CCA congratulates His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, newly enthroned head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church

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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14 November 2020
His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, the 22nd Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in India

CHIANG MAI: On the occasion of His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan's enthronement as the Malankara Mar Thoma Metropolitan on Saturday 14 November 2020, the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) Dr Mathews George Chunakara extended the CCA’s “hearty congratulations, prayers, and best wishes.”

His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, who has been a bishop of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian church since he was raised to the episcopacy in 1989, has headed various dioceses of the Mar Thoma Church, including the North America–Europe, Malaysia–Singapore–Australia dioceses, as well as a part of the Arabian Gulf diocese.

In his congratulatory message addressed to the newly enthroned Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated, “We rejoice in your God-given ability to recognise the spiritual essence of pastoral care for the Diaspora Marthomites and your concern and compassion for the poor and the needy in society as epitomised in your deep involvement in social development, emergency relief, and rehabilitation initiatives during times of humanitarian crises.”

“I remember the initiatives you had taken to mobilise the Marthoma Church members in North America to help the tsunami-affected people in Japan and the victims of typhoons in the Philippines and the substantial funds you had mobilised. I recall how you entrusted me with the task of identifying Christian organisations in Japan and in the Philippines to channel that support to the victims. I remember how much the churches in Asia appreciated your thoughtfulness and your concern,” added the CCA General Secretary.

Known for his commitment to nurturing ecclesial unity and strengthening wider ecumenism, His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan studied Comparative Religions at the Viswa Bharathi University, Shanthinikethan, and obtained his PhD from McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada with a focus on change and continuity in the religious life. His Beatitude Dr Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan is the 22nd Malankara Mar Thoma Metropolitan to occupy the Holy Apostolic Throne of St Thomas after the reestablishment of the episcopacy in the 17th century.

The full text of the CCA General Secretary’s congratulatory message can be found below.