Hosted by the Jamaica Council of Churches at the University of the West Indies, the gathering took place under the theme “Preparing the Way: Mission as Re-storying the World – Spirituality; Reparations; Legacies of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.” The meeting was repeatedly framed by participants as one held within multiple overlapping crises—from climate shocks in the Caribbean to global conflict and political instability—raising questions about how mission is understood and practiced in such contexts. Rev. Dr Michael Blair, moderator of the commission, located the meeting within this reality from the outset. “As a commission, we are meeting in a place facing a crisis,” he said, noting that the group’s previous gathering in Kenya had taken place amid youth-led political protests, while the Jamaica meeting followed Hurricane Melissa. In both cases, he said, the question was whether it was even possible to convene—and what such disruption means for the church’s understanding of mission. Blair stressed that the context itself is part of the theological task. He urged participants to engage with the conference text from Zechariah 4: “What do you see?” linking it to the concept of “re-storying” as a way of interpreting lived realities. This, he said, includes not only extreme weather events but also “climate change and its impact, government policies and practices, [and] the legacy of colonialism and trans-Atlantic slavery.” He also pointed to wider global instability, referencing wars in Gaza, Sudan, and Iran; rising militarism; and the ongoing struggles of countries including Cuba, Haiti, and Jamaica. These, he said, are part of the context in which the church must discern “how the Spirit is at work bringing transformation, renewal and restoration.” Theological framing The opening service was led by Bishop Christine Gooden Benguche, who preached on Job 38:4–11 under the title “Re-storying the World: Job 38 and the Call to Cosmic Realignment.” She addressed what she described as human presumption—the tendency to assume full knowledge of God and creation. Benguche defined “re-storying” not as repetition of existing narratives but as “a profound realignment of a disordered world.” She outlined four theological emphases: divine supremacy beyond human understanding; cosmic intentionality in creation; divine boundary-setting against chaos; and human limitation in the face of wider reality. She also rejected hierarchical narratives that undermine human dignity and called for a shift from control over creation toward participation within it. Greetings were delivered by Bishop Garth Minott, president of the Jamaica Council of Churches; Dr Michael Blair, moderator of the commission; and Rev. Merlyn Hyde-Riley, vice moderator of the World Council of Churches central committee, each emphasizing ecumenical cooperation and renewal. Climate change and systemic vulnerability A major thematic focus of the meeting was climate change, presented by Prof. Michael Taylor, who described the Caribbean as operating in a “multi-hazard era.” He said extreme heat, drought, erratic rainfall, and rising sea levels are no longer future risks but current realities for small island developing states. Prof. Michael Taylor highlighted projected sea-level rise of up to one metre by 2100 and increasing frequency of extreme heat days. He also outlined systemic impacts, including average GDP losses of up to 17% in storm years, strain on infrastructure, and increased health risks linked to heat and vector-borne diseases. He cited Hurricane Melissa (2025) as a defining case study. The storm, with 185-mph winds, 24 inches of rainfall, and a 9-foot storm surge, made landfall in southwestern Jamaica and exceeded the intensity of Hurricane Gilbert (1988). Climate attribution data presented indicated that warmer ocean temperatures made such a storm significantly more likely, while global warming increased wind speed and rainfall intensity. The hurricane caused widespread infrastructure damage, including collapse of water systems, loss of 75% of the power grid, and destruction of telecommunications infrastructure. Estimated economic losses exceeded 50% of Jamaica’s GDP. Mission, ethics, and public responsibility Taylor argued that climate change raises theological as well as scientific questions. He said climate denial represents a failure of both knowledge and moral responsibility, and framed stewardship as accountability to future generations. Citing Ezekiel 33:6, he described scientists and church leaders as “watchmen” responsible for warning of approaching danger. Discussion following the presentation focused on noneconomic loss, including psychological trauma, disruption of family life, and social vulnerability. Participants also raised questions of global inequality, noting that Caribbean states bear disproportionate impacts of climate change linked to historical emissions by wealthier nations. At the same time, local environmental practices and governance were also identified as areas requiring attention. Institutional reflection and mission priorities In her report to the commission, acting director of the WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism, Anjeline Okola, outlined developments across the programme’s work since the previous meeting. She noted progress in strengthening collaboration across WCC bodies, including Faith and Order, and programmes on climate justice, gender justice, youth engagement, and disability inclusion. Okola reported that the commission’s work has increasingly centred on “Living the Apostolic Faith Today,” with emphasis on decolonising mission, inclusion, and intergenerational leadership. She highlighted the ongoing priority of “Mission from the Margins” as a guiding framework across consultations, research, and programme development. She also reported on preparations for the 2028 World Conference on World Mission and Evangelism, describing it as a multiyear, participatory process beginning with global consultations and regional hearings before culminating in a conference in the Pacific region. Key achievements outlined included strengthened disability inclusion work through the Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, Indigenous Peoples’ engagement and research initiatives, and youth-focused programmes in evangelism and leadership formation. She also noted increased inter-religious engagement and expanded collaboration with UN agencies and civil society partners. Conflict, justice, and prophetic mission Most Rev. Kenneth Richards, Roman Catholic archbishop of Kingston, addressed the geopolitical context of mission, describing contemporary global realities as shaped by structural injustice and fragmentation. He said mission must be understood as participation in the missio Dei and as a “counter-witness” to systems of oppression. He also linked mission to reparative justice, arguing that the church must create space for the voices of the “aggrieved” and engage meaningfully with historical wounds. Re-storying as ecclesial challenge Across the meeting, participants returned repeatedly to the concept of “re-storying” as a way of engaging history, theology, and practice. This included reflection on colonial legacies in mission, the marginalisation of Indigenous and local spiritualities, and the need to reform ecclesial narratives that have excluded certain communities. Preparations for the 2028 conference were presented as part of this trajectory, with an emphasis on participatory design, marginalised voices, and contextual theology rooted in lived experience. The meeting concluded with a shared recognition that mission is being redefined in response to global disruption and structural inequality. While no single framework emerged, participants repeatedly returned to the need for deeper listening, ethical accountability, and theological reflection grounded in context. As Blair noted, the central task remains discernment: to understand how the Spirit is at work in a world marked by crisis, and how the church is called to respond.
Photo gallery "WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism opens meeting in Jamaica", WCC news release, 19 April 2026 Convening in Kenya, WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism maps out work (News Release, 18 July 2024) Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Network Commission on World Mission and Evangelism | 
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