A Vision for Global Evangelism: Gathering in Seoul for Lausanne IV
Few Christian evangelism and mission initiatives have had as significant and lasting an impact as the Lausanne Movement. The Lausanne vision for a global and unified witness for gospel proclamation arose in the hearts of Billy Graham, Carl Henry, and John RW Stott. Born out of a desire to unite evangelicals worldwide for the cause of global missions, the Lausanne Movement has grown into a vibrant network that continues to influence how the church engages with the world since its first gathering in July of 1974 in Switzerland attended by some 2400 delegates from 150 countries.
Next month, Lausanne IV will meet in Seoul, South Korea, to take up its work afresh, the very location testifying to the power of the gospel to move into new areas and raise up faithful churches that proclaim Christ. When the 20th century dawned, only 2% of the Korean people were Christians, but now in the 21st century, some 30% or more claim the faith, while the largest Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, and Pentecostal churches in the world - indeed, in history! - are all located in Seoul. The gospel movement in Korea is a joyful reminder of the work of grace spreading across Asia, Africa, and South America.
The 1974 International Congress on World Evangelization
The official birth of the Lausanne Movement occurred at the International Congress on World Evangelization, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, from July 16-25, 1974. This historic gathering brought together over 2,700 participants from 150 countries, representing diverse denominations and cultural backgrounds. The congress aimed to address the pressing challenges of evangelism and to foster a sense of unity and purpose among Christians worldwide. In addition to Graham and Stott, Presbyterian apologist and mission leader Francis Schaeffer played a critical role in identifying a posture of unity and faithfulness needed for the mission to move forward. Schaeffer’s vital talk can be found at this link and it is well worth your time and effort - https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/francis-schaeffers-prescriptions-renewal/
The Lausanne Covenant: A Foundational Document
Drafting and Adoption
One of the most significant outcomes of the 1974 congress was the Lausanne Covenant, a comprehensive statement of faith and mission. Drafted by a committee led by John Stott, the covenant articulated the theological foundations of the movement and outlined its commitments to evangelism, social justice, and church unity. The document was widely endorsed and has since become a cornerstone of the Lausanne Movement's identity. A link to the Covenant is here - https://lausanne.org/statement/lausanne-covenant
Key Themes and Commitments
The Lausanne Covenant emphasized the centrality of the Gospel, the urgency of evangelism, and the necessity of contextualizing the message to different cultures. It also addressed social issues, underscoring the church's responsibility to combat injustice and poverty. By integrating these themes, the covenant provided a holistic framework for the movement's mission.
The issue of gospel clarity and centrality, shared mission and resource, and gospel contextualization are easily recognized today as central aspects of considerable mission and church planting strategies around the world, often championed by the heirs of Graham, Stott, and Francis Schaeffer such as Tim Keller, Christopher Wright, and many more.
Expanding the Vision: Subsequent Congresses and Initiatives
Lausanne II: The Manila 1989 Congress
The success of the 1974 Congress led to the establishment of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE), which became the organizational backbone of the movement. The LCWE aimed to keep the momentum of Lausanne alive by promoting the principles of the Lausanne Covenant and organizing follow-up events and consultations on various aspects of world evangelization.
One of the most significant of these follow-up events was the Second International Congress on World Evangelization, held in Manila, Philippines, in 1989. Known as Lausanne II, the Manila Congress brought together 4,000 participants from 173 countries, making it one of the largest evangelical gatherings in history. The Manila Manifesto, the congress's final document, reaffirmed the commitments of the Lausanne Covenant and addressed new challenges, such as the rise of religious pluralism and the need for contextualized evangelism.
The Manila Congress also marked a significant shift in the Lausanne Movement's focus. While the 1974 Congress had been primarily concerned with evangelism, the 1989 Congress expanded the movement's vision to include a broader range of issues, such as church planting, leadership development, and the role of the laity in missions. This shift reflected the changing realities of the global church, particularly the growing influence of the Global South, where evangelicals were increasingly taking the lead in mission initiatives.
Lausanne III: The Cape Town 2010 Congress
The third major Lausanne Congress, held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2010, was another landmark event in the history of the movement. Cape Town 2010, also known as Lausanne III, brought together 4,000 evangelical leaders from 198 countries, representing the most diverse gathering in the history of the movement.
The Cape Town Commitment, the congress's final document, was a powerful statement of the movement's ongoing commitment to the task of world evangelization. The document reaffirmed the centrality of the Gospel and the authority of Scripture, while also addressing contemporary issues such as globalization, poverty, environmental stewardship, and the challenge of Islam.
Cape Town 2010 was also notable for its emphasis on partnership and collaboration. The congress highlighted the importance of working together across denominational, cultural, and national boundaries, recognizing that the task of world evangelization could only be accomplished through the combined efforts of the global church. This emphasis on partnership was reflected in the establishment of the Lausanne Global Diaspora Network, which seeks to mobilize the global church to reach the growing diaspora communities around the world.
The Impact of the Lausanne Movement on Global Missions: Shaping Evangelical Theology and Practice
One of the most significant contributions of the Lausanne Movement has been its impact on evangelical theology and practice. The movement has provided a platform for evangelical leaders to engage in theological reflection on the nature of the church's mission in the world. This has led to a deeper understanding of the relationship between evangelism and social responsibility, as well as the importance of contextualization in mission.
The Lausanne Covenant and its subsequent documents, such as the Manila Manifesto and the Cape Town Commitment, have become key reference points for evangelical theology. These documents have helped to shape the mission strategies of churches and mission organizations around the world, providing a clear and balanced vision of the church's task in the world.
The movement's emphasis on partnership and collaboration has also had a profound impact on how evangelicals approach mission. The Lausanne Movement has encouraged evangelicals to work together across denominational, cultural, and national boundaries, recognizing that the task of world evangelization is too large for any one group to accomplish on its own. This has led to the formation of numerous partnerships and networks that have greatly enhanced the effectiveness of evangelical missions.
Influencing the Global Church
The Lausanne Movement has played a key role in shaping the global church's understanding of its mission. The movement's emphasis on the importance of the Global South in world evangelization has helped to elevate the voices of non-Western Christians and has led to a more inclusive and representative vision of the global church.
The movement has also been instrumental in promoting a holistic understanding of mission that includes both evangelism and social responsibility. This has encouraged churches and mission organizations to engage in a wide range of activities, from church planting and leadership development to social justice and environmental stewardship. The Lausanne Movement's holistic approach to mission has helped to broaden the church's understanding of its role in the world and has contributed to the development of more effective mission strategies.
The movement's influence can be seen in the numerous regional and issue-specific consultations it has organized over the years. These consultations have provided a forum for evangelical leaders to discuss and address specific challenges facing the global church, such as urbanization, poverty, religious persecution, and the rise of new religious movements. The insights and recommendations from these consultations have had a significant impact on the global church's mission strategies and have helped to equip the church to respond more effectively to the challenges of the 21st century.
Fostering Global Evangelical Unity
One of the most notable achievements of the Lausanne Movement has been its success in fostering a sense of unity among evangelicals worldwide. By providing a platform for dialogue and collaboration, the movement has bridged denominational, cultural, and geographical divides. This unity has enabled a more coordinated and effective response to global challenges and opportunities.
Influencing Mission Strategies
The movement has also significantly influenced mission strategies, encouraging a holistic approach integrating evangelism with action to relieve suffering and promote community. The emphasis on contextualization has led to more culturally aware and relevant presentations of the Gospel. Furthermore, the movement's commitment to partnership and collaboration has strengthened the global mission infrastructure, enabling more effective and sustainable initiatives.
The Upcoming Seoul Conference: A New Chapter
The upcoming Lausanne conference in Seoul, South Korea, promises to be a landmark event in the movement's ongoing journey. With the theme "Together for the Gospel: Uniting to Accelerate Global Evangelization," the conference aims to build on the legacy of previous congresses while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Again, the choice of Seoul as the congress host city is significant. South Korea is home to one of the world's most vibrant and dynamic evangelical communities, and the Korean church has played a leading role in global missions for many years. By holding the congress in Seoul, the Lausanne Movement seeks to highlight the vital contributions of the Global Church to the cause of world evangelization and to inspire a new wave of mission initiatives from this region.
The vision for Seoul 2024 is to create a space where evangelical leaders from around the world can come together to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing the global church. The congress will focus on key issues such as religious persecution, the rise of secularism, and the impact of globalization on mission. It will also seek to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to engage effectively in these areas through a combination of plenary sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Preparing for Seoul 2024
In the lead-up to Seoul 2024, the Lausanne Movement is organizing a series of regional and issue-specific consultations to gather input and insights from the global church. These consultations will provide a forum for evangelical leaders to discuss and address their regions' specific challenges and develop strategies for effective mission engagement.
The movement is also strongly emphasizing engaging the next generation of evangelical leaders. Recognizing that the future of global missions depends on the involvement of young people, the Lausanne Movement is actively seeking to involve young leaders in the planning and preparation for the congress. This includes providing opportunities for young people to participate in consultations, contribute to the congress's content, and take on leadership roles within the movement.
The Lausanne Movement is also leveraging technology to ensure that the insights and outcomes of Seoul 2024 are widely disseminated. The congress will be live-streamed to locations worldwide, and digital resources will be made available to enable churches and mission organizations to engage with the congress's content. This use of technology reflects the movement's commitment to making the congress as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Key Themes and Focus Areas
The Seoul conference will focus on several key themes, including:
Global Partnerships: Strengthening collaborations between churches, mission agencies, and other Christian organizations to enhance the effectiveness of evangelistic efforts.
Biblical Anthropology: Engage thoughtful and faithful believers to respond to debates over the place of technology in human genetic engineering, the transhumanist movement, and other issues surrounding the imago dei.
Digital Evangelism: Leveraging digital technologies to reach new audiences and expand the impact of the Gospel.
Religious Freedom: Advocating for the rights of persecuted Christians and promoting religious freedom worldwide.
Youth and Next-Generation Leaders: Empowering young leaders and engaging the next generation in the mission of the church.
Holistic Mission: The Evangelical rejection of the Social Gospel Movement and Liberation Theology does not give it permission to pursue a mission that does not minister to the needs of the whole person. Just as mission movements have served in health and education, so too must a new generation look to apply the gospel in visible witness that matches and amplifies its voice of proclamation.
Anticipated Outcomes
The Seoul conference will produce various outcomes, including new strategic initiatives, collaborative projects, and resource-sharing platforms. It will also allow participants to renew their commitment to the Lausanne Covenant and build new relationships that will further the cause of global evangelization.
The Lausanne Movement has played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of global evangelicalism over the past five decades. From its origins in the 1974 congress to the upcoming conference in Seoul, the movement has consistently promoted unity, collaboration, and a holistic approach to mission.
The Lausanne vision and mission are not all conservative and confessional Presbyterians would desire in a mission, but it is surely enough for global partnerships that help us learn from and serve with the wider Body of Christ in God’s mission in our world. It isn’t all a Baptist or Anglican might wish for either. These confessional communities are essential to our work, but we need not conclude that because they are so needed, they are all that we need to move forward together for the Gospel.
Anticipated Opposition
One can imagine that certain religious and secularist forces will be arrayed against any and every effort to promote the unity of the Church in its faith and mission. Prayer is needed in this regard. Some opposition will exist within the Church as well, especially where concerns over the Church’s role in society and the shape of its holistic mission are questioned. National concerns weigh heavily with many, and these can, at times, loom so large that the shared concern for and unified effort to proclaim Christ to everyone everywhere is eclipsed. The nations of the world are standing on the cusp of global war, a new descent into madness and unimaginable violence, all of which could not only interrupt the Congress but, far more significantly, hinder the work of mission in many lands.
Personal Hope
I will attend the Congress as a Reformed Christian who leads a congregation dedicated to spreading the gospel by supporting fruitful church planting worldwide. Critical to that effort will be mobilizing God’s people for prayer, training the next generation, dealing with the apologetic crises surrounding Biblical anthropology vs. a humanist view (and all the attendant matters of transhumanism and scientific manipulation of human genetic material, questions concerning sex and gender, efforts to promote euthanasia, the protection of the elderly and care for the sick, the poor, and the marginalized, and the need for missiologies that will further the gospel in the Muslim dominated nations). Please pray for my journey to the Congress and that I will learn much from my fellow attendees while contributing wisely and humbly. Lastly, given the crisis over the very word “evangelical” in many Western societies, I can’t help but hope that we will begin to recover something of an authentic expression of what that word means and whether we can use it to truly describe the Church at this moment.
Conclusion
The Lausanne Movement has profoundly impacted global missions over the past five decades, shaping the theological and practical approaches of the evangelical church to world evangelization. From its origins in Lausanne in 1974 to its upcoming congress in Seoul in 2024, the movement has consistently sought to unite evangelicals around a shared vision for mission and equipping the global church to respond to the challenges and opportunities of each new era. I look forward to witnessing the next chapter of this story being written.
For a more detailed look at the Lausanne movement and the upcoming Congress in Seoul, please see this article in Christianity Today: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2024/july-august/theological-unity-diversity-lausanne-covenant.html
For a brief introduction to the transhumanist movement, see here - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/38-cs-lewis-ai-and-transhumanism/id1560959545?i=1000548876048