Editor’s note: This article is part of forum discussing the fourth Lausanne Congress. It is not an official Lausanne Movement forum but an opportunity for Lausanne delegates to share their thoughts about the fourth Lausanne Congress, the Seoul Statement, and the future of the mission. You can read the entire series, from diverse voices around the world here.
Lausanne 4 came to a triumphant close today. It is difficult to describe in words to someone who has not attended an event like this, the breathtaking beauty of a Lausanne gathering with 5,200 people gathered in a single room with delegates from nearly every country on earth worshipping in joy and harmony. There is no doubt that Lausanne has (since the Third Congress in Cape Town in 2010) nurtured and fostered the most diverse gathering of Christians in the history of the world. Indeed, the greatest fruit of Lausanne is always the people who gather. I had conversations with colleagues from around the world and met many new friends which will enrich my life and ministry for decades to come. But, despite the wonderful hallway conversations, there were many wonderful moments among the platform speakers. I attended every single session, as well all of my “gap” group meetings. If you were not able to attend Lausanne and can only hear one message, listen to Sarah Breuel’s address on Monday. It was life changing and powerful.
Lausanne 4 was also a logistical triumph. There is no doubt that enormous planning and preparation had taken place for this Congress. There were a few snags here and there, but no one should underestimate how difficult it is to pull of an event this complex. The Korean hosts were unbelievably kind and gracious and I have nothing but gratitude for those behind the scenes who planned, along with hundreds of volunteers (mostly Korean) who showed us all what servanthood looks like day after day. Well done, Lausanne!!
The Seoul Statement has been the subject of a lot of hallway conversations. This is, of course, the fourth major Lausanne statement building on the Lausanne Covenant, the Manila Manifesto and the Cape Town Commitment. I was involved with the Cape Town Commitment and the follow up teaching documents in the years following because I chaired the Theology Working Group of Lausanne for five years. Many do not recognize how difficult these statements can be because the evangelical conversations around topics like scripture, gender, human sexuality and technology are rooted in different cultural and social contexts which has led to different understandings of certain terms and phrases within the broader global identity. I, for example, appreciate the affirmation of Side B Christians (See Article IV.70) who are seeking to be faithful to Christ through celibacy. But, I also understand how many of our brothers and sisters may be alarmed because they see, quite rightly, that many who call themselves evangelical in the western world have completely abandoned historic Christian views regarding marriage and gender identity. Perhaps the greatest legacy of the Seoul Statement will actually be Article VII calling the church to a theologically informed view of technology. I think, over the ensuing months clarifications will be issued and conversations will take place which will bring the global church closer together regarding the Seoul Statement. The conversations will be healthy for us all. We shouldn’t view this as “controversy” but as what happens in any family when we actually sit down and talk things through.
I think many of us recognize that there were several cringe worthy moments when theological rigor and even historical accuracy were lacking in the content of several of the main presenters at Lausanne 4. But, there was also some slippage in basic missiology as well. For example, there were moments when the very meaning of an unreached or hidden people group was confused with the need for general evangelism. It was like fifty years had gone by and a whole new generation of leaders had never fully comprehended Ralph Winter’s original address in 1974 which was so defining for Lausanne and the subsequent global missionary movement over the last 50 years. The concern (If I may be permitted to re-state it once again) is that even if the entire global church were to rise up and become “Billy Graham” level evangelists, and even if everyone they preached to responded to the gospel, the good news is that we would have over 1 billion new Christians. But, the troubling news which Winter pointed out is that there would still be 1.5 billion who never heard the name of Jesus. This point cannot be lost on the global church. In fact, the situation is actually statistically worse than it was in 1974 if the 2024 Lausanne Great Commission Report data is accurate. We all love and admire Rick Warren, but let me use his talk as an example. Even if the global church were to follow with all their heart all ten points issued by Rick Warren, this would not “finish the task” as he told us, since there would still be 1.5 billion without ever even hearing the name of Jesus Christ. I have great respect for Rick Warren, so this is not about his remarkable and fruitful ministry. I am simply using this as one example, among quite a few over the course of the week, where the platform speakers clearly confused “evangelism” and “missions.” But evangelism will not “finish the task.” The church must cross cultural and linguistic barriers, or they will remain “hidden” or “unreached.” If Lausanne doesn’t make that point, no one else will. So, let me commend Michael Oh, Executive Director of Lausanne, and give him a huge “shout out” for making this point in his final address to the Lausanne 4 Congress. Michael Oh clearly affirmed the need for the church to cross cultural and linguistic barriers to bring the gospel to peoples who are unreached with the gospel. He made it crystal clear in his closing address, and he did it with great power and anointing. I want to say publicly that, for me, Michael Oh rescued the weak missiology of Lausanne 4. He did it at the last moment, but he did it, and I want to publicly commend him for his final address. In 20 minutes he turned a “B” Congress into an “A” Congress. Michael, if you are reading this, please know that there are dozens of missiologists who were in the room who will sleep so much better tonight because of your final address. Thank you.
