Asia Communication Sunday 2011: Communicating Climate Justice

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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24 June 2011
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

Rev. Dr Samuel Meshack, Chairperson – WACC-Asia introduces the theme "Communicating Climate Justice" for Asia Communication Sunday 2011

I greet you all on behalf of the members of the World Association for Christian Communication – Asia Region. I am happy to inform you that the WACC – Asia Region which met at Yogyakarta, Indonesia from the 15 – 20 May 2011 for its Preassembly and Triennial Assembly on the theme, “Communicating Climate Justice” has proposed that this year’s Asia Communication Sunday could be celebrated on the same theme, making the churches and societies aware of the urgency with which the world is calling for climate justice.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by the year 2100 the average temperature of the atmosphere will rise between 1.1° C and 6.4° C, resulting in the rise of the sea level, the melting of glaciers and an increase in the number of extreme meteorological occurrences (IPCC, 2007). Current statistics indicate that we are heading towards the upper limit of this scenario. Climate change most likely the greatest threat to the existence of the present and future generations, and to the continued existence of non-human life on earth. It is an existential threat to human rights concerning the food, safety and habitat of hundreds of millions of people. Climate change is increasingly recognized as the central issue in the world.

The UNDP report of 2007 points out that safeguarding the functioning of the biosphere is one of the most important social contributions we can make to the future, and to the fight against poverty. The shortage of drinking water, the desertification and erosion of fertile lands and the climate-related changes to the potential of natural habitats in the 21st century are some of the main causes of poverty, as well as being the consequences of poverty. There is a close connection in global terms between ecological and social problems. There is no justice without environmental protection, and no environmental protection without justice.

The Triennial Assembly also noted that climate change is primarily anthropogenic, caused by humans. Hence, it is not a question of fate, but of justice. The excessive use of fossil fuels in industrial countries is ecological aggression, robbing millions of people in developing countries of their right to life; it should be recognized as a new form of colonialism. In relation to the climate change crisis, conversion is what we need; to convert our attitudes, our paradigms, our ways of life.

An in-depth understanding of Godin-creation, the transparence of God, more than his transcendence, helps to rediscover a forgotten dimension of human-beings’ place in creation. The cry of the earth is also the cry of the poor and vise versa. The 2007 report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) already recognized the most vulnerable groups and regions who are suffering and will suffer most consequences of climate change. These groups include the poor, indigenous peoples and communities living in low lying islands. To respond to climate change challenges means to consider these communities in particular and act responsibly and audaciously. As A. Honneth points out, … it is not the limits of nature, but the seemingly limitless desire of humanity in connection with the extreme rise in knowledge of its availability which are today the main threats to our future.

WACC points out that, communicators can make a difference, by amplifying the voices of marginalized people and communities. Ensure that equity and mutual accountability are at the heart of any response to climate change. Together we can prevent the ship from sinking!

It is this call that enables us to call for “Communicating Climate Justice” for our Asia Communication Sunday 2011. We invite all those interested and challenged to share your stories, prayers, faith affirmations, hymns and songs, tit-bits, slogans, etc., to generate a worship resource book. We are also calling you to participate with us on 26 June 2011 as the Asia Communication Sunday 2011. Kindly send your materials to Rev. Raj Bharath Patta (Email ID: [email protected]) or Fr. Jerry Kurian (Email ID: ([email protected]) on or before 4 June, 2011.

Let us together celebrate Asia Communication Sunday on 26 June 2011.

With prayers and blessings,

Rev. Dr. Samuel Meshack
Chairperson, WACC-Asia