World Evangelical Alliance

Overview

The World Evangelical Alliance is an international body of evangelical Protestant churches and organizations. It is not a denomination that individual congregations join directly; its members are national evangelical alliances and continental regional alliances. The WEA states that alliances and organizations in more than 160 countries participate and that it represents some 650 million Christians. It has never joined the World Council of Churches (WCC), although it takes part in some interchurch dialogues as an observer.

Founding and History

• 1846: In August, about 800 representatives of 52 denominations from 11 countries gathered in London, England, and founded the Evangelical Alliance. The WEA regards this gathering as its origin.
• 1912: The name World Evangelical Alliance reportedly came into use in this year.
• 1951: Representatives from 21 countries met in Zeist, the Netherlands, and formed the World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF). The statement of faith adopted at that time remains in use today.
• 2001: Following the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the organization readopted its earlier name, World Evangelical Alliance.
• General assemblies are held roughly every six years. The 2019 assembly met in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the 14th General Assembly was held in Seoul, South Korea, in 2025.

Principal Activities

The WEA helps national alliances connect and cooperate with one another. Its current vision, "The Gospel for Everyone by 2033," emphasizes evangelism and discipleship. At the 2025 Seoul General Assembly it issued the "Seoul Declaration," which included the following:

• A confession that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God
• A confession that salvation is possible only through Jesus Christ
• A call for vigilance against religious pluralism and syncretism
• A position that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are sinful according to Scripture
• Solidarity in support of religious freedom and hope for the reunification of the Korean Peninsula

Membership

The WEA's members are national evangelical alliances and nine regional alliances; the Asia Evangelical Alliance is one example of a regional alliance. In South Korea, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) is reported to have once been a member. Kim Sang-bok, pastor emeritus of Hallelujah Church in Korea, served as chairman of the WEA.

Relations with Korean Churches and Controversies

• Postponement of the 2014 Seoul General Assembly: At the CCK's request, Seoul was selected to host the 2014 General Assembly. In 2012, however, the Communion of Churches in Korea split from the CCK, and several Presbyterian denominations subsequently left the CCK as well. In 2013, Kim Myung-hyuk, president of the Korea Evangelical Fellowship, wrote to the WEA asking that the venue be changed. In 2014 the WEA International Council postponed the Seoul assembly, citing divisions within the Korean evangelical community.
• 2025 Seoul General Assembly: An organizing committee was launched in November 2024, co-chaired by the Rev. Lee Young-hoon and the Rev. Oh Jung-hyun. The assembly was held October 27–31, 2025, with SaRang Community Church as its main venue. More than 1,500 people from over 120 countries reportedly attended. At this assembly, Godfrey Yogarajah was elected chairman and Botrus Mansour was elected secretary general.
• Opponents' claims: The CCK and certain other conservative Korean groups alleged that senior WEA figures were connected with religious pluralism and syncretism or with the New Apostolic Reformation. In September 2025, the theological committee of the "2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly Opposition Coalition" issued a statement opposing the assembly; the CCK and others sponsored this event. On the opening day of the assembly, a protest rally was also held near the venue.
• The WEA's position: Goodwill Shana, then chairman, stated that the WEA's unity is grounded in biblical values and is not an inclusivism that simply accepts multiple religions. The Seoul Declaration also included a statement cautioning against religious pluralism.