Asia Sunday–2021 will be focused on the theme, ‘I am the God who Heals You, and Restores Your Health’

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.

13 March 2021

Expressing the global hope for healing from the COVID-19 pandemic that has plagued the world, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) will focus on the  Asia Sunday–2021 theme, ‘I am the God who Heals You and Restores Your Health’ (Exodus 15:26).

Asia Sunday is observed annually on the Sunday before Pentecost by member churches and councils of the CCA. This year, Asia Sunday falls on 16 May 2021.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara, the CCA General Secretary, explained the significance of this year’s theme saying, “The observance of this year’s Asia Sunday is designated as a special occasion to once again pray for all who are suffering due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 more than a year ago, millions of people have been infected by the novel coronavirus, which has left a trail of death and devastation around the world.”

“God, who heals the physical wounds and earthly diseases that trouble the mortal bodies of His people, assures all those who are disturbed in their minds and emotions and whispers into their hearts: ‘My grace is sufficient, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness…in your sickness, in your hardship—in your loss, and your pain.’ His grace is always sufficient for us,” stated the CCA General Secretary.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara in a message to  CCA’s member churches and councils, “Let us continue to pray together, without losing hope, for God’s mercy and healing for the sick, and for health and strength for all who care for them. We urge all member churches and councils of CCA as well as our ecumenical partners and churches around the world to use this special liturgy in the coming days for their prayers, especially on 16 May 2021.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of almost 2.5 million people around the world and has infected over 110 million people to date. The virus, first detected in December 2019, has brought the world to a grinding halt with devastating medical, socio-economic, political, environmental, and psychological impacts on the lives of millions of people across continents.

CCA headquarters in Chiang Mai will facilitate a virtual Asia Sunday Service on 16 May 2021 which will be led by church and ecumenical leaders from across Asia.

It may be recalled that the virtual Asia Sunday–2020 was viewed by more than 22,000 people across the world through various social communication platforms. For this year too it is hoped that there will be wide-ranging participation.

Please download the Asia Sunday–2021 Worship Resources using the links below: