International Catholic and Charismatic Consultation on World Evangelization

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The International Catholic and Charismatic Consultation on World Evangelization (ICCOWE) emerged from a series of informal gatherings in the mid-1980s, culminating over a six-year period into a structured movement. Its genesis can be traced to an ecumenical leaders’ conference in Limuru, Kenya, in October 1983, where Canon Michael Harper (Director of SOMA – Sharing of Ministries Aboard) convened an initial “tea party.” He invited Father Tom Forrest (then Director of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office, ICCRO, in Rome) and the Reverend Larry Christenson (Director of the International Lutheran Renewal office in Minneapolis), recognizing their shared leadership of international Charismatic networks. This germinal meeting was followed by a more substantial gathering in Rome in May 1984, which expanded to include nine key figures, known as “the gang of nine,” including Dr. Bill Burnett (former Anglican Archbishop of South Africa), Dr. Arne Rudvin (Lutheran Bishop of Karachi), and Dr. Kevin Ranaghan (American Catholic leader). These early consultations also involved a significant lunch and meeting with Dr. Philip Potter at the World Council of Churches in Geneva and Bossey, respectively, signaling ICCOWE’s foundational ecumenical aspirations. A pivotal moment occurred at the Rome meeting when Father Tom Forrest shared his prophetic vision for a “Decade of Evangelization,” later crystallized as “Evangelization 2000.” This vision, which Forrest subsequently presented to Pope John Paul II, was swiftly adopted by the nascent ICCOWE as its guiding principle. From its inception, ICCOWE committed to three core tenets: Christian Renewal, Christian Unity, and World Evangelization. The movement continued to expand its reach and representation through further meetings in Tampa, Florida (December 1984) and Matlock, UK (September 1985). A significant decision during this period was to formally integrate Pentecostals and Non-denominational Christians as a distinct “stream” within its network, further broadening its ecumenical base. The first major Consultation was held in Singapore in February 1987, symbolically coinciding with the death of David du Plessis, a pioneering figure in bridging charismatic streams. The organizational structure of ICCOWE solidified following another Singapore gathering in February 1988, establishing a Consultative Council as the main governing body, which in turn elected an executive committee of six individuals, with two representatives from each of the three primary streams: Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal/Charismatic. This executive was tasked with organizing an international conference to inaugurate the Decade of Evangelization in 1991. Preceding this major event, a Prayer Vigil was held at the Notre Dame Centre in Jerusalem in May 1989. During this vigil, a decision was made to host the inaugural conference in Brighton, UK. On Pentecost Sunday in Jerusalem, a special prayer gathering near the ancient temple walls dedicated participants to the ambitious goal of evangelizing the world in the 1990s, aiming for over 50% of the global population to be Christian by the decade’s close. Despite the challenges posed by the Gulf War, the Brighton Centre successfully hosted over 3000 delegates from more than 100 nations from July 8th to 14th, 1991. Prominent speakers included Dr. George Carey (the newly consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury), Cardinal Hume, Cardinal Arinze, William Kumuyi, and Tokunboh Adeyemo. A particularly significant aspect of the conference was a theological stream that convened scholars from around the world to explore Charismatic insights, with selected papers later published. Post-Brighton, ICCOWE also resolved to include representatives from the Orthodox Church, demonstrating a continuous commitment to expanding its ecumenical dialogue. Since the Brighton ’91 conference, ICCOWE has continued its activities, holding subsequent consultations focusing on specific themes, such as short-term trans-cultural missions in Luray, Virginia (October 1992), and revisiting evangelization, renewal, and Christian unity in Port Dickson, West Malaysia (March 1994). Future plans include a major event in Eastern Europe in 1997, alongside regional meetings and other initiatives aligned with its core vision. ICCOWE is distinguished by its unparalleled ecumenical breadth, which integrates Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal/Charismatic, and more recently, Orthodox traditions – a characteristic arguably unique in the global Christian landscape. Furthermore, its singular focus on integrating Christian renewal with joint evangelization efforts sets it apart from many other Christian or evangelical organizations that tend to emphasize one over the other. ICCOWE actively disseminates its vision and goals through a dedicated document and publishes “Pattern for Co-operation” alongside similar bodies like NARSC and ECC, outlining its operational principles, in addition to an occasional newsletter, “Link.”