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Hosted at the University of the West Indies from April 16-21, the meeting unfolds under the theme “Preparing the Way: Mission as Re-storying the World – Spirituality; Reparations; Legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.” The gathering marks a key milestone in the commission’s ongoing work and its preparations toward the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism in 2028.
Proceedings began 17 April, with an opening service at the United Theological College of the West Indies, held in collaboration with the Jamaica Council of Churches. The service grounded participants in the spiritual and historical context of the Caribbean, incorporating an acknowledgment of land and Indigenous peoples and setting the tone for a week centered on justice, healing, and transformation.
A reflection by Christine Gooden Benguche emphasized the importance of re-examining historical narratives and engaging mission as a practice of restoration and renewal.
The commission meets every two years and brings together representatives from WCC member churches as well as Roman Catholic, Evangelical, and Pentecostal partners. Its mandate is to foster dialogue, collaboration, and theological reflection in support of mission and Christian unity.
The opening day also introduced the theological framework guiding the meeting, with a focus on “re-storying” as a central motif. This concept invites participants to challenge and transform harmful historical narratives, particularly those linked to colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, and to articulate new, life-giving expressions of mission rooted in justice and inclusion.
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Photo: Dennis Duncan/WCC
Over the course of the week, participants engage in a programme of plenary sessions, working groups, and business meetings. Key presentations include a reflection on mission from the Caribbean context by Michael Taylor, as well as a plenary, led by Kenneth Richards, on Christian mission in light of global geopolitical realities. These sessions aim to deepen theological understanding while addressing contemporary global challenges.
A series of thematic discussions explores how mission intersects with pressing issues such as climate justice, racism, gender equality, and youth engagement.
Representatives from various WCC commissions will also contribute perspectives, identifying opportunities for collaboration and shared action across different areas of work.
A distinctive feature of the meeting was a pilgrimage visit to communities in Western Jamaica affected by Hurricane Melissa. Participants visited local parishes in St Elizabeth and Trelawney, engaging directly with communities and reflecting on themes of trauma, resilience, land, and climate justice. This contextual engagement underscored the commission’s commitment to mission as lived experience, grounded in real-world challenges and relationships.
Sunday services will see participants join congregations across Kingston, fostering solidarity and strengthening connections between the global gathering and local churches. These shared services are intended to highlight the lived realities of faith communities in the Caribbean while reinforcing a sense of global Christian fellowship.
The commission’s work is structured around a series of business sessions and working groups designed to move from reflection to concrete outcomes. Working groups will focus on key areas including evangelism in practice, mission as reparative justice, and the role of spiritualities and transformative communities in reshaping mission. These discussions will contribute to the development of strategies and resources for the 2028 Conference on World Mission and Evangelism.
Business sessions throughout the week will guide participants through processes of alignment, discernment, and strategic planning. From adopting the agenda and reviewing working group insights to identifying priorities and mapping future directions, the commission aims to translate theological reflection into actionable steps and strengthened partnerships.
The meeting will culminate in a closing plenary and sending forth, where key insights and commitments will be affirmed. This final moment will mark a transition from reflection to action, commissioning participants to carry forward the outcomes of the gathering into their respective contexts.
By situating the meeting in Jamaica—a region deeply shaped by the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade—the commission underscores its commitment to confronting historical injustices while envisioning a more just and reconciled future. The meeting thus serves as both a space for theological renewal and a platform for advancing mission as a transformative force in today’s world.
The commission acknowledges that its meeting is taking place on the ancestral lands of Jamaica’s Indigenous peoples and affirms its respect for their enduring rights, heritage, and connection to this land, taking this context into careful consideration in its deliberations.
