Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA) to begin tomorrow in Indonesia

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.

06 April 2018

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The Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA), focusing on the theme ‘Lord, Send Your Light and Truth to Lead Us,’ will begin at the Grand Kawanua International Convention Centre at Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, tomorrow, 7 April 2018.

Initiated and organized by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), the AEYA is a major ecumenical youth event, which will bring together more than 350 young people from across Asia.

Hosted by the Gereja Masehi Injili Minahasa (GMIM) and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), the AEYA is the largest Asian ecumenical youth event organized by CCA since a major youth event was held in New Delhi, India, in 1984.

The week-long event is expected to provide a platform for young Asian Christians to discuss on a wide range of emerging Asian issues and themes such as, ‘Towards Shaping a Transformed World: Role of Asian Youths’, ‘Prophetic Witness to the Truth and Light: Biblical Theological Perspectives’, ‘Spirituality in a Digitalized World’, ‘Embracing and Appreciating Diversities and Human Dignity,’ and ‘Changing Family Values and Cultures in Asia: Intergenerational Voices.’

Youths in Dialogue Sessions will address issues and themes such as ‘Religious Intolerance and Politicization of Religion,’ ‘Artificial Intelligence: Future of Asian Youths,’ ‘Trafficking in Persons and People on the Move within and Beyond Asia,’   ‘Human Development and Technological Advancements in Asia, ‘Are Young Asians Becoming Digital Nomads?’ and ‘Disappearing Values of  Love and Care amidst Selfie Culture?.’

The participants will take part in an ‘Asian Easter Celebration’ on Sunday, 8 April, at the Maesa Stadium in Tondano, North Sulewes, which will be organized by the  Indonesian churches in conjunction with the AEYA.

Two sessions focusing on dialogue with interfaith leaders by the participants, on the theme ‘Light and Truth in a Pluralistic Asia’ will be led by prominent Asian religious  leaders representing  Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Taoist religions.

The AEYA will adopt a formal Declaration titled, ‘Young Asians: Journeying Together in Search of Light and Truth for our Common Humanity.’

While explaining the significance of AEYA, the CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated, “We’re very happy to facilitate a major ecumenical event open exclusively for young Asian Christians. As Asians, especially young people,  face numerous challenges in their day to day lives, it is our sincere hope and prayer that the AEYA will help each participant to discuss and reflect on problems they face in their respective contexts.”

“The issues of today’s youths are far different from what it was a few years ago. We hope the AEYA will effectively address some of the most pertinent Asian issues and act as a precursor to great changes in the coming days,” the CCA General Secretary  added.