Asia Sunday-2025 focuses on ‘Nicaea-1700: Enduring Faith and Embracing Unity’

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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25 March 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) will observe Asia Sunday 2025 with the theme ‘Nicaea- 1700: Enduring Faith and Embracing Unity’ in conjunction with the commemoration of the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea held in 325 AD.

This year’s Asia Sunday will be observed on 1 June, the Sunday before Pentecost.

“The theme, ‘Nicaea – 1700: Enduring Faith and Embracing Unity’, calls for a spiritual pilgrimage to revisit the foundational tenets that have unified and shaped the identity of the Church through the corridors of history, signifying a dual commitment – first, to anchor faith in the Triune God in this challenging epoch, and second, to cultivate a spirit of unity that transcends theological differences and cultural diversities” said Dr Mathews George Chunakara, the CCA General Secretary.

Dr Chunakara further emphasised the significance of the Nicene Creed, stating, “The importance of the Creed in the liturgical life of the churches can be seen in its unifying factor. Every time we recite the Creed, we strengthen our beliefs and enrich our personal and communal identity with Christ. Asian Christians are challenged to forge a collective identity that celebrates diversity while nurturing a shared commitment to the essential tenets of the Christian faith.”

The Council of Nicaea, held in 325 AD, was a pivotal event in Christian history. The Nicene Creed, which emerged from the council, remains a foundational statement of faith for Christians worldwide, providing a common theological framework that has unified believers for centuries.

One of the prayers in the Asia Sunday liturgy expresses this spirit of unity: “Lord of all gifts, we thank you for the diversity among us—the unique talents, perspectives, and experiences that enrich our community. Help us to recognise that these gifts are not for ourselves alone but are given for the good of all. Teach us to live in harmony as members of one body, appreciating the role each of us plays in building a world of justice and peace and fulfilling the calling you have placed on our lives”. 

The CCA encourages all member churches, councils, and ecumenical partners to observe Asia Sunday to commemorate the historical legacy of the early Christian church and affirm our faith and unity in God.

The text of the Asia Sunday liturgy can be accessed here: