The World Evangelical Alliance’s (WEA) announcement to hold its General Assembly (GA) next year in Seoul continues to stir up strong reactions among church groups in the proposed host country with the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) issuing a third statement calling for the plans to be put on hold due to controversies and the risk of creating further division.
In addition to reemphasizing the ongoing concerns surrounding two key leaders in the WEA, the head of the association of 61 denominations that was formerly WEA’s national member Alliance highlighted the responses by representatives of other church groups whom the organizing committee portrayed as supporters but who have subsequently publicly denied endorsing the plans and distanced themselves from the WEA.
“The situation surrounding the 2025 WEA General Assembly eerily mirrors the events of the 2013 [World Council of Churches] Assembly. When concerns and objections are raised, the response seems to consist solely of evasive rhetoric and excuses, while no accountability is taken for the division and confusion caused to the Korean church,” CCK’s President Rev. Seo-young Jung wrote in the statement (in Korean; English translation of the full statement below) released on Friday (Nov. 22).
The previous week, on Nov. 15, a thanksgiving service was held to mark the launch of the Organizing Committee for the 2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly, co-chaired by Rev. Junghyun John Oh from SaRang Church and Rev. Younghoon Lee from Yoido Full Gospel Church, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
Already in the days leading up to the event, different groups issued statements calling for the GA to be put on hold until their questions about the WEA’s stance with other faiths and perceived liberal courtship with ecumenical bodies are addressed.
In its third statement, CCK reiterates its previously raised concerns about WEA Executive Chair Goodwill Shana regarding allegations he may be part of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) but now points to newly emerging “uncertainties” in Shana’s theological background.
“He said he graduated from Antioch Bible College in Columbus, Ohio, USA, but it is difficult to find a school with that name in Ohio, but there is only Antioch College in Yellow Springs,” the statement says. “But this is a liberal university that supports LGBTQ people. In addition, he only has an honorary doctorate and does not have a formal doctorate.”
CCK also questions why the host church SaRang invited Shana to preach but then pulled back: “In September, Sarang invited Shana to preach but later canceled the event. This decision hints that the church was aware of the suspicions regarding Shana’s ties to the New Apostolic Reformation”
CCK also reiterated concerns regarding John Langlois and his status as WEA International Council member emeritus. “John E. Langlois, a lifelong member of the WEA International Council (despite such a position not being stipulated in WEA’s bylaws), is now revealed as a key figure in the current controversy.”
“According to WEA’s regulations, members of the International Council (IC) are limited to two terms, with mandatory retirement before re-election. Yet Langlois has served far beyond this limit, violating WEA’s own rules. He must resign immediately to ensure transparency in WEA’s governance,” the CCK statement continues.
Regarding the earlier raised concerns about Langlois’ son describing his father among others as a “narcissist”, CCK added: “Mental health professionals note that narcissists exhibit traits like control, boundary violations, hypocrisy, and avoidance of accountability—traits clearly reflected in Langlois’s lifetime role, decision-making power, and secrecy within WEA.”
Finally, CCK criticized the organizing committee’s false endorsements during the Seoul GA thanksgiving service. At the time, a press conference purported that both the HapDong denomination, which SaRang Church belongs to, and the former president of the Council of Presbyterian Churches in Korea supported the launch event, something that both later publicly denied.
CCK calls for WEA to put the plans on hold until all concerns are clarified and Korean churches can reevaluate if they want to hold the GA in Seoul. The WEA, Shana and Langlois have yet to comment on any of the issues raised by CCK and others.
Read the full translated statement below:
WEA General Assembly Cannot Be Trusted Without Cancellation and Verification
- John Langlois, Goodwill Shana Must Resign Immediately
- All Suspicion Must Be Cleared, and WEA General Assembly Must Be Reconsidered from Scratch
The situation surrounding the 2024 WEA General Assembly eerily mirrors the events of the 2013 WCC Assembly. When concerns and objections are raised, the response seems to consist solely of evasive rhetoric and excuses, while no accountability is taken for the division and confusion caused to the Korean church.
Attempting to deflect with “false explanations” is bad enough, but seeking government funding under the guise of an “international event” would be utterly shocking. Public funds, derived from church members’ offerings and taxpayers’ money, cannot be allocated to an event that is predicted to create severe divisions within the Korean church. The National Assembly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, and relevant budgetary authorities must immediately reject any budget proposals related to WEA. Furthermore, church councils must thoroughly monitor financial expenditures to avoid being accused of financially supporting individuals suspected of heretical tendencies.
Concerns about Goodwill Shana’s association with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) were raised in a previous statement, and the findings from domestic and international heresy experts will soon be announced. Additionally, Shana’s theological background is riddled with uncertainties. He claimed to have graduated from Antioch Bible College in Columbus, Ohio; however, no such school can be located in Ohio, except for Antioch College in Yellow Springs—a liberal university known for supporting LGBTQ rights. Moreover, Shana possesses only an honorary doctorate and does not hold a formal doctoral degree.
In September, SaRang Church invited Shana to preach but later canceled the event. This decision hints that the church was aware of the suspicions regarding Shana’s ties to the New Apostolic Reformation. Pastor Oh Jung-hyun must clarify why he ignored or concealed these heresy-related issues while advancing discussions on the WEA General Assembly.
John E. Langlois, a lifelong member of the WEA International Council (despite such a position not being stipulated in WEA’s bylaws), is now revealed as a key figure in the current controversy. According to WEA’s regulations, members of the International Council (IC) are limited to two terms, with mandatory retirement before re-election. Yet Langlois has served far beyond this limit, violating WEA’s own rules. He must resign immediately to ensure transparency in WEA’s governance.
Adding to the controversy, Langlois’s own son, Mark Langlois, accused his father of extreme abuse, stating he didn’t even want to share his last name. Mark described his father as a narcissist who destroyed their family and created what he termed a “cult-like family.” Mental health professionals note that narcissists exhibit traits like control, boundary violations, hypocrisy, and avoidance of accountability—traits clearly reflected in Langlois’s lifetime role, decision-making power, and secrecy within WEA.
False announcements from the preparatory committee regarding the participation of Korean church leaders in the WEA are also problematic. The organizing committee claimed during a press conference that WEA’s relationship with the General Assembly of Presbyterian Churches in Korea (GAPCK) [HapDong], to which Pastor Junghyun Oh belongs, was unproblematic. However, GAPCK has officially deferred its stance, citing diverse opinions within the denomination. Similarly, the committee asserted that former chairman Hwan Chun of the Council of Presbyterian Churches in Korea would actively participate, yet Chun publicly stated, “I cannot cooperate with WEA. Do not mention my name in connection with WEA.” These inaccuracies show that the committee has been misleading the public and stirring unnecessary discord among church leaders.
Until all suspicions surrounding WEA are fully resolved, the planned 2025 General Assembly must be canceled. Proceeding without cancellation makes any investigation seem predetermined and tailored to justify a conclusion. This is reminiscent of past experiences with the WCC Assembly and Lausanne Conference, where claims of being “different this time” were merely excuses to mislead the Korean church. Only after resolving all suspicions can the Korean church reevaluate from the ground up whether it truly wishes to host the WEA General Assembly.
November 22, 2024
Christian Council of Korea
President: Rev. Seo-young Jung
