The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) is an interdenominational organization of Evangelical Christian churches, with over 424 million affiliated members in 2026, that was founded in 1846 in London, England, to unite evangelical Protestants worldwide. WEA is the largest international organization of evangelical churches. It has offices at the United Nations in New York City, Geneva, and Bonn. It brings together nine regional and 143 national evangelical alliances of churches, and over one hundred member organizations. Moreover, a number of international Evangelical denominations are members of the WEA. Its General Secretary is Israeli Baptist elder Botrus Mansour.
History The organization has its origins in the Evangelical Alliance, a British organization founded in 1846 by 52 Evangelical denominations at Freemasons' Hall in London, England.William A. Dyrness, Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Global Dictionary of Theology: A Resource for the Worldwide Church, InterVarsity Press, USA, 2009, p. 950.Donald F. Durnbaugh, The Believers' Church: The History and Character of Radical Protestantism, Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2003, p. 293 In 1912, it took the name of World Evangelical Alliance.WEA, Our History , worldea.org, USA, retrieved February 5, 2025 In 1951, the organization was founded as the "World Evangelical Fellowship" (WEF) by Evangelical leaders from 21 countries at the first general assembly that took place in Woudschoten, Zeist, in the Netherlands.Roger E. Olson, The Westminster Handbook to Evangelical Theology, Westminster John Knox Press, UK, 2004, p. 100.Brian Stanley, The Global Diffusion of Evangelicalism: The Age of Billy Graham and John Stott, InterVarsity Press, USA, 2013, p. 73. In 2001, after the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, WEF became the "World Evangelical Alliance".. As of 2005, the WEA had collegiate management under the leadership of Canadian leader Geoff Tunnicliffe. Offices were opened in Vancouver, Canada (Leadership), San Francisco, United States (Information Technology), Washington, D.C. (Publications), and Geneva, Switzerland (International Relations). In 2006, it opened an office at the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, which added to that in New York City.WEA, WEA Opens Advocacy Office in Geneva , worldea.org, USA, July 26, 2006
Beliefs The Alliance has a Protestant confession of faith.World Evangelical Alliance, Statement of Faith, worldea.org, USA, retrieved February 5, 2025 In 1951, a Statement of Faith was developed during the International Convention of Evangelicals. This Statement of Faith has not been changed since.
Governance The governance of the organization is ensured by a Secretary-General and regional secretaries in the 9 continental member regions.WEA, Leadership, worldea.org, USA, retrieved February 5, 2025 In August 2025, Israeli Baptist elder Botrus Mansour became General Secretary.Angela Lu Fulton, How a Baptist from Nazareth Plans to Unite Global Evangelicals, christianitytoday.com, August 26, 2025
List of former leaders This list contains the former leaders of the WEA since 1951.
Roy Cattell (United Kingdom) and J. Elwin Wright (United States), co-secretaries, (1951–1953) A.J. Dain (United Kingdom) and J. Elwin Wright (United States), co-secretaries, (1953–1958) Fred Ferris (United States), International Secretary, United States, (1958–1962) Gilbert Kirby (United Kingdom), International Secretary, (1962–1966) Dennis Clark (Canada), International Secretary, (1966–1970) Gordon Landreth (United Kingdom), interim International Secretary, (1970–1971) Clyde Taylor (United States), International Secretary, (1971–1975) Waldron Scott (United States), General Secretary, (1975–1980) Wade Coggins (United States), Interim General Secretary, (1981) David M. Howard (United States), International Director (1982–1992) Agustin Vencer (Philippines), International Director (1992–2001) Gary Edmonds (United States), Secretary General (2002–2004) Geoff Tunnicliffe (Canada, Secretary General (2005–2014) Efraim Tendero (Philippines), Secretary General (2015–2021) Thomas Schirrmacher (Germany), Secretary General (2021–2024)
Commissions In 1974, the WEA created six commissions to better achieve its mandates.WEA, WHAT WE DO, worldea.org, USA, retrieved February 5, 2025Brian Stiller, Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century, Thomas Nelson Publishing, USA, 2015, page 214Norman E. Thomas, "Missions and Unity: Lessons from History, 1792–2010", USA, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2010, pages 137–138
Alliance Engagement: Strengthen existing evangelical alliances and create new ones. Church Engagement: Provide programs and resources to churches for different social groups. Public Engagement: Advocate for migration and refugees, peace. Global Advocacy: Coordinate partnerships with international organizations, such as the UN. Global Theology: Reflect on topics of evangelical theology, and issues of importance to churches and society around the world, monitor religious freedom. Global Witness: Coordinate evangelistic activities.
Statistics In 2025, WEA brought together 143 national alliances of churches. In 2020, the World Christian Database, the online version of the World Christian Encyclopedia, published by Edinburgh University Press, reported 152 million members of the WEA. Moreover, the WEA unites only a certain percentage of evangelical churches, because some churches are not members of a Christian denomination or national alliance.Brian Stiller, Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century, Thomas Nelson, USA, 2015, p. 39
Membership The World Evangelical Alliance embraces member-bodies whose identity and vocation are rooted in what it understands as historic biblical Christianity.WEA, WHO WE ARE, worldea.org, USA, retrieved February 5, 2025 WEA affirms and seeks the biblical unity of Christ's body, the Church, celebrating the diversity of practices and theological emphases consistent with the WEA Statement of Faith, recognizing the existing dynamic tension between unity and diversity.
There are three types of membership, each with its distinct qualifications and responsibilities:WEA, ABOUT OUR MEMBERS, worldea.org, USA, retrieved December 5, 2020 Regional and national alliances are regional evangelical fellowships and their national fellowships/alliances. Affiliate members are independently incorporated organizations with their own specific ministries and accountability, an international scope of ministry, and the capacity and authority to serve in and beyond the WEA community. Church networks and denominations are networks of churches (located in one or a number of countries), in agreement with the statement of faith and objectives of the World Evangelical Alliance.
General Assemblies A General Assembly takes place every six years in a country that differs depending on the year.Brian Stiller, Evangelicals Around the World: A Global Handbook for the 21st Century, Thomas Nelson Publishing, USA, 2015, page 213 It is a time of prayer and conferences for national alliances and associations.Patrice de Plunkett, ""Les évangéliques à la conquête du monde", Editions Perrin, France, 2009, page 93 It is an opportunity for decision making and the training of leaders of each country. The last GA was held in 2019 in Jakarta in Indonesia and the leaders notably committed to building alliances in the 62 countries that do not have them and getting more involved in the religious freedom.Vlady Raichinov, WEA GA: Intergenerational disciple making and mission in urban cultures, evangelicalfocus.com, Spain, November 11, 2019
1951: Amsterdam (Woudschoten), Netherlands, August 4–11 1953: Clarens, Switzerland, July 27–31 1956: Rhode Island, United States, August 27–31 1962: Hong Kong, April 25 – May 2 1968: Lausanne, Switzerland, May 4–10 1974: Château d'Oex, Switzerland, July 25–29 1980: London (Hoddesdon) England, UK, March 24–28 1986: Singapore, June 23–27 1992: Manila, Philippines, June 21–26 1997: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, May 8–15 2001: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 4–10 2008: Pattaya, Thailand, October 25–30 2014: Seoul, South Korea, [canceled] 2019: Jakarta, Indonesia, November 7–14
Publications There are two quarterly publications: a journal Evangelical Review of Theology (published on behalf by Paternoster Periodicals since 1977) and a newsletter Theological News (since 1969). Books are published occasionally.
Global engagements Development The fight against poverty is a major concern of the WEA.Ronald J. Sider, Diane Knippers, Toward an Evangelical Public Policy: Political Strategies for the Health of the Nation, USA, Baker Books, 2005, page 242 Publications and meetings of the Alliance are the means used to influence and inspire development initiatives and actions humanitarian in churches, NGOs and political.Matthew Clarke, "Handbook of Research on Development and Religion", Australia, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013, pages 426–427 It is the origin of the Micah Challenge, an initiative to educate Christians and promote decision making among leaders.Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Peter Sandøe, Ethics, Hunger and Globalization: In Search of Appropriate Policies, Springer Science & Business Media, USA, 2007, p. 86
Inter- and intra-faith participation On June 5, 2010, Geoff Tunnicliffe, the International Director of the WEA, appeared alongside the leaders of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches (WCC) in a press conference, entitled “Christian unity today”, at the Edinburgh 2010 Conference. The gathering marked the centennial of the 1910 World Missionary Conference. In the same year, on 17 October 2010, Olav Fykse Tveit, the general secretary of the WCC, gave an invited address to the 3rd International Congress of the Lausanne Movement. In the address he said, "we are called to participate in the one mission of God". The World Evangelical Alliance, Geoff Tunnicliffe, the International Director and other WEA leaders were involved at each level in the development of the programme, and helped choose its participants. In May 2014 the Lausanne International Student Ministry Global Leadership Network became a "docked network" with the WEA's Mission Commission.
On 22 January 2015, the WCC and WEA announced plans for closer cooperation, worship and witness. In the same year, in June 2015, the WEA reported that discussions with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity were finalised, and that "the open questions of the 16th century are almost answered". The WEA representatives also reported that "still open is the question to what extend [sic] evangelical Christians who stem from the reformation churches have full access to salvation according to the catholic view".
On May 24, 2017, the WEA participated in a two-day Global Christian Forum meeting with the World Council of Churches, officials from the Vatican and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and the Pentecostal World Federation to facilitate moves 'towards greater oneness in Christ'. The meeting was held at the WCC's Bossey Ecumenical Institute. Some criticism was voiced of the WEA for lack of consultation about this move, the absence of regional and national discussion, or a vote of the General Assembly prior to the meeting.
Advocacy for human rights and freedom of religion The WEA is also advocating for the respect of human rights, including freedom of religion and belief for all. Furthermore, its involvement with UN mechanisms (Human Rights and other) has grown into a dedicated department, the "Global Advocacy Department".