58th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

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).

No preference updated.

06 May 2013

Photo credit: Taiwan Church News The 58th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) 9-12 April 2013 Helping One Another and Building the Body of Christ

The 58th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) was held from 9-12 April 2013, at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei. Dr. Lin, Ming -Chu (Natalie), Executive Committee member of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), represented CCA at this historic gathering.

In a message on behalf of the CCA, General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Hernriette H. Lebang felicitated the PCT on the occasion, and expressed warm greetings to the Moderator and the Leadership of PCT as well as all delegates of the Assembly.

“We deeply appreciate the collaboration and support of PCT to the life and ministry of CCA and deeply value your presence in the CCA family” she wrote. “We are aware that this Assembly is one of the milestones in the life and ministry of PCT, during which the church will also celebrate the committed ministry of the outgoing General Secretary Rev. Andrew Chang and welcome the new General Secretary, Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong” she added.

She appreciated Rev. Andrew Chang Te-Chien for his dedicated service and for his special contribution as former member of the CCA Education Committee. She said that the CCA would always be grateful for his kind support to its ministry. She wished him “God’s blessings as you begin a new phase in your journey with God in your life and ministry.”

Welcoming the new General Secretary Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong, she wrote, “We welcome Rev. Lyim with our prayers. May God grant him courage and wisdom to undertake this new responsibility. We are looking forward to work closely with him.”

Commending the bold step of this Assembly in signing a partner church agreement with the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar, which is one of the CCA members, she wrote, “May God bless your cooperation in expressing more clearly our unity as the body of Christ and in witnessing together the love of Christ to the world.”

Taiwan Church News reports:

The highlights of the Assembly included the installation ceremony of Rev. Hsu Rong-Fong as the new Moderator and the installation of Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong as the new General Secretary; recognizing the work of current missionaries and pastors; and paying respects to foreign missionaries who had passed away during the year. One important segment was the signing of partnership agreements with two churches – one from Burma and the other from Japan which is a Christian denomination for deaf people.

The farewell ceremony for Rev. Andrew Chang was held on the 3rd day which was followed by the installation of the new General Secretary Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong.

Under Chang’s leadership, the PCT General Assembly created a Gender Justice Committee. It also played a leading role in rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot. The PCT also launched a digital revolution which strengthened its Information Center and helped Taiwan Church Press start the Taiwan Church News Network (TCNN).

Rev. Lyim said that becoming the General Secretary of the PCT is a calling and a new chapter in his life and he is aware that there will be plenty of challenges in the future awaiting him. With this in mind, he urged parishioners to work together, love one another, and support one another, so that they may accomplish the work God has entrusted them. He hopes that everyone will strive to be God’s faithful steward and glorify God by “doing what is right, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.”

CCA congratulates Rev. Hsu Jung Fong, Moderator; Rev. Lo Jen-Kuei, Vice-Moderator; Rev. Lyim Hong-Tiong, General Secretary; Elder Chu, Meng-Yu, Treasurer; Rev. Cheng, Wen-Jen, Clerk; Rev. Sudu Tata, Vice-Clerk; and Prof. Victor Hsu Wan-Chi, Associate General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations and wishes them God’s grace and wisdom as they take up the new responsibilities.

A few Scenes from the Assembly Photo credit: Taiwan Church News