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The purpose of the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) is to promote freedom of religion for all faiths worldwide as defined by Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights, and in accordance with Scripture. Our aim is to help all people, but especially Protestant Christians, to exercise their faith without oppression or discrimination. Because the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) represents some 150 million Christians in 115 countries, it is both an effective and influential global network.
In particular, the WEF-RLC will seek to protect the freedom of Evangelicals by monitoring religious liberty, responding to infringements of religious liberty and promoting the need for constant vigilance in maintaining religious liberty. Our specific approach to mission is based upon the initial developmental process from 1988-92. The RLC is one of several commissions of the World Evangelical Alliance.
The Religious Liberty Commission has 13 members, with three special advisors and nine political advisors. The chairman is Mr. John Langlois, a lawyer from Guernsey UK. The executive director, its only full-time member of staff, is Johan Candelin, an ordained minister from Finland.
The results of our policies and activities will be to strengthen the ability of the body of Christ worldwide to express its faith by fostering an environment in which Christians are free to fulfill their biblical mandate, and to equip the church in responding to discrimination, pressure and persecution.
To serve as a coordinating and networking team
within the international political advocacy community
that can effectively serve evangelicals being persecuted,
harassed and oppressed because of their faith.
We do this primarily by responding to and partnering with
WEA member organizations.
*Rev. Johan Candelin, Executive Director
*John Langlois, Chairman
Sam Ericsson, Legal Counsel
Paul Marshall, Academic Consultant
Mark Albrecht, Special Advisor, Communications
Religious Liberty Commission Members
*John Langlois, Chairman, Guernsey
*Johan Candelin, Executive Director, Finland
Janet Epp Buckingham, Canada
Ron Clough, Australia
Peter Cowell, United Kingdom
Julia Doxat-Purser, United Kingdom
Joseph Faragala, Middle East
Diane Knippers, President, Inst. on Religion & Democracy, USA
Jostein Nesvag, Norway
Patson Netha, Zimbabwe
Thomas Schirrmacher, Germany
*Godfrey Yogarajah, Sri Lanka
Yoshiaki Yui, Japan
* indicates Executive Committee member
Mr. Samuel Ericsson, Esq., President Advocates Int'l, U.S.A. (WEA RLC Legal Counsel).
Dr. Paul Marshall, Institute for Christian Studies, Canada. (RLC Academic Consultant)
Brian O'Connell, Interdev, U.S.A.
Ambassador Slavi Pachovski, U.S.A. (Bulgaria)
Ambassador Robert A. Seiple, U.S.A.
Ambassador Ezekiel Dimka, Nigeria
Eija Riitta Korhola, Member of the European Parliament
Sir Brian Mawhinney, Member of Parliament, U.K.
Kjell Magne Bondevik, Member of Parliament, Norway
Hermann Groehe, Member of Parliament, Germany
Tunne Kelam, Member of Parliament, Estonia
Bjarne Kallis, Member of Parliament, Finland
For more information or to find out how you could be involved, contact us via email.
Other RLC pages:
The Persecution of Christians Today - a strategic analysis
The Geneva Report 2001: a perspective on global religious freedom
RLC initial development process
United Nations Article 18 of the Declaration of Human Rights
Important Link:
IDOP 2001
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
Nov. 4th - 11th, 2001
For a fascinating look at the work of the Religious Liberty Commission, see Harold Fuller's book, "People of the Mandate", chapter 9: 'Faith Without Fear or Favour'.
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