South Korea, but was postponed to a later date. -1951 Amsterdam (Woudschoten), Netherlands, August 4–11 -1953 Clarens, Switzerland, July 27–31 -1956 Rhode Island, USA, August 27–31 -1962 Hong Kong, China April 25-May 2 -1968 Lausanne, Switzerland, May 4–10 -1974 Château d'Oex, Switzerland, July 25–29 -1980 London (Hoddesdon) England, March 24–28 -1986 Singapore, June 23–27 -1992 Manila, Philippines, June 21–26 -1997 Abbotsford, Canada, May 8–15 -2001 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 4–10 -2008 Pattaya, Thailand, October 25–30 Global engagements- Development: The fight against poverty 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. Ecumenical Participation: On June 5, 2010, Geoff Tunnicliffe, the International Director of the WEA, appeared alongside 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 Mission Conference. On 17 October 2010, Olav Fykse Tveit, the general secretary of the WCC, gave an invited address to the 3rd Lausanne Conference. 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. On 22 January 2015, the WCC and WEA announced plans for closer cooperation, worship and witness. 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 is the question to what extend evangelical Christians who stem from the reformation churches have full access to salvation according the catholic view". Criticism- Neglect of the suffering church in China: The WEA was criticised for its positive assessment of the situation of the churches in China, after meeting with government approved representatives. China Aid 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 the imprisoned Uyghur Christian, Alimujiang Yimiti, was raised in the criticism, but the WEA did not respond in detail.