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The group met at the Kwanglim Seminar House in Pocheon-si for the 8th Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, and Management for an Economy of Life (GEM School), a component of the New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) initiative.
The programme comes as faith communities increasingly question whether current global economic structures align with Christian values of justice and care for creation. Attendees crafted practical alternatives to structures that benefit the wealthy while marginalizing vulnerable populations.
Among the innovations: a faith-based campaign linking biblical Jubilee principles directly to contemporary debt cancellation advocacy, alongside pioneering cooperative models that integrate theological reflection with economic practice. The "Jubilee Women's Cooperative" aims to establish savings and loans with social enterprise cooperatives.
The "Churches' Holistic Advocacy for a New Global Economy (CHANGE)" will produce biblical materials grounding church advocacy in the Ecumenical Action Plan for NIFEA. The “Living the Jubilee Spirit” project will celebrate Jubilee Sundays calling for the cancellation of debts of poor countries. Additional initiatives include agro-ecological exchange programmes and a tax justice campaign in the Bahamas.
"Working on the projects was a great opportunity to learn and grow with others in the vision we have for a more inclusive world, as our focus was looking into alternative economies through the lens of contextual Bible study," said Rev. Bonganjalo Mbenenge from the United Presbyterian Church of South Africa.
According to Jenne Everson from the United Methodist Church in the USA and Duke University: "GEM school empowered me to advocate for an economy of life for all. I spent two weeks in ecumenical dialogue on pressing global issues, leaving with knowledge that the church has passionate leaders who want to make a difference."
Anneke Gerken from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oldenburg in northern Germany emphasized: "It is important to connect the academic context with lived reality in the church. GEM School equips us to speak with competence and courage in political and economic questions, working for an Economy of Life."
GEM School 2025 was organized by the World Council of Churches with the World Communion of Reformed Churches, partnering with Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, Council for World Mission, and United Society Partners in the Gospel.
Faith leaders call for economic transformation at GEM School 2025 (News Release, 28 August 2025)
