The Vision for a Global Evangelical Center

As the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) grew in scope and influence during the 2000s, Christian leaders around the world increasingly asked: “Where is the WEA headquartered?” For a global body representing hundreds of millions of evangelicals, its small and scattered office arrangements seemed inadequate. There was no single place large enough to host meetings, training programs, or major gatherings of its global leadership. Compared with other Christian traditions, such as the World Council of Churches (WCC), which operated from the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva provided by the Lutheran World Federation, WEA lacked a comparable institutional home.

This practical and symbolic need gave rise to the vision of establishing a global Evangelical Center—a place that would embody the unity, scholarship, and mission of the global evangelical movement. Then–Secretary General Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe initiated conversations with Olivet University (OU) about providing a facility for this purpose. OU agreed to offer part of its property in Binghamton, New York, for use by the WEA as a center for coordination, prayer, training, and strategy.

Dedication of the Evangelical Center in Binghamton, New York

That vision became reality on December 9, 2010, when the World Olivet Assembly, Olivet University and the World Evangelical Alliance jointly dedicated the Evangelical Center in Binghamton. The event marked a historic milestone: the WEA now had a physical center to gather and unite Christian leaders from around the world.

“For the first time since its establishment over a century ago, the World Evangelical Alliance now has a center to gather and unite Christian leaders from around the globe with the establishment of a new facility in upstate New York,” reported The Christian Post at the time.

Dr. Tunnicliffe described the Center as “a study center, research center, conference center, a place to engage in strategic thinking, and a place of personal and corporate renewal.” Yet he emphasized that above all, it should be a house of prayer:

“In all the activities that we will be engaged in this place, that will become the most strategic, because that’s what Jesus asked us to do: pray for His Kingdom to come.”

The Binghamton Center became a hub for WEA operations and leadership gatherings, including meetings of the Senior Leadership Team and the International Council (IC), as well as programs of the WEA Leadership Institute (LI).

Transition to Dover, New York

In 2013, Olivet University acquired a large property in Dover, New York, roughly 60 miles north of New York City and accessible by public transportation. The 1,000-acre (4 km²) campus, a former New York State property that had been long unused, offered more than 70 buildings—a setting that could host global conferences, research, and training for the evangelical community.

Dr. Tunnicliffe saw in the Dover campus an opportunity to relocate and expand the Evangelical Center. He identified one of the largest buildings opposite the chapel as an ideal space for WEA’s future headquarters. OU agreed, designating the building for WEA’s eventual use.

In January 2015, the WEA International Council formally expressed the intention of the WEA to use the new campus for “Administration, WEA Leadership Institute and Resources, Research and Mapping, Meeting Space and Service.”

By January 2016, the relocation was complete. An inauguration service celebrated the official opening of the Evangelical Center in Dover, NY. Attendees included WEA leaders and staff, members of the International Council, representatives from the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), regional alliance leaders, and local civic officials.

International Council Chair Rev. Ndaba Mazabane and Asia Evangelical Alliance General Secretary Rev. Richard Howell led prayers, Bishop Efraim Tendero, then WEA Secretary General, preached the sermon, and Dr. Tunnicliffe joined in the celebration.

Participants expressed their hope that the new Center would be a place of synergy, collaboration, and renewal, where global evangelical leaders could strategize together for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.

Training and Global Collaboration

In the years following the Dover inauguration, the Evangelical Center hosted a variety of gatherings: Senior Leadership Team meetings, staff retreats, public engagement forums related to the WEA’s UN work, and other strategic events.

Recognizing the need for deeper in-person formation for younger leaders, the WEA Leadership Institute launched the Fellowship of Emerging Leaders program in 2017. The pilot brought together 10 participants from 8 national alliances in Africa and Asia for a three-month residential program held at the Dover campus. This initiative reflected the WEA’s commitment to equipping the next generation of evangelical leaders through community, mentorship, and practical training.

Dedication of Philadelphia House

In February 2021, Bishop Efraim Tendero concluded his tenure as Secretary General and Dr. Thomas Schirrmacher assumed leadership of the WEA. Around this time, OU had received approval for its master plan, paving the way for extensive renovation.

Rather than occupying the large building near the chapel originally designated for WEA, the leadership opted to establish its operational base at the northern end of the campus. This area included a modern office building, a conference center for 40–50 participants, a guesthouse, and several staff residences. The area had already been used for the Fellowship of Emerging Leaders program and featured a separate entrance—making it ideal for WEA’s work.

By early 2022, the main office building was fully renovated. Dr. Schirrmacher named it Philadelphia House, symbolizing brotherly love and global evangelical fellowship. The building was dedicated in June 2022 during a ceremony that coincided with a visit from a delegation of the Communion of Churches in Korea (CCIK). Since then, WEA has held operational staff meetings and hosted numerous international guests at the site.

Present and Future Vision

Today, the World Evangelical Center in Dover, New York, serves as a symbol of evangelical unity and collaboration. Its expansive facilities have hosted conferences, research projects, leadership training programs, and strategic consultations for the global evangelical community.

Looking ahead, WEC envisions becoming a hub of innovation and mission, equipping churches worldwide with practical tools and resources for evangelism and social engagement. Its initiatives aim to address key issues confronting the Church today—from Biblical literacy to religious persecution, from using digital tools for evangelism to serving the vulnerable—all while nurturing leaders who will carry forward the gospel in every nation.