Criteria | Nominate | FAQ | Seoul 2024

Below you can find answers to frequently asked questions about the Seoul 2024 Congress and Lausanne 4 gatherings.

Seoul 2024 Congress

Registration

Why should I attend?

You have been chosen to represent your country, demographic and missional interest at this significant gathering of 5,000 in-person participants and more than 5,000 virtual participants from every region of the world. Your participation will shape the outcomes of the Seoul 2024 Congress and help strategically accelerate global mission. For a more detailed explanation, please read this article.

When is my RSVP due?

Please ensure your RSVP is submitted by the date shown on your invitation email.

Can I transfer my invitation to someone else if I am unable to attend?

No, you cannot transfer your invitation. Each participant has been selected based on certain criteria to accurately represent the global church. Your participation is key to ensuring that the right people are gathered together and that the congress accurately reflects the rich diversity of the global church.

Can I change from attending virtually to onsite later? Vice versa?

Due to the limited capacity of the congress and the preparation involved in organising the gathering, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to change your attendance from virtual to onsite after registration. Please bear this in mind when selecting your option to attend.

Finances

Fees

Why is there a dynamic participation fee? Will some people be asked to contribute more than others?

All participants in the Seoul 2024 Congress will be asked to pay a participation fee. Considering the wide range of demographics that will be invited to attend the congress, we have set a scaled dynamic participation contribution for each participant. It is our intention and hope that by having a dynamic fee the global church will fund the congress together without it being prohibitive for any selected person to participate (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). For more information, please watch this helpful video from our senior leadership.

How is the dynamic participation fee scaled for participants?

We are aware that the cost of participation in this gathering poses varying degrees of challenge for each participant based on a number of factors including location, economic circumstances, and field of work. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire that will indicate what contribution is appropriate, while seeking to avoid placing an unbearable financial burden on any individual.

When is my dynamic participation contribution questionnaire due?

Please ensure you have completed and submitted the questionnaire by the date shown on your invitation email.

Where do I find the questionnaire?

The questionnaire is accessed through a link you will have received on your invitation email.

When will I know what my participation fee will be?

After completing the participation contribution questionnaire you received on invite, you will receive the participation fee due you via email.

How do I confirm my registration after I receive my dynamic participation fee?

By paying your deposit by the date reflected on your invoice, you will confirm your registration for the Seoul 2024 Congress.

What does my participation fee include and what other costs will I be responsible for in relation to attending the Seoul 2024 Congress?

Your participation fee includes entrance to the congress, materials, ground transportation in Seoul, and lunch and dinner for the duration of the Seoul 2024 Congress. All other expenses will be for your own account.

How can I appeal the contribution amount I have been given?

All appeals must be made through the form received with your invoice email. You will need to provide additional information on the reasons for your appeal. You can expect to receive a response to your appeal within two weeks.

Payments

Where and how do I make the payment?
After completing the participant contribution questionnaire you will be sent an invoice for payment. Paying the deposit online by the date reflected on your invoice will finalise your registration. Your USD 100 deposit will be non-refundable.

How do I access my invoice?

You can access your invoice by logging onto the portal through the link you received with your invoice email.

What currencies can I pay my contribution amount in?

Payments will be accepted in the following two currencies: USD and KRW. For the contribution payments we are using a platform which allows you to pay in your currency and automates the exchange rate from your currency into the incoming USD or KRW.

Will the deposit be additional to my participant fee or included in the fee?

The deposit is included in the participant fee.

Will there be financial aid or assistance?

Unfortunately we are not able to provide sponsorships as the fee is already subsidised. Lausanne will provide fundraising tools and materials for you to use in raising support specifically for the congress.

What are the refund policies for payments in regard to the Seoul 2024 Congress?

All cancellations and refund requests must be made in writing to [email protected].

If an onsite participant cancels:

On or before 31 March 2024, the participant contribution will be refunded except $100USD.
On or before 31 May 2024, the participant contribution will be refunded except $200USD.
On or before 22 August 2024, any amount contributed beyond $200USD will be refunded at 50%.
On or after 23 August 2024, no refund will be given.
Where possible, all onsite participants will be encouraged to join the congress invitation only virtual experience and switch tracks accordingly. The participant will be refunded the difference in the requested contribution amount if they choose to attend the virtual experience.

If a virtual participant cancels:

On or before 31 March 2024, the participant contribution will be refunded except $50USD.
On or before 31 May 2024, the participant contribution will be refunded except $75USD.
On or before 22 August 2024, any amount contributed beyond $100USD will be refunded at 50%.
On or after 23 August 2024, no refund will be given.

Special cases:

If a participant has been refused a visa to attend the congress and applied for the visa in reasonable time:
- The participant will be invited to attend the virtual experience and refunded the difference in the requested contribution amount if they choose to attend the virtual experience.
- Should the participant decline to participate virtually, Lausanne will refund 100% of the participant contribution amount that has been paid.
- Proof of visa refusal will be required.
- Lausanne Movement will not be responsible to refund any other costs for flights, accommodation or other expenses incurred.
- Participants should only make bookings upon successful confirmation of a visa being issued.
For purposes of this policy the term “participant contribution” includes any amount paid to Lausanne Movement for accommodation as part of the hotel subsidy programme.
If a participant has made an “additional contribution” to help support the participation of other participants this will not be refunded.

What do I do if I cannot raise the money for the downpayment by my deadline?

In general we will not be extending the deadline for the down payment. If you believe your circumstance requires further attention from the finance team for us to consider a request for the extension of your down payment deadline please email [email protected]. We encourage you to fundraise from your networks to be able to make this deadline and confirm your registration with this first payment.

How can I pay from a country that does not allow SWIFT payments?

Currently for all payments we are using the platform STRIPE which uses SWIFT. If this is not suitable for you, please contact [email protected] for an individual approach.

Logistics

Visa

Do I need a visa?

Please review this website for more information on your specific case based on your citizenship, you may be visa exempt. If you are not visa exempt, check this list to see if you just need a K-ETA (online authorization to enter the country).

What entry purpose should I request for my visa?

All participants who need a visa (not K-ETA) should request the Short Term Visit (C-3-1) visa, 90 days or less. You can read more about the visa type for your citizenship here.

What are general visa application document requirements?

All of the countries from the K-ETA list can apply online for authorization to enter the country without going to the embassy.
All of the countries that are not on the list should visit the embassy/consulate in their country of residence. The list of documents required for obtaining a visa can be found on this page.
Please Note: we recommend your passport has at least six months to expiry date at the time of your travel and visa dates.

What is the visa application procedure?

How do I confirm whether I need the visa or not if I am unsure?

We recommend confirming with your local Korean embassy by calling or emailing them directly if you are unsure after looking at the links above.

How do I receive a visa invitation letter?

Once you have paid your deposit and your registration has been confirmed for the Seoul 2024 Congress, our registration team will communicate how to receive the invitation letter.

What if I cannot get a visa or my visa is denied?

Should you be registered for onsite participation and your visa is denied, an opportunity to participate virtually will be made available. Please see our refund policy under the Payments section.

Hotel & Accommodation

When should I book my hotel and what accommodation options are available?

Please view our hotel bookings page to view your accommodation options. If you choose a listed hotel outside of walking distance to the Songdo Convensia, shuttle services will be provided to you at designated times each day. Once you are registered, please secure your hotel as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Please note: If you choose to stay at a hotel not listed on our hotel booking page, you will be responsible for finding your own transportation to and from the Songdo Convensia during the congress.

How do I pay for my accommodation?

On the booking page you will be able to pay the fee by credit card. For any further assistance in paying in a different way, please contact [email protected].

Can I invite my spouse or any family members to attend the congress with me?

Unfortunately you will not be permitted to invite anyone else to attend the congress.

Can I share a hotel room with another participant to reduce accommodation costs for myself?

If you would like to find a roommate and book a room together, you are more than welcome to do so. Lausanne Operations will not facilitate the finding of roommates for participants when you book your accommodation.

Do I need to organise my own meals at the hotel?

Lunch and dinner will be provided by the convention centre. You can choose to pay for your breakfast at the hotel or a place of your choice.

Is there accommodation available for those with disabilities and special needs?

There are hotels on our booking site that are ready to provide rooms for those with disabilities. If you need help with a recommendation for the most suitable accommodation, please reach out to [email protected] for guidance.

Travel

When should I book my airfare?

As prices of flights increase, we recommend that you purchase your flight no later than June 2024. If you are coming from a country that requires a visa or special invitation letter, please be aware of the embassy or consulate timeline and plan accordingly (see other questions about visas for more information).

What airport should I book my flight to?
The airport closest to the congress venue is Incheon International Airport (ICN). Shuttles will be provided from ICN to the congress venue and listed hotels.

Will there be a shuttle service provided and what will it offer?

Shuttles both to and from ICN airport will be available on specific days to all of our listed hotels and will also provide transport each day for those hotels not within walking distance to the Songdo Convensia. Times and meeting places of the shuttles will be communicated closer to the time.
Please note that the shuttle service will only be available for the hotels listed on our hotel bookings page. Should you book another hotel or an Airbnb that is not listed by us, you will need to make your own travel arrangements.

When does the congress start and end (what time)?

The congress will begin in the afternoon of 22 September 2024 and end in the afternoon of 28 September 2024. More specific times will be made available to registered participants closer to the time.

Will there be luggage storage facilities for those arriving before the congress starts or departing after the congress ends?

Luggage storage will be accommodated at the congress venue on both Sunday 22 September and Saturday 28 September. Details of exact times and locations will be made available closer to the time.

Programme

What can I expect to experience at the Fourth Lausanne Congress?

You can expect to enjoy a time filled with corporate worship, learning and interaction with people from all around the world. A staple of Lausanne events is discussion around tables and deep interaction with a cohort of people. This will be a central feature throughout the event, as well as space to engage with participants from around the world.

Sunday and Saturday will include opening and closing sessions.
Monday—Friday
- The day will start with Bible study through the book of Acts followed by plenary sessions.
- Afternoon sessions will address missional gaps and opportunities and focus on catalysing collaborative action.
- Evening sessions will highlight God at work around the world.

When will details of the programme be made available and what can I expect in the programme?

The programme will include daily Scripture engagement, table group discussions, morning plenary sessions, opportunities to network, corporate prayer, worship, and storytelling. Further details of the programme will be made available closer to the time.

Will there be a pre-congress programme in preparation for the congress?

All participants will be expected to engage in our pre-congress programme as they prepare for the congress. This will be an opportunity to meet other participants, engage in exclusive content, materials, and devotions, and overall be well prepared to participate in the congress on arrival. The year-long programme will begin in mid-October 2023.

What languages will be supported?

We will support English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Korean, Russian, and Chinese. Additional languages may be added where needed and practically possible.

Note: Should you have questions that are not answered here, please send an email to [email protected].

Pre-Congress Programme

What will the pre-congress programme include?

The pre-congress programme aims to help each congress member explore the core themes of the Seoul 2024 gathering. It will include different levels of personal and peer engagement with curated content, helpful connections, and action steps to take as you prepare yourself to engage the Lausanne 4 journey and congress.

What is the level of time commitment (weekly/monthly) expected in the pre-congress programme and what format will it take?

Participants are invited to devote approximately one hour per week to explore pre-congress material in order to suitably prepare themselves for the congress. Additional material will be made available for those who would like to dive deeper. The format will include written materials, podcasts, and videos to browse in your own time, as well as live webinar engagements and online meet-ups.

Is participation in the pre-congress programme mandatory?

All selected participants, whether attending the congress in person or through the virtual cohort experience, are invited to participate in the pre-congress programme as they have capacity. This is not a mandatory requirement but is advised in shaping your experience of the congress as well as your participation in the congress.

Will there also be live engagements in the pre-congress programme?

The pre-congress programme will include live engagements for you to connect with other participants before the congress. Be sure to check out the pre-congress hub each month for further information, starting mid-October.

Seoul Virtual

I am interested in attending Seoul Virtual. How will virtual participants experience the congress?

Selected Seoul Virtual participants will engage the Seoul 2024 programme directly with a curated cohort for personal interaction and added flexibility in attending the congress. Find out more about Seoul Virtual. Participants in the Seoul Virtual cohort experience must be nominated and selected. Participants in the Seoul Virtual cohort experience will participate in the one-year pre-congress programme experience launching mid-October.

I have been selected for virtual, can I change to the onsite participation?

Unfortunately you cannot change to onsite participation if you have been invited to join the virtual cohort experience. You will still get to have full congress engagement as a virtual participant including the year-long pre-congress programme, special talks, concerts, and other engaging content exclusive to virtual participants.

What does the virtual participant fee include?

The virtual participant fee enables participants to have direct engagement with the Seoul 2024 programme together with a curated cohort from around the world. This will include a year-long pre-congress programme. You will also be able to access talks, concerts, and other engaging content exclusive to virtual participants. This virtual experience will mirror that of onsite participants through online collaboration tools.

Are nominations for Seoul Virtual still open?

Nominations for Seoul Virtual are still open. Please nominate people who meet the participant selection criteria as soon as possible.

I am interested in attending Seoul Virtual. How will virtual cohort participants experience the congress?

Selected Seoul Virtual participants will engage the Seoul 2024 programme directly with a cohort for personal interaction and added flexibility in attending the congress. Participants in the Seoul Virtual cohort experience must be nominated and selected. Participants in the Seoul Virtual cohort experience will participate in the one-year pre-congress programme experience launching mid-October. Find out more about Seoul Virtual.

I have been selected for virtual, can I change to the onsite participation?

On your RSVP form, you will be prompted with a question that asks if you would like to attend onsite should space become available and you are selected. If space becomes available and you are selected you will be notified of the opportunity to attend on site. All virtual cohort experience participants will have full congress engagement as a virtual participant including the year-long pre-congress programme, special talks, concerts, and other engaging content exclusive to virtual participants.

What does the virtual participant fee include?

The virtual participant fee enables participants to have direct engagement with the Seoul 2024 programme together with a cohort from around the world. This will include a year-long pre-congress programme. You will also be able to access talks, concerts, and other engaging content exclusive to virtual participants. This virtual experience will mirror that of onsite participants through online collaboration tools.

What languages will Seoul Virtual accommodate?

Seoul Virtual will happen in our official congress languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Russian, and Chinese.

Will I need a certain bandwidth or speed of internet connection to participate as a virtual participant?

During the week of the congress, 22-28 September 2024, Seoul Virtual will require you to have internet connection capable of handling video calls. Please make sure you have access to a good internet connection.

How much flexibility will virtual participants have in engaging the Seoul 2024 Congress? Will I need to be available during the full programme of the congress?

The virtual cohort experience will have 3-5 hours per day of synchronous online engagement during the week of the congress 22-28 September 2024. Cohort participants will engage with others in or near their timezone.

How will Seoul Virtual accommodate participants in different time zones?

Cohort participants will engage with others in or near their timezone during regular day time hours. Details of specific time engagement are still being worked out.

Do you advise that I take leave from work for Seoul Virtual?

Virtual cohort experience participants will have 3-5 hours per day of synchronous online engagement during typical working hours and should plan to be available accordingly.

How will the networking and collaboration be organised for virtual cohort participants? Will I be able to connect with the onsite participants as well?

During the year-long pre-programme participants from both onsite and virtual will interact in various forums together. More details will be provided in due course.

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Lausanne 4 Gatherings

Can you attend a Lausanne 4 gathering without being nominated?

Nomination is the first step to being considered for participation in the Lausanne 4 gatherings. You cannot begin the application process without first being nominated.

Can you nominate yourself?

No, a nomination must come from a Christian leader or influencer other than yourself. Nominators must read the selection criteria before nominating a prospective candidate.

Who is allowed to make a nomination?

Any Christian leader is allowed to nominate a prospective participant, provided that the candidate meets the selection criteria.

How many people can I nominate?

There is no limit on how many nominations one person can make. You may nominate as many people as you would like. Please ensure that every person you nominate is prayerfully considered and meets the selection criteria.

Why this process?

An important aspect of the Lausanne 4 gatherings is the prayerful, open, and rigorous participant nomination and selection process. This process exists to ensure that the right people come together for each gathering and appropriately reflect the rich diversity of the global church – across the regions of the world, across generations, and across spheres of influence.

When do nominations open and close?

Nominations for Lausanne 4 gatherings closed on 30 April 2023.

When do applications close?

Applications closed on 28 July 2023.

How are participants selected?

For regional gatherings in 2023, regional leaders will use the information provided to them to perform their selections of participants for the 2023 regional gatherings.

For the Seoul 2024 Congress, the Global Selection Committee will receive all relevant information of screened applicants. The committee will make the final selection decisions for the Seoul 2024 Congress, taking the demographic and global geographic selection goals into account.

Must you meet all the selection criteria in order to be considered?

Participants must meet the selection criteria in order to be considered for selection to attend the Congress. Seoul 2024 is looking for participants who represent the diversity of the global church, including age and gender. With this in mind, nomination and application to the Congress does not guarantee attendance.

What are the costs involved?

Participants will need to cover their participation fee, as well as their travel and accommodation expenses. The participation fee will be communicated ahead of the registration phase.

Fundraising resources will be made available to invited participants to equip them with ideas and tools to assist in the raising of the finances needed to participate in Lausanne 4 gatherings.

What is the expected time commitment?

In order to maximise engagement in the Congress, participants will be invited to join a pre-congress programme that will include a variety of content, opportunities for collaboration, spiritual development activities, and online events. The pre-congress programme is expected to begin in October 2023 and participants will be invited to set aside approximately 4-8 hours per month to fully engage in the pre-congress programme. Additionally, participants should prepare to be available for the full duration of the Congress on 22–28 September 2024.