AN APPEAL FROM CCA FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS

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).

First Preference:
Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)
Second Preference:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
30 December 2004
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

Dear friends:

The death and destruction across the coastal areas of several south and southeast Asian nations caused by the deadly tsunami triggered by an earthquake off the Sumatra island in Indonesia on the morning after the Christmas Day in 2004 has plunged the entire region in shock and grief. More than 75,000 people have been killed and several thousands rendered homeless, become destitute and their properties destroyed in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia and Maldives.

Indonesia, India and Sri Lanka are the worst hit. In Indonesia alone, which is close to the epicenter of 26 December earthquake that measured 9 on the Richter scale, more than 45, 000 people have been killed in one of the worst natural disasters in several decades. Thailand, Bangladesh and Maldives have also suffered a huge human tragedy.

The death toll keeps rising day by day and it could be several days or weeks before an exact figure of the casualty is available.

The tsunami-hit areas in Asia call for well-coordinated relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. People belonging to all sections of society must join hands in responding to this challenging situation and contribute generously to lessen the pain and suffering.

The Christian Conference of Asia joins the nations and people all over the world in mourning the death of thousands of people. It expresses heartfelt condolences and solidarity to all those who have lost their near and dear ones, hard earned assets and valuable properties. The CCA also asks God's blessings, guidance and protection on all those who have become a victim to this fury of nature.

On behalf of the CCA, I would like to appeal to the churches, church-related organizations, faith-based NGOs and civil society as a whole in the region to come out and mitigate the pain and suffering of the people. I also urge them to relate to the communities in crisis due to this natural disaster and help rebuild their lives.

Efforts are needed to ensure that widespread diseases do not occur as an aftermath, and people are provided clothes, shelter, sanitation, medicine, food and clean drinking water. The extent of devastation is so vast that the respective governments' efforts must be supported by all sections of the society.

If you need any information about how to make your donations or how to participate in the effort to provide relief to the people, please contact the following:

Rev. Richard Daulay
General Secretary
Communion of Churches in Indonesia
Tel: +61-21-390-8120 / 315-0451 / 315-0455
Fax: +62-21-315-0457
Email: [email protected]

Rev. Dr. Jayasiri Thidas Peiris
General Secretary
National Christian Council of Sri Lanka
Tel: +94-11-693-760 / 671-723 / 671-722 (GS) / 696-701 (AGS)
Fax: +94-11-671-721
Email: [email protected]

Rt Rev D K Sahu
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in India
Tel: +91-712-253-1312
Fax: +91-712-252-0554
Email: [email protected]

Rev. Dr. Sint Kimhachandra
General Secretary
The Church of Christ in Thailand
Tel: +66-2-236-9400 / 236-2900 / 233-2750
Fax: +66-2-238-3520
Email: [email protected]

Rev. Smith N. Za Thawng
General Secretary
Myanmar Council of Churches
Tel: +95-1-513-579 / 723-376
Fax: +95-1-296-848 / 526-982
Email: [email protected]

Mr. Subodh Adhikary
General Secretary
Bangladesh National Council of Churches
Tel: +880-2-933-2869 / 418-996
Fax: +880-2-831-2996
Email: [email protected]

Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri
General Secretary
Council of Churches of Malaysia
Tel: +60-3-7956-7092
Fax: +60-3-7956-0353
Email: [email protected]

Thank you,

AHN Jae Woong
General Secretary