Applications open for CCA’s Training Programme on Affirming Human Dignity and Rights in Asia

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.

16 September 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) invites applications from young Christian leaders across Asia for the Training Programme on Affirming Human Dignity and Rights in Asia, to be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 29 November to 5 December 2026.

The week-long training programme will deepen participants' theological understanding of human dignity and its relation to the promotion and protection of human rights, strengthen their understanding of contemporary human rights issues in Asia, and provide practical knowledge of international human rights principles, mechanisms, and advocacy processes. 

Bringing together young Christians from across Asia, the programme will enable participants to learn from one another, critically reflect on the realities of their respective contexts, and explore the role of churches in defending human dignity and promoting justice. It will strengthen participants’ capacity to analyse human rights situations, identify appropriate advocacy responses, and develop context-specific action plans, while building networks with emerging ecumenical human rights advocates across the region.

Young Christian leaders between the ages of 25 and 35 from across Asia who are committed to human rights, justice, and advocacy are eligible to apply. Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in bringing the learning from the training into their churches, organisations, or communities.

All applications must be endorsed by a CCA member church, member council, or partner ecumenical organisation.

Twenty-five participants will be selected based on their demonstrated commitment to human rights advocacy and their engagement in the ministry of their respective church or organisation. The selection process will seek to ensure gender and confessional balance, as well as fair national and sub-regional representation across Asia.

CCA will cover board and lodging, as well as local transportation in Chiang Mai, for all selected participants for the duration of the training programme.

Limited international travel bursaries may be available, upon request, to selected participants from countries in South and Southeast Asia, in accordance with the CCA Travel Subsidy Policy. Sending churches and organisations are encouraged to contribute towards participants’ international travel costs where possible.

The deadline for submitting completed applications is 4 October 2026. All applications, with complete supporting documents, must be submitted via Google Forms.

For the application form and further information, please click the links below.
Application Form
Concept Note