Prof. Franz Gassner participated the meeting of the Commission of World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Kingston, Jamaica

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Prof. Franz Gassner participated the meeting of the Commission of World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Kingston, Jamaica

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01/01/1970

Prof. Franz Gassner participated in the Meeting of the Commission of World Mission and Evangelisation of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Kingston, Jamaica, from 16 – 21 April, 2016.

Associate Professor Franz Gassner, Coordinator for the Master of Philosophy and Bachelor of Philosophy Programmes at the Faculty of Religious Studies and Philosophy of the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Macao, attended the meeting of the Commission of World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Kingston, Jamaica.

Appointed by the Vatican into this Commission, the meeting convenes biannually church leaders, theologians, and ecumenical partners from around the world for a week of reflection and discernment on the future of Christian mission.

Hosted at the University of the West Indies (UWI) from April 16 – 21, 2026, the meeting unfolded under the theme “Preparing the Way: Mission as Re-storying the World – Spirituality; Reparations; Legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade”. The gathering marked a key milestone in the commission’s ongoing work and its preparations toward the Conference on World Mission and Evangelism in November 2028, in Fiji, Pacific.

*(Commission of World Mission and Evangelisamion, in Kingston, Jamaica)*

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, transformation, and renewal, aiming to 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, inclusion, climate justice and transformative decolonised discipleship.

(*Liturgy with Commissioners from around the world*)

Part of the programme were plenary sessions, working groups, and business meetings. Key presentations include a reflection on mission from the Caribbean context by Prof. Michael Taylor (Science, UWI), as well as a plenary, led by Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kingston, Kenneth Richards, on Christian mission in light of global geopolitical realities. A series of thematic discussions explored how mission intersects with pressing issues such as climate justice, racism, gender equality, and youth engagement.

(*From left tp right: Prof. Franz Gassner with Most Rev. Kenneth Richards, Roman Catholic Archbiship of Kingston, Jamaica*)

*(From left to right: Rev. Bertram Gayle from the Anglican Church, Jamaica, and Prof. Franz Gassner )*

Representatives from various other WCC commissions (e.g. Commission for Faith and Order; Commission for Climate Justice and Sustainability) contributed their perspectives, identifying opportunities for collaboration and shared action across different areas of work within the WCC.

An important feature of the meeting was a pilgrimage visit to communities in Western Jamaica affected by the devastating Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, which caused 32 deaths by winds of 300 km/h, followed by devastating storm surges. 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 underscores the commission’s commitment to mission as lived experience, grounded in real-world challenges and relationships.