Community of Churches in Mission

The Evangelical Community of Apostolic Action (Cevaa in French) is a Community of Protestant Churches in Mission, which was created in 1971, in Paris, France. The Cevaa came into being by decision of the member churches from north and south of the former Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (founded in 1822), to enter together into new relationships of equality and solidarity. Today, Cevaa groups 35 Protestant churches in 21 countries, in Africa, Latin America, Europe, and in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. These churches have decided to pool part of their human and financial resources and activities, in order to respond together to their calling in mission. The story of the creation of the Cevaa is part of the changes in the 1960s, when the so-called “younger churches”, which often had achieved their autonomy before the independence of their countries, acquired a new strength and freedom, and rejected the missionary tutelage of the past. It was the time of the merger of the International Missionary Council with the World Council of Churches (1961), of the understanding of mission as part of the church, and as “mission in six continents” (Mexico, 1963). The Cevaa was preceded by joint “apostolic actions” in Dahomey (now Bénin) and France, carried out by two international and inter-disciplinary teams. These new experiences in doing mission, which lasted several years, paved the way for the new body to be set up.

Three convictions are at the basis of the Cevaa and constitute its specificity. The Christian community can no longer be divided into missionary churches and churches that are the object of mission: all have been entrusted with the mission of Christ. Secondly, the best way to witness to Christ in today’s societies is to form together a community of faith, prayer and action. And thirdly, the whole gospel must be announced to the whole human being, not only the part that speaks of the kingdom to come, not only the spiritual part, but the totality of the message of life in God, that is addressed to the whole person, as an individual and a member of the society. These convictions are embodied in all the missionary programmes of the Cevaa, which are all undergirded by a foundational activity of the community called “theological animation”: the confrontation of the reading of the gospel with the socio-cultural realities of each church; the constant re-actualization of the gospel message; the critical reflection on the world and the church, based on the scriptures; the strengthening of the capacities of the people of God through various ways of formation.

The charter of the Cevaa, adopted in 2002, spells out the objectives of the community: 1) To support common actions and missionary programmes for the witness and the evangelization of the member churches. 2) To share human and material resources according to jointly agreed priorities. 3) To awaken the creative abilities of believers through training and community education. 4) To develop networks of vigilance for the respect of human rights, against all forms of oppression and discrimination, and for the preservation of the creation. 5) To stimulate a responsible participation of all, men and women, in the many facets of life in church and society. 6) To encourage the circulation of information, the sharing of experience and the mutual challenge between churches of different sensitivities, languages and cultures. 7) Whenever possible and respecting the beliefs of all, to promote dialogue and cooperation with those active, socially and religiously, in a given area.

The Cevaa has its offices in Montpellier, France.

Periodical: Témoignages (bimonthly, in French and English)