Interview
He opens the interview by offering definitions of mission and evangelism—and the difference between the terms. “God’s mission is this overflowing love into our lives and world,” he says. “It also speaks of transformation of our systems and our world.”
Adding that “counter-creating” is one way to describe the work of the commission, Cruchley also speaks about the structure and mandate of the commission, and how its work connects with the contemporary missionary movement.
"The CWME is a longstanding, historic part of Christianity’s attempt to witness together, and so the commission has come about as a space to gather the churches in their mission engagement,” he said. “The commission is given a particular mandate around provoking, engaging, sharing.”
Cruchley, who describes himself as a “missionary child,” grew up in Zambia, and later in life served as an ordained pastor in Wales for many years.
In the interview, he also offers an overview of the CWME structure, which includes areas on discipleship and evangelism, the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, concerns of Indigenous peoples, and other areas.
Cruchley concludes the interview by offering reflections on the meaning of “mission from the margins,” as well as on mission trends in 2023.
WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
Learn more about the WCC work on Mission and Evangelism
