On January 17, the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) issued a statement raising concerns about the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) conference scheduled for October in Seoul, South Korea. The CCK urged Sarang Church, the designated host of WEA 2025, to disclose its financial support for the event and called for the resignation of Rev. Samuel Chiang, WEA’s Deputy Secretary General and a key figure in the conference’s preparation.
This statement marks the latest wave of criticism within South Korea since WEA announced in November that the next conference would be held in the country. South Korea recently hosted the fourth Lausanne Congress for World Evangelism.
“Accusations against WEA leadership concerning religious pluralism, syncretism, the New Apostolic Reformation, and ‘narcissistic’ figures in critical positions leading to family breakdowns persist,” the CCK said. “Yet Sarang Church appears to continue providing financial support to WEA. Silence on these matters while rushing to offer financial backing may be perceived as having ulterior motives.”
The CCK further referenced longstanding rumors about “certain Korean pastors” allegedly using financial contributions to WEA to secure positions within the organization. The statement warned, “Moving forward with financial commitments without addressing or clarifying these allegations gives the impression that the true intent of these pastors is to obtain roles within the organization.”
The council also questioned the role of Rev. Samuel Chiang, describing him as a critical link between WEA and Sarang Church. It pointed out that his biography on the Lausanne Movement’s website refers to “Hong Kong (PRC)” rather than the more commonly used terms “Hong Kong SAR” or simply “Hong Kong,” raising serious concerns about his affiliations and background.
Highlighting further issues, the CCK noted that in February 2024, Rev. Chiang participated in a WEA delegation’s visit to China, which included meetings only with leaders of state-approved Three-Self Churches and Chinese government officials, omitting the usual engagements with house church leaders. This added to the suspicions surrounding his leadership.
Additionally, the statement referenced a February 16, 2024, meeting between Rev. Chiang and a Muslim leader. Over 1,300 South Korean church leaders had previously condemned this action, labeling it as indicative of a “pro-Islamic” bias.
The CCK urged Sarang Church to provide transparent explanations to the South Korean Christian community regarding the numerous questions surrounding WEA. It cautioned, “Failure to address these concerns while focusing solely on financial support will expose the church to criticism for irresponsibly allocating public funds to individuals and organizations accused of promoting religious pluralism and heretical practices.”
(Source: Christian Daily International)
