CCA affirms commitment to uphold rights and dignity of women on International Women's Day 2025

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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08 March 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) joins the global community in observing International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.” 

In a statement released on 8 March, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara reaffirmed CCA’s commitment to upholding the dignity and rights of women and girls, calling for urgent action against persistent injustices such as domestic violence, human trafficking, workplace discrimination, and systemic marginalisation.

Emphasising that justice and equality are fundamental to God’s reign, the statement urged communities to dismantle patriarchal structures that perpetuate oppression and ensure women’s full participation in decision-making—a key factor in sustainable development, peace, and social progress.

“The Church must be a refuge for those who are marginalised, a prophetic voice for justice, and a beacon of hope. Our congregations must provide safe and nurturing spaces where women can express themselves, lead without hindrance, and flourish in their God-given callings”, stated the CCA General Secretary.

Dr Chunakara further stated, “By embodying the values of rights, equality, and empowerment, the Church must model the just and equitable world we seek to build, serving as a witness to the Gospel’s call to justice, compassion, and equality.”

As International Women’s Day serves as both a celebration and a call to action, CCA urged its member churches and councils to reaffirm their commitment to gender justice, working toward a future where the rights and dignity of all women and girls are fully recognised and protected.

The full text of the CCA General Secretary’s Statement on International Women’s Day 2025 can be found here: