Asian churches observe Asia Sunday focused on the theme ‘Myanmar: God of Hope, Fill Us with Joy and Peace’

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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13 May 2024

Asia Sunday Worship  Service at the Payap Congregation of the Church of Christ in Thailand, Chiang Mai on 12 May 2024

Chiang Mai: The member churches and councils of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) observed the Asia Sunday - 2024 on the theme ‘Myanmar: God of Hope, Fill Us with Joy and Peace’.

Asia Sunday is annually observed normally on the Sunday preceding the Pentecost, and coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the CCA in 1957.

Churches and ecumenical partners organize special prayer and worship services on Asia Sunday reflecting on the special theme. This year's Asia Sunday highlighting the ongoing conflict situation and human rights violations in Myanmar, aims to rekindle awareness and engagement within both church and broader societal contexts, addressing the pressing issues related to peace and security in Myanmar

CCA staff members together with the General Secretary joined the worship service at the Payap Church of the Church of Christ in Thailand First District.

Mary Thi Aung shared with the congregation the significance of this year’s Asia Sunday theme and highlighted the worsening conditions in Myanmar, marked by forced conscription, travel restrictions on young individuals, and pervasive surveillance by armed forces, leading to heightened fear and uncertainty among the youth.

The General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) Dr Mathews George Chunakara shared about the tumultuous situation in Myanmar during the past three years since the 2021 military coup.

The CCA General Secretary called upon churches across Asia to extend comprehensive aid and support to the people of Myanmar, transforming collective prayers into tangible acts of compassion and solidarity during times of darkness and despair.

The worship service was led by Rev. Teerapong Chaisri, Vicar of the Payap Church in the first district of the Church of Christ in Thailand, a member of the CCA. 

For more photos, please click here: Photo Gallery (Asia Sunday 2024)