Freedom of religion for all.
To be a catalyst for intentional collaboration of Christian organizations to promote religious freedom through advocacy, research and assistance.
The RLP’s actions and communications are guided by our core values and Best Practices.
Respect
Accountability
Teachability
Unity
Collaboration
The unfolding journey of a strategic global alliance, working together for religious freedom.
The history of the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) is defined by a journey from loose collaboration to strategic intent. Over the last two decades, we have evolved from a network of parallel organizations into a cohesive global alliance, driven by the conviction that we are stronger together. Today, we stand as a united front, dedicated to advancing religious liberty for all through shared expertise, advocacy, and action.
The seeds of the RLP were sown in 2004 in Pattaya, Thailand, during a gathering of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE) where the report of the issue group on persecution - ‘the Persecuted Church Forum’ found that Christian organisations working on issues of religious freedom do excellent work individually but could be far more effective if they coordinate with each other. The Forum recommended setting up a network to facilitate strategic collaboration, stating, “we can no longer afford to continue with the lack of collaboration which has sadly existed in the past, at cost to the body of Christ under persecution.”
In 2005, a small group of visionary leaders including Johan Companjen and Reg Reimer met in Amsterdam. Driven by the firm conviction that they can no longer afford to operate in isolation they set up an initial steering committee composed of several core leaders under the chairmanship and guidance of Johan Companjen, then CEO of Open Doors International. Their mandate was to establish a permanent space for collaboration through the formation of a network - the Religious Liberty Partnership.
Two years of planning culminated in the official launch of the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP) in 2006. Key leaders from Open Doors International, CSW UK, and the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) spearheaded the initiative to hold regular, annual gatherings focused on religious liberty. The first RLP Consultation was held in 2006, with the participation of CEOs representing Christian organisations specializing in religious freedom activism.
In the foundational years, the RLP focused on building trust. The primary outcomes were relational: networking, sharing information, and developing best practices.
The proposed task of this ongoing group was outlined in the section of a Lausanne Occasional Paper dealing with partnership. Namely:
• Create awareness of the persecuted church within the wider Christian community.
• Encourage, strengthen and assist those persecuted for their faith to stand strong.
• Facilitate networking and exchange of information and best practices.
• Strengthen churches that are not under pressure, through the testimony of those under pressure.
Over the years, the RLP’s member community continued to grow, with a presence in every continent. The mission extended to exploring more intentional collaborative projects through the establishment of Task Groups on Apostasy Laws, Research, the intersection of Refugees and religious freedom, Gender, and Leader Training.
Since 2006, the RLP’s member community meets annually at the global consultation held in various locations across the globe (and virtually in 2020 and 2021) to engage in vital discussions and meetings. Recent locations include Kenya, Canada, Nepal, Poland, Nigeria, Brazil, United Kingdom, Thailand, Turkey, USA, and Sri Lanka.
The shifts in the RLP’s emphasis to an explicitly stated support for religious freedom for all; and the change in the statement of faith from the Lausanne Covenant to the Apostles’ Creed reflect the broader vision to be an inclusive space to gather, build relationships, and explore “shared success" - the idea that we can achieve outcomes together that are impossible to achieve alone.
The RLP has collaboratively addresses religious freedom issues and challenges in many countries through diplomacy, advocating for change.
A significant milestone in the RLP’s professionalization occurred in June 2022 with the appointment of Roshini Wickremesinhe as the first RLP Executive Director. This transition further strengthened the leadership of the RLP to serve its members and those targeted for their faith with greater strategic focus.
The RLP’s strategic interventions led by its Thematic Working Groups (Task Groups) address pressing challenges relating to Apostasy and Anti-Conversion Laws, Refugees and Religious Liberty, Religious Freedom and Gender, and Leader Training.
In 2022, RLP introduced Synergy Initiative Groups (Special Interest Groups), creating spaces for members engaged in similar issues to exchange knowledge and collaborate toward broader objectives on religious freedom in Africa, Research, and Media.
In August 2025, RLP launched Voices for Justice - a global, collaborative advocacy campaign dedicated to seeking justice for individuals targeted for their faith.
2026 marks 20th year in the RLP’s journey.
With gratitude for the past and faith for the future, RLP remains committed to championing religious freedom through the power of strategic, collaborative action.
Based partly on recollections of Brian O’ Connell, RLP’s Global Facilitator 2006 – 2022.
We are guided by an international team of experienced and passionate advocates, practitioners, and legal experts.
Elected at the 2025 Annual General Meeting – Nairobi, Kenya