The World Communion of Reformed Churches launched the Ecumenical School on Governance, Economics, and Management for an Economy of Life, or GEM School 2025, on Monday, bringing together church leaders, theologians, and practitioners from across the globe to explore ways of advancing economic, social, and ecological justice.
Running through Aug. 29 at the Kwanglim Seminar House in Seoul, South Korea, the program aims to equip participants with tools to analyze global economic systems, bridge theology and economics, and develop strategies for a just, sustainable economy. Sessions include lectures, panel discussions, Bible studies, group exercises, and immersion programs on topics ranging from inequality and feminist economics to international finance, debt, and tax justice.
The curriculum also examines the implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and artificial intelligence for global justice, preparing participants for advocacy and project-based initiatives.
“GEM School 2025 provides a unique space for faith leaders to critically engage with the forces shaping our global economy and to discern strategies for an Economy of Life where technology, governance, and finance serve justice, equity, and the common good,” said the Rev. Philip Vinod Peacock, WCRC executive secretary for Justice and Witness.
The opening worship was led by Bishop Rosemarie Werner of the World Methodist Council, who underscored the school’s potential to empower church leaders to act as agents of change in their communities and beyond.
For many participants, the experience has already proven transformative.
“GEM School has been an incredible experience, understanding the link between economics and ecology in the world of consumerism with huge gaps of inequality,” said the Rev. Bonganjalo Mbenenge of South Africa, a representative from GRAPE. “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.”
The Rev. Minwoo Oh, program coordinator for gender justice with the WCRC, echoed that reflection: “GEM School offered a powerful space to engage with the realities of economic and ecological injustice, It deepened our collective reflection on how faith communities can respond with creativity and courage, imagining alternatives rooted in justice, dignity, and care for creation.”
GEM School 2025, part of the New International Financial and Economic Architecture (NIFEA) initiative, was organized by the World Communion of Reformed Churches in partnership with the World Council of Churches, Lutheran World Federation, World Methodist Council, Council for World Mission, and United Society Partners in the Gospel.
During the first week, participants introduced their regional contexts, shared their socio-economic concerns, and learned about the NIFEA initiative in greater depth. In the coming days, the school will focus on alternative economic frameworks, global financial governance, and advocacy strategies, culminating in project presentations and an ecumenical consultation on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
For the WCRC, the GEM School is part of a broader effort to prepare faith communities to respond to economic, social, and environmental challenges while promoting an inclusive, just, and sustainable global economy.
