Rev Edmund Chan Calls for Greater Church Collaboration to Combat Spiritual Autoimmunity

Rev Edmund Chan, Leadership Mentor and former Senior Pastor of Covenant Evangelical Free Church, emphasized the importance of collaboration among churches during his plenary address at the 30th annual LoveSingapore Summit. Speaking to an audience of nearly 1,400 leaders from approximately 185 churches and 120 para-church organizations, Chan warned against “spiritual autoimmunity” — a term he used to describe the harmful effects of competition for resources and recognition within the body of Christ.

Chan drew a parallel with the history of the German automotive brand Audi, which was formed from the merger of four once-competing automobile companies during the Great Depression. This collaboration allowed the merged entity, Auto Union, to survive economic hardship. After Volkswagen acquired Auto Union in 1969, it retained the four interlocking rings as a tribute to the partnership. Chan used this example to highlight how secular competitors understand the value of unity, urging the Church to follow suit.

“Unity is not optional. It’s mission critical,” Chan stated. He clarified that unity does not mean uniformity but rather an alignment to the call of God and the Great Commission. Each church, he said, should pursue the mission God has entrusted to it, while working together with a shared vision and purpose.

Chan also noted that unity must be matured through trust and deepening relationships. He pointed to LoveSingapore as a model of this kind of unity, explaining that the initiative began with building relationships among churches rather than immediately focusing on evangelism. Over the past 30 years, this approach has fostered a collaborative spirit that churches around the world now seek to emulate.

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