Official Statement from YWAM Tyler
On May 8, 2025, YWAM Tyler received formal notification of its final disaffiliation from the broader Youth With A Mission (YWAM) global community, accompanied by a public announcement. Until now, the leadership of YWAM Tyler, in conjunction with its Board of Directors, has intentionally chosen not to make a public statement regarding the events of the past year or the way this process was conducted by former members and the Relational Response Team (RRT) that was appointed by the Western ACT’s of YWAM. However, with the conclusion of this process, we believe it is appropriate and necessary to clarify our position.
Most importantly, we affirm that YWAM Tyler remains fully committed to its foundational calling: to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in accordance with His directives in Mark 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” We will also continue to faithfully administer financial support to missionaries worldwide who are served by our accounting department.
Although we are deeply saddened and troubled by the decision made by YWAM International to sever our affiliation, we are confident that our ability to fulfill the call of God upon this ministry is not contingent upon formal association. Our mission and vision remain unchanged, and we will continue to pursue them with integrity and faith.
The disaffiliation imposed upon us by YWAM International has stemmed from unresolved matters between former staff and concerns they raised regarding previous leadership. Throughout the process, the RRT did not provide us with clear, specific documentation or evidence outlining where we allegedly failed to uphold YWAM values, comply with University of the Nations (UofN) training requirements, or maintain appropriate leadership structures. The RRT, acting with the endorsement of the Founder’s Circle, imposed directives and ultimatums without engaging in open, objective dialogue or substantiating their claims with due process. As a result, we were faced with mandates lacking clarity or justification.
Central to the disagreement was the structure of our Board of Directors. As a condition for potential reinstatement, we were presented with two options for reconfiguring the board—both of which involved selecting any new board members exclusively from a list provided by the RRT. Additionally, we were required to remove two current board members.
Beyond these changes, any modifications to our foundational strategy or leadership would require prior approval from the RRT. These requirements were expected to be implemented immediately and without exception. We view these conditions as a significant overreach that effectively strips us of our right to self-govern and to authentically express the unique identity of our local ministry.
Our decision not to comply with these demands was not rooted in the spirit of defiance or non- cooperation. Rather, we hold that acquiescing to such terms would have violated core principles of autonomy and local leadership that have historically characterized the YWAM movement. We continue to believe that this situation would have been more appropriately and constructively addressed through an independent Conflict Resolution Committee—comprising internationally recognized and impartial members—capable of guiding all parties through a transparent and equitable mediation process. We strongly support the use of unbiased dialogue and collaborative agreement as the basis for resolving such disputes.
