The Council for World Mission (CWM) is a worldwide partnership of Christian churches, comprising 36 denominations that share resources, people, skills, and insights globally and locally to accomplish and fulfill the Christian mission. The organization includes churches of Reformed and United tradition, many of which historically originated from the work of the London Missionary Society (1795), the Commonwealth Missionary Society (1836), and the Presbyterian Council for Missions (1847).

History Background The CWM has its roots in the London Missionary Society, founded in 1795, the Commonwealth Missionary Society founded in 1836, and the Presbyterian Council for Missions, founded in 1847.

These three predecessor missionary organizations were constituted with the goal to evangelize regions such as the South Pacific, Africa, India, and China.

During the 20th century, the churches founded by these missions became autonomous, consolidating local identity and drawing attention to the need for a global missionary partnership based on equality between churches of the Global North and South.

Foundation (1977) In 1977, the historic missions were reorganized as the Council for World Mission (CWM), with the aim of promoting missionary cooperation among partner churches, each considered both agent and recipient of God's mission. The international headquarters is located in Singapore, with regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Europe.

The member churches are represented by 144 delegates, four from each member church. The delegates elect the Moderator, Treasurer, and all members of the Board of Directors.

The member churches meet annually to approve any amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, appoint the General Secretary and to admit or expel members upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors.Jisc website, Retrieved 2023-04-15

Organization and purpose The CWM promotes:

Global missionary cooperation;

Strengthening solidarity between churches of the North and South;

Justice, peace, and integrity of creation;

Theological and missionary training in partnership with seminaries and universities.

The organization participates in the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the meetings of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC). Although the CWM does not have formal membership status in the WCRC, 30 of its 36 member churches are also members of the WCRC, which is why the Council acts as a missionary partner to several of these denominations.

Members

In 2025, the organization had 36 members:

Country Denominational sub-family Denomination Number of congregations Number of members Year South Africa Congregationalists United Congregational Church of Southern Africa 1,000 1,500,000 2024 South Africa Presbyterians Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa 473 500,000 2006 Bangladesh United Churches (Presbyterians and Anglicans) Church of Bangladesh 115 22,600 2022 China (People's Republic of China) United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Baptists, and Methodists) Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China 74 36,000 2016 Cook Islands Congregational Cook Islands Christian Church ~80 ~18,000 2024 South Korea Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of Korea (TongHap) 9,446 2,190,919 2024 Guyana Congregational Guyana Congregational Union 40 2,452 2006 India United Churches (Presbyterians, Anglicans, Methodists and Disciples of Christ) Church of North India 4,600 2,300,000 2025 India United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Continental Reformed, Anglicans, and Methodists) Church of South India 10,114 5,000,000 2020 India Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of India 4,054 1,605,423 2024 Jamaica United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Disciples of Christ) United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands 194 14,000 2025 Kiribati United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Anglicans) Kiribati Uniting Church 136 25,216 2020 Madagascar Continental Reformed Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar 7,200 6,000,000 2016 Malaysia Presbyterians Presbyterian Church in Malaysia 100 7,000 2004 Malawi Churches of Christ Church of Christ in Malawi 4,000 75,000 1991 Mauritius Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of Mauritius 5 501 2011 Myanmar Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of Myanmar 245 33,000 2001 Nauru Congregational Nauru Congregational Church 7 7,000 2006 New Zealand Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand 259 18,348 2023 New Zealand Congregational Congregational Union of New Zealand 13 670 2019 Netherlands United Churches (Continental Reformed and Lutheran) Protestant Church in the Netherlands 1,487 1,387,000 2025 Papua New Guinea United Churches (Presbyterians and Methodists) United Church in Papua New Guinea 2,600 748,961 2011 "French Polynesia" Congregational Maohi Protestant Church 104 135,500 2019 United Kingdom United Churches (Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Disciples of Christ) United Reformed Church 1,242 35,844 2022 United Kingdom Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of Wales 471 12,938 2023 United Kingdom Congregational Union of Welsh Independents 390 20,000 2006 United Kingdom Congregational Congregational Federation 235 10,883 2004 Solomon Islands United Churches (Presbyterians and Methodists) United Church in the Solomon Islands 191 50,000 2006 Samoa Congregational Congregational Christian Church of Samoa 325 70,000 2006 American Samoa Congregational Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa 113 20,000 2006 Singapore Presbyterians Presbyterian Church in Singapore 37 21,000 2020 Taiwan Presbyterians Presbyterian Church in Taiwan 1,271 257,550 2020 Trinidad and Tobago Presbyterians Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago 108 40,000 2004 Tuvalu Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 18 9,682 2012 Vanuatu Presbyterian Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu 400 65,000 2018 Zambia United Churches (Presbyterians and Methodists) United Church of Zambia 1,060 4,000,000 2024 Global Council for World Mission 52,151 26,240,487 2004-2024

Programmes The Council has four permanent programmes – financial sharing, personnel sharing, mission development and education, and communication – which give encouragement, provide training opportunities, share information and give practical help to the churches' mission programs.

Member churches carry out theological education, pastoral ministry, healthcare (including HIV/AIDS care), counselling and community work. CWM offers training programmes, missiological research and scholarship to its members.

The ‘Partners in Mission’ (PIM) programme works to share mission personnel between member churches.

The 'Face to Face' program offers theology students overseas placements of up to two months.Official websiteBoston University In 2008, CWM launched a partnership with St George's College to operate a temporary 'Face to Face' program in Israel.Jerusalem and the Middle East Church Association Pentecost 2008 Partner countries for this programme include the US, Fiji, India and Zambia.

Archives The Archive of the Council for World Mission is held at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. SOAS websiteSOAS website They also hold the archives for LMS, CMS and EPBM.

Notes

References

External links CWM Home Page