The 2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly Opposition Alliance, led by President Rev. Yeon-hwan Maeng, expressed deep concern in a statement released on March 12 regarding the recent Dedication Service for the Opening of the 2025 World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Seoul General Assembly Secretariat, strongly criticizing the actions of those organizing the WEA Seoul General Assembly, according to reporting by Christian Daily Korea.
In its statement, the Alliance declared, “The WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers claimed they were in dialogue with Kwangshin University, but this is not true.”
“Recently, Kwangshin University has had no discussions whatsoever with the WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers. They merely received an official letter requesting the participation of faculty members,” they added, and warned, “The WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers must not mislead the public into believing that discussions are ongoing with Kwangshin University.”
[Kwangshin is a Presbyterian theological institution related to Korea’s largest denomination HapDong, which SaRang Church belongs to. On Nov. 11, 1,000 professors, pastors and church leaders related to Kwangshin published an open letter opposing the WEA General Assembly plans. On Jan. 16, a second statement was issued by the group that had grown to 1,300 signatories.]
Previously, at a press conference following the Dedication Service for the Opening of the WEA Seoul General Assembly Secretariat on March 11, Rev. Jung-hyun Oh stated, “We have met with Kwangshin representatives within the context of our denomination (HapDong Presbyterian Church of Korea) and had discussions. We explained the areas of misunderstanding and sent an official letter. We are currently waiting for a response.”
The Alliance also criticized Rev. Samuel Chiang, Deputy Secretary General of WEA, for actions contradicting WEA’s stated vision. “While the WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers claim they seek ‘biblical alternatives to theological challenges’ and ‘to establish evangelical values and standards for the global church,’ they entrusted the dedication service speech to Samuel Chiang, who has engaged in religious pluralistic activities, and even provided him with an office,” the Alliance stated.
The Alliance particularly took issue with Chiang’s involvement in strengthening ties with Muslim organizations. “In February 2024, Samuel Chiang visited Abu Dhabi and met with Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, agreeing to enhance cooperation and promote shared values,” the statement said. “WEA praised this as cooperation for the promotion of human fraternity, but in reality, it aligns with religious syncretism.”
The Alliance argued, “While Samuel Chiang claims to promote interfaith dialogue and combat hate speech and discrimination through his discussions with the Muslim Council of Elders, such actions directly contradict the pure biblical gospel.” It continued, “WEA’s emphasis on human fraternity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence, along with its cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders, ultimately signifies a commitment to religious syncretism.”
Furthermore, the Alliance condemned the WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers, stating, “Inviting a pro-Muslim figure like Samuel Chiang as a key speaker for the dedication service and providing him with an office is clear evidence that WEA is following the path of religious pluralism and syncretism.” It urged the organizers to “deeply reconsider what theological alternatives and evangelical values they claim to uphold.”
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Full Statement: Concern Over the ‘Dedication Service for the Opening of the 2025 WEA Seoul General Assembly Secretariat’
On November 15, 2024, at the CCMM Building Convention Center in Yeouido, Seoul, Rev. Jung-hyun Oh (SaRang Church) and Rev. Young-hoon Lee (Yoido Full Gospel Church) served as co-chairs for the 2025 World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) Seoul General Assembly Organizing Committee, which held its Dedication Service for the Opening of the WEA Seoul General Assembly Secretariat on March 11, 2025, at SaRang Church’s International Discipleship Training Center (Yeonseong Hall, 2nd floor).
The organizers described the WEA Seoul General Assembly as “a gift from God to the Korean church and SaRang Church”, asserting that it seeks to “explore biblical solutions to theological challenges” and “establish evangelical values and standards for the global church.” They claimed the assembly would serve as a catalyst for global mission advancement and the expansion of discipleship training.
Additionally, the organizers stated that Samuel Chiang had been provided with an office in Seoul to facilitate his work and claimed that they were engaged in discussions with Kwangshin University, which opposes the WEA Seoul General Assembly.
In light of these developments, we express the following concerns:
1. False Claims About Dialogue with Kwangshin University
- Recently, Kwangshin University has had no discussions with the WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers. The organizers merely sent an official letter requesting faculty participation, which is currently being held in the university’s records.
- Therefore, the WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers must not mislead the public into believing that discussions with Kwangshin University are taking place.
2. Contradictory Actions Regarding Samuel Chiang
- The WEA Seoul General Assembly organizers entrusted Samuel Chiang with the dedication service speech and provided him with an office, contradicting their own stated mission to “explore biblical solutions to theological challenges” and “establish evangelical values and standards for the global church.”
- Recent WEA leadership meetings with Muslim organizations, including the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), have established close relationships with Islamic leaders, referring to them as ‘Best Friends.’
- As Deputy Secretary General of WEA, Samuel Chiang has actively engaged in cooperation with Muslims, leading WEA down a path of religious pluralism.
3. WEA’s Deepening Ties with the Muslim Council of Elders
- In February 2024, Samuel Chiang visited Abu Dhabi and met with Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Elders, agreeing to strengthen cooperation and promote shared values.
- WEA praised this meeting as an opportunity to enhance the values and principles of human fraternity, stating that it aligns with WEA’s mission to foster interfaith dialogue and understanding among diverse religious communities.
- During this meeting, Chiang expressed admiration for the Muslim Council of Elders’ efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and combat hate speech, racism, and discrimination.
- WEA declared its intention to deepen cooperation with the Muslim Council of Elders to promote the values of human fraternity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
4. Clear Evidence of Religious Syncretism
- Entrusting a pro-Muslim figure like Samuel Chiang with the dedication service speech and providing him with an office demonstrates that the WEA Seoul General Assembly is embracing religious syncretism and pluralism.
- This stands in direct opposition to the pure biblical gospel and is deeply concerning.
For these reasons, we express our strong opposition to the WEA Seoul General Assembly and urge the organizers to re-evaluate their theological direction and commitment to evangelical values.
Originally reported by Christian Daily Korea, translated and edited by Christian Daily International staff.
