WCC NEWS: Rev. Prof. Teddy Chalwe Sakupapa appointed new director of WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism

Rev. Prof. Teddy Chalwe Sakupapa has been appointed new director of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism.  Rev. Prof. Teddy Chalwe Sakupapa. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 24 June 2026 Sakupapa, 44, belongs to the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, and is a Zambian national living in South Africa, married, and father of two children. He holds a master's degree from the Protestantse Theologische Universiteit in the Netherlands, and a doctor of philosophy in theological studies from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. He was ordained in the United and Uniting Church. Sakupapa is an ecumenical theologian and missiologist with over 15 years of experience in ecumenical leadership, theological education, programme governance, and academic publishing. He currently serves as vice moderator of the WCC Commission on Ecumenical Education and Formation. “Rev. Prof. Sakupapa emerged as a highly compelling choice demonstrating a rare combination of theological depth, strategic clarity, and practical organisational competence,” said WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. “We appreciated his ability to articulate both the historical trajectory and the current priorities of mission which positioned him for rapid and effective onboarding.” Pillay added: “His strong academic grounding in ecumenical missiology, his leadership within ecumenical bodies such as the Ecumenical Education and Formation Commission, and his capacity to frame mission as both a theological and organisational process were especially appreciated.” See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland