27th General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, Chiang Mai, Thailand, on October 14-15, 2025
Facilitated by Dr Deenabandhu Manchala (India) and Rev. Dr Jaeshik Shin (South Korea), the workshop traced the origins, purpose, and progress of the Transformative Ecumenism Movement from its inception in 2013 to its global launch in Kenya in 2023. It offered a comprehensive account of its distinct features. It called on WCRC participants and churches to be in solidarity with movements from the margins, women, and youth to resist the life-denying powers of empire.
The focus on a people-based, justice-oriented, and change-driven ecumenism evoked great interest among the nearly 110 participants who attended three sessions. The number of participants exceeded expectations, with a good mix from both the Global South and the North.
The three sessions inspired engaging conversations among participants, as they shared perspectives and experiences from their own contexts. There was a palpable desire to explore possibilities for ecumenical engagement beyond institutional confines. TEM was received as a new pathway for those seeking change in the church and the world.