Dr. Kyle Wisdom has been selected to replace Prof. Dr. Janet Epp Buckingham as the incoming Global Advocacy Department Leader. Dr. Wisdom, based in Florida, lived and worked in Indonesia for over a decade where he served as a pastor, theological lecturer and worked with local church leaders. He has represented the WEA in multiple intrafaith and interfaith settings since 2019, including the landmark G20 religion forum (R20) in 2022. For the last few years Dr. Wisdom has also worked as the deputy director of the International Institute of Religious Freedom, one of the oldest think tanks specializing in religious freedom. He brings an academic perspective that is sensitive to and grounded in the experience of practitioners to this role.
The Global Advocacy Department brings together all the advocacy work of the World Evangelical Alliance. This includes the United Nations offices in Geneva, New York and Bonn. It also includes the advocacy work of the office in Brussels to the European Union, the Religious Liberty Commission, as well as the International Institute for Religious Freedom as a platform for academic research on FORB.
“On behalf of the World Evangelical Alliance, I am delighted to congratulate Dr. Kyle Wisdom on his appointment as the new head of the Global Advocacy Department. His deep experience in theological engagement, coupled with his outstanding work in interfaith and international advocacy, will greatly enrich our mission. We look forward to witnessing his leadership as he continues to champion justice and religious freedom on the global stage.” Goodwill Shana, Executive Chair of the World Evangelical Alliance.
Outgoing director Buckingham comments, “I have appreciated the opportunity to build the Global Advocacy Department into a team that serves the global evangelical Christian Church. I am pleased to pass the baton to Kyle Wisdom, who brings a depth of experience in cross-cultural settings, theology and research to this leadership role. His work with the International Institute for Religious Freedom will benefit the Global Advocacy Department, which has a strong focus on religious freedom.”
In thinking about this appointment, Dr. Wisdom commented that “I am looking forward to working on important issues for the global church and to advocate for those suffering from violence and injustice. Navigating complicated geopolitical dynamics to advance the common good requires careful thought, open hands to partner well, and courage to gracefully communicate our convictions. I hope to lean into difficult situations with the reconciling love of Jesus Christ.”
The WEA, founded in 1846, represents more than 600 million evangelicals in 143 national alliances. It unites evangelicals worldwide for prayer, mission, and human rights advocacy. Visit worldea.org for more information.
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