1700th Anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea commemorated in conjunction with the Tenth Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS-X)

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

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25 October 2024

Participants of CATS-X at the Nicaea-1700 Anniversary commemoration and CATS-X inaugural session at
Zion Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A special event marking the inauguration of the Tenth Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS-X) and the commemoration of the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea took place on 24 October 2024, at the Zion Cathedral of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia (ELCM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Along with more than 100 Asian theologians attending CATS-X, many other faithful from CCA member churches in Malaysia attended the event which was graced by prominent Asian church and ecumenical leaders.

Following a special ecumenical worship service, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) General Secretary, Dr Mathews George Chunakara welcomed the gathering. The General Secretary stated, “The theological dilemmas we face cannot be solved with quick fixes, and they compel us to continually expand the horizons of our faith. As Asian Christians living among people of various faiths, we must rethink our Christian faith and reformulate our theology in fundamental ways. CATS is one of several initiatives that contribute to this reformulation and articulation of theological convictions in Asia.”

Touching on the theme of CATS-X, Dr Chunakara said, “The theme of ‘Echoes of Nicaea: Enduring Faith and Embracing Unity’ was chosen in connection with the 1700th anniversary of the First Nicene Council. This theme is particularly relevant as Christians around the world will soon commemorate this significant historical event. As those partaking in CATS-X, we are now entering the threshold of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea which took place in AD 325, which will be celebrated by Christians worldwide from now onwards.”

Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, CCA Moderator, in his Presidential Remarks, reflected on the unity of the Church and the importance of viewing Christian unity not as an end in itself, but as a means to an end; it carries a missiological thrust and dimension to it – so that the world may believe. Bishop Marigza stated, “Rooted in the historical significance of the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, our theme serves as a guiding thread, weaving together the enduring facets of faith and the imperative of fostering unity within the multi-faceted context of Christianity.”

World Council of Churches General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay delivered the Inaugural Address. Due to unavoidable circumstances, he was unable to join the meeting in-person as planned and delivered his address virtually.

Rev. Prof. Dr Pillay noted that Nicaea offered us more than a doctrinal legacy and invited the gathering to explore in depth five critical invitations: 1) To live out our faith in action 2) To journey together towards unity as a conciliar fellowship 3) To offer visible signs of unity through common celebrations 4) To pursue justice as an integral part of that journey 5) To decolonise our communities and realities.

The WCC General Secretary also highlighted that these invitations were captured in the subthemes of CATS-X: Ecclesial Synchrony: Oneness in Faith, Witness and Withness; Biocentric Solidarity: Covenantal Bond for Cosmic Wholeness; and Cybergenic Synergy: Envisioning Humanity and Digital Wellness.

Rev. Prof. Dr Pillay stated, “As we reflect on the legacy of the Council of Nicaea, enduring with us over these years, we see that it offers us more than doctrinal clarity or historical memory. It presents us with profound invitations to shape our collective present and future. Nicaea calls us to live out our faith through actions, to journey together in conciliar fellowship, and to seek visible unity – not least through shared celebrations. But these commitments cannot stand alone. They must be firmly linked with our dedication to justice, and the decolonisation of our theological imaginations.”

“In a world marked by division, injustice, and lingering colonial legacies, the Nicene faith and creed challenges us to embody Christ’s incarnational love by pursuing justice for the oppressed, reconciliation among all people, and unity of all Christians. It calls us to uplift the dignity and humanity of every person, ensuring that our quest for unity is rooted in compassion and inclusivity”, he further added.

His Eminence Cardinal Sebastian Francis, representing the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), delivered the Nicaea-1700 Commemorative Address at the event. He explored the history of the Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council in Christian history, convened by Emperor Constantine to address the Arian controversy. The Nicene Council ultimately shaped the future of the Church and its Trinitarian beliefs.

He also reflected on the enduring legacy and significance of the Council of Nicaea, stating, “When we say, ‘One holy catholic and apostolic Church’, what do we mean? This oneness is not about superiority or dominance, not even about uniformity, and definitely not about manipulation. But this oneness is about unity in the continuity in the mission of Jesus Christ. And this mission has been entrusted by the Father and the Son, primarily to the Holy Spirit, and to all who collaborate with the Holy Spirit till today, and till the end of time.”

Cardinal Sebastian Francis added, “Can we give a joint witness of joy, mercy, and hope based on the joint witness of our profession of the Nicene Creed? Can we give a witness to the world that we are one and celebrate Easter 2025 together as one Church – a Church of apostles, a Church of disciples, a Church of the people of God?”

Benedictory Addresses were given by His Holiness Dr Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Supreme Head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church; Rt Rev. Dr Timothy Chi-pei Kwok of the Anglican Church in Hong Kong; and Bishop Park Jung Min of the Korean Methodist Church.

Greetings and felicitations were extended by Very Rev. Philip Thomas Cor Episcopa, President, Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM); Rev. Dr Sam Ang, Secretary-General of National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF), Malaysia; Bishop Steven Lawrence of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia; and Rev. Philip Lok, General Secretary of CCM.

CCA Vice Moderator Dr Anna Alisha Mathew Simon proposed the vote of thanks.

The main sessions and deliberations of CATS-X will take place from 25-29 October at the WP Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

CATS provides a common space for theologians from a wide range of Christian traditions to come together, professing their faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The unique summit underscores CCA’s ongoing commitment to providing a platform for theological dialogue across denominational lines, and an opportunity for Asian theologians to explore ways of strengthening ecclesial synchrony, revitalising the visible unity of the Church through shared mission and witness in the world.

For more photos, please click here:(Photo Gallery) Commemoration of the 1700th Anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea and the inauguration of the Tenth Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS-X)