Empowering the 99%: The Changing Role of Theology and Mission for Everyday Life
Reflections from the Fourth Lausanne Congress
By James S. Lee, President of International Theological Seminary in West Covina, California.
The Lausanne Congress in Incheon-Seoul is the fourth global gathering of evangelical, mission-minded leaders worldwide. The last one was in Cape Town in 2010. Until recently, I had very little knowledge of or interest in Lausanne. A colleague, who attended the Congress in Cape Town, spoke highly of her wonderful experience. However, Lausanne has kept a relatively low profile, with access seemingly reserved for those already in the loop. An alumnus of International Theological Seminary (ITS), where I serve as the president, mentioned that I could connect with global leaders at the Congress. I seized the opportunity and requested his recommendation, which led to an invitation to apply. According to the Lausanne Movement’s website, prospective participants need to be nominated by a “Christian leader or influencer.” The application process was rather rigorous. I was asked a series of questions, including my spiritual life and theological views. A few months later, I was invited—not to the onsite Congress, but to a virtual experience. I was disappointed. I later learned that preference for onsite was given to those under 40, women, or marketplace leaders—categories that I didn’t fit.
Then, to my surprise, I was invited to attend onsite a month before the gathering. Despite my limited knowledge of the Congress, I was filled with excitement and gratitude to be part of such a historic event in South Korea, my birthplace. Upon arriving, it became immediately clear that Lausanne had a unique ability to convene key leaders from the global evangelical Christian community. Everyone present shared a sense of thankfulness and anticipation for the event. This made me wonder: how many other international Christian organizations command such broad attraction? Even the President of South Korea recognized the event’s importance and sent a spokesperson to deliver a welcome message.
Lausanne, with its loosely organized structure, identifies itself as a movement. Founded by Billy Graham, its mission reflects his vision to:
"unite all evangelicals in the common task of the total evangelization of the world."
During the Congress, the word I heard over and over again was collaboration. Lausanne envisions itself to be a catalyst for bringing diverse church bodies and mission organizations together for a collective effort to advance global mission and evangelism. It reminded me of the Urbana Conference, a large student missions conference, I attended during my college years, but on a much grander scale. And the Congress didn’t disappoint. It was an amazing experience of prayers, worship, and rich and stimulating conversations with Christians worldwide. Over 5000 people converged at the convention center in Incheon/Songdo. Korean Christian volunteers welcomed us with big smiles and welcome signs. The significance of the location of the Congress was not lost to many. The Korean Church celebrates its rich history of Christianity, which took root through the sacrificial work of Western missionaries 140 years ago. Now, South Korea is the second-largest sender of missionaries, following the U.S. Yet, North Korea threatens its neighbor that shares much of its history, culture, and language with nuclear weapons, reminding South Korea and the world of fragile peace in the Korean Peninsula. North Korea, often considered the most closed and unreachable nation, is the Samaria Korean Christians stumble over and cannot bypass in their effort to fulfill the Great Commission. Heartbreaking stories of the persecuted church in North Korea, alongside inspiring stories of courageous and dedicated missionaries reaching North Koreans, were shared throughout the Congress.
One of the central themes in the Congress was polycentric mission. Polycentric mission challenges the traditional binary of mission work, where one region sends missionaries, and the rest of the world receives them. As Dr. Allen Yeh, a global Christianity expert and the academic dean at ITS, reminded us, Christianity has always been polycentric. The centers of Christianity, since its inception, have been multiple and scattered throughout Africa, Asia, and Europe. The Congress reaffirmed this reality. I met a Brazilian presbyterian theological educator serving as the principal of a bible college in Rwanda, a Mongolian pastor whose church sends missionaries and mission teams to Central Asia, a Filipina staff of a large mission agency working with churches and organizations in South Asia, and an American who trains and works with missionaries from China. At my seminary, I met a student from Nagaland (a region of India) who served as a missionary to South Korea, spending time at local coffee shops talking to non-Christians no longer interested in church or religion.
Yet, the disparity in resources between the West and the Majority World remains a pressing challenge.
Yet, the disparity in resources between the West and the Majority World remains a pressing challenge. Largely dependent on the generosity and support of churches in the West, the Majority World Christian leaders feel frustrated and are sometimes resentful of dependency and the pressure to align their ministry with Western agendas. One moving moment at the Congress was when Korean churches asked for forgiveness for the wrongs and harm their past missionary efforts caused. A Cambodian pastor at my table, who is a survivor of the Killing Fields, expressed appreciation for Korean Christians’ humble confessions but also asked when U.S. Christians would do the same for the destruction done to his country and people during the Vietnam War. I found myself at a loss for words.
One aspect of Lausanne that impressed me deeply was its focus on the next generation and the development of future leaders. With an eye on the future, Lausanne has already moved toward younger, non-white leadership. Michael Oh, a Korean American missionary in Japan, was appointed CEO when he was relatively young. During the Congress, young leaders were given a platform to speak and lead sessions, bringing a vibrancy that stood in stark contrast to the declining congregations I’ve encountered in North America. Lausanne’s long-term view, planning for 2050, struck me as both refreshing and visionary. Their planning was being guided by extensive data, such as the State of the Great Commission report, and input from participants in meetings like this Congress.
As a cutting-edge gathering, Lausanne embraced emerging technologies, using virtual reality, AI, and other digital tools to promote networking. This emphasis on innovation, paired with its future-focused mindset, is something North American churches and theological institutions can learn from.
As a theological educator, I went to the Congress with the hope for new directions for theological education in North America. The Congress opened my eyes to the uncomfortable truth: the future of the church isn’t about pastors positioning themselves at the center, but rather about empowering everyday Christians in the marketplace to live out their faith.
The future of the church isn’t about pastors positioning themselves at the center, but rather about empowering everyday Christians in the marketplace to live out their faith.
The role of pastors and theological institutions is to empower and provide everyday Christians with tools and resources to carry out their unique calling. Someone in my group pointed out that the clergy is only 1%, and 99% are in the workplace. Perhaps the lost is not the 99% but the 1% of clergy and theological educators who need to accept the reality and prepare their congregation and students for their various vocations.
Of course, given the diversity of Christians represented, the Congress was not without controversies. The Congress sought to balance the evangelical Christians’ historical focus on “saving souls” and addressing several theological issues the global church grapples with such as environmental crisis, justice and reconciliation, and human sexuality. The war in Israel and Gaza remained a very sensitive issue. Speaking on justice, a speaker pleaded for an end to the suffering of Palestinians and the war in Gaza but failed to mention the attacks by Hamas or the suffering of Israelis. This omission led to an official statement of apology from the planning committee. Another contentious issue was human sexuality. Lausanne’s theological stance was clear as expressed in the Seoul Statement, a faith statement issued before the Congress. However, it was seen by some as too conservative and by others as too progressive, with Korean Christians picketing outside the venue. I also noticed that Lausanne still holds onto the “complementarian language” in gender roles. It struck me as backward as Lausanne focused on empowering women in Christian leadership.
Despite these tensions, the Congress fostered remarkable unity and collaboration. Each mealtime provided an opportunity to meet someone new, learn about their ministry, and discuss potential partnerships. These rich encounters made the Congress unforgettable. Yet, as I reflect, I’m left wondering about its lasting impact. Will these conversations lead to meaningful collaboration? I’ve attended many gatherings and collected countless business cards, but only a few resulted in actual partnerships. While global Christianity grows, our work often remains intensely local.
As I return home, I’m deeply grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The vision I caught at Lausanne will continue to guide my work, shaping my efforts at the seminary. The journey of translating that vision into everyday practice, however, has only just begun.
James S. Lee is the President of International Theological Seminary in West Covina, California. James has extensive experience in teaching the Bible in cross-cultural contexts, including Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Thailand, and Tanzania. He holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament from Union Presbyterian Seminary and received his M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is married to Dr. Charlene Jin Lee, a pastor and practical theologian; they have three children--Kate, Frances, and Harold. His recent book, Reimagining Exile in Daniel: A Literary-Historical Study (Mohr Siebeck, 2023), explores exile as a place of prophetic calling and privilege.