United Evangelical Mission

The United Evangelical Mission (UEM) is a missionary communion of churches in three continents, which currently consists of 34 member churches in Africa, Asia, and Europe (Germany). Its objective is the communion in mission, and mutual assistance in missionary tasks. The UEM constitution states that the United Evangelical Mission – Communion of Churches in Three Continents – shall operate within a network of churches in Africa, Asia, and Europe, and wherever it is called to be. Together they shall proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of all people, and shall meet the present-day missionary challenges. In a world torn apart, they commit themselves to remain members of the one body of Christ, and therefore:
    •    grow together into a worshipping, learning and serving community;
    •    share gifts, insights, and responsibilities;
    •    call all people to repentance and new life;
    •    bear witness of the kingdom of God in striving for justice, peace and the integrity of creation.

The United Evangelical Mission is the successor to the Vereinigte Evangelische Mission which, as a German missionary organization, was itself established in 1971 through a fusion of the Rhenish Mission (founded in 1828) and the Bethel Mission (1886), and in 1979 the Zaire Mission. The transformation of the German missionary body into an international missionary communion of churches was launched in 1996, as a result of the first general assembly of the UEM, in Bethel, Germany. In the international missionary communion, all member churches support each other through the exchange of experience, staff and financial assistance. Particular focal points are the fields of church social service and education. German staff work as ministers, theological lecturers, deacons, physicians, nurses, agricultural and building engineers and administrators in Africa and Asia. In return, African and Asian parish workers and theologians work in German parishes, UEM, and regional services. Constantly gaining in importance is the South-South exchange. Southern churches currently exchange staff, for example, from Tanzania to Botswana or from Rwanda to Congo. In Indonesia, the exchange of staff between churches has a long tradition. The objective of the extension of this South-South exchange is to overcome gradually the dominating influence of money and technology. Self-confidence may grow to find African or Asian solutions.

Another focal point of UEM’s work is the commitment to human rights. The joint work of the member churches, for example, through education programmes, human rights projects, lobby and advocacy work, is committed to justice, peace and the integrity of creation (e.g. campaign for the cancellation of debt). UEM is a member of the Forum for Human Rights, an amalgamation of over 40 German non-governmental organizations which is committed to enforcing human rights globally, and in Germany. Since 2000, special emphasis is put on the coordination and support of anti-AIDS programmes in the churches. Other programme priorities include the empowerment of women, youth work, and evangelism.

The UEM is organized in a general assembly, three regional assemblies, a council, an executive committee, and a secretariat. The demands, objectives and decisions for regional activities are formulated in the three regional assemblies for Africa, Asia and Germany, which meet at least once between the general assemblies and appoint delegates. The general assembly meets every four years to discuss general policies and decide on guidelines and priorities for joint work. It elects to the council nine representatives from each region. The council meets once a year and elects an executive committee with five members which meets three times a year and entrusts the executive staff (conference of secretaries) with the coordination of daily work.

Periodical: Mission Online (quarterly, in English); In die Welt, für die Welt (bi-monthly, in German); VEM-Infoservice (monthly, in German)