A major mission conference took place in 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lausanne Movement. The Lausanne Movement encourages evangelicals to cooperate in global mission.
Dr Alistair I. Wilson, lecturer at Edinburgh Theological Seminary and Coordinator of the ETS Centre for Mission, travelled to Seoul-Incheon, South Korea, in September for the latest – fourth – Congress.
He said: ‘The Fourth Lausanne Congress was a fascinating experience which included some aspects of an academic conference (including discussions of quite technical missiological issues) and some aspects of a more general Christian conference (biblical exposition, sung worship, testimony, prayer). I am very grateful for the opportunity to attend. I came away from the event having been both challenged and informed with respect to my thinking about mission, but also encouraged and moved through many encounters with Christian brothers and sisters.
‘The Free Church of Scotland has been involved in the Lausanne Movement for many years. Dr Fergus Macdonald was a former chair of the Lausanne Movement and, although he was unable to attend in person, his influence was still evident in various ways at the fourth Congress.’
Alistair said: ‘As was the case with the previous three congresses (Lausanne, Switzerland in 1974, Manila, the Philippines in 1989, Cape Town, South Africa in 2010), a theological and missional document was produced to coincide with the Congress. It was entitled the “Seoul Statement”. The Lausanne Movement states that the four documents are to be viewed cumulatively and that previous statements continue to reflect the theological and missional priorities of the Lausanne Movement, even as new documents are drafted to reflect changing circumstances. All the documents are freely available in full and in multiple languages on the Lausanne Movement website.
‘In addition to the Seoul Statement, a major study document was produced ahead of the Congress entitled The State of the Great Commission.
‘These documents will be indispensable in future missiological discussion. All who serve in ministry and mission should at least be aware of them and should ideally engage with them.’
Many of the sessions were recorded and are available on the Lausanne website.
He said: ‘There was an emphasis on thanksgiving for the Lausanne Movement at the Congress as well as looking at the current state of mission and the prospects for “world evangelisation” looking towards 2050.’
Alistair gave some reflections on the Congress:
A snapshot of the global church: To gather with more than 5,000 believers in a huge hall for worship, reflection, and conversation is a remarkable and somewhat overwhelming experience.
An opportunity for Reformed voices to be heard: The fourth Congress was by no means a majority-Reformed gathering. Nonetheless, a significant number of Reformed believers were in attendance, and two of those who gave significant expositions from the main platform were Reformed. The choice of two Reformed platform speakers suggests that the Lausanne Movement is ready to hear Reformed voices if we are prepared to continue to bring our voices to the conversation.
An opportunity to worship: The worship led by the Gettys was a particular highlight for me. What a blessing their biblically and theologically rich modern hymns, together with their enthusiasm for good traditional hymns and for the psalms, have been to the church. It was good to hear a portion of the Sing Psalms version of Psalm 130 being sung by a gathering of more than 5,000 people.
An opportunity for this Reformed person to listen: Prior to attending the Congress, I was already aware of the diversity of global evangelicalism. It was striking, nonetheless, to mingle with so many believers, most of whom represented different theological traditions yet were committed to the evangelical theology found in the Lausanne statements. Conversations and times of prayer together highlighted how much evangelicals hold in common, even when they differ on certain significant issues.
An opportunity to grow friendships and connections: A highlight of the Congress was to meet so many Christian brothers and sisters. I met several people whom I knew from digital connections but had never met in person and met others with whom I discovered unexpected connection.
I am thankful to all who made my participation in the Congress possible. I hope that the Free Church and ETS will continue to engage with the Lausanne Movement in the future.