CCA Congratulates the initiatives of Philippines Peace Process

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).

First Preference:
Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)
Second Preference:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
30 August 2016

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The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), in a statement issued today, congratulated the unprecedented initiative by the Government of the Republic of Philippines ( GRP)  and the rebel insurgents’ political wing, the   National Democratic Front (NDF), agreeing to implement unilateral, indefinite ceasefire as a remarkable achievement of the recent peace process mediated by Norway.

While expressing CCA’s joy in upholding the spirit of the peace process, CCA General Secretary Dr. Mathews George Chunakara said, “The spirit of the intention and aspirations for a genuine peace should be upheld”. He stated that the initiative of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front for engaging in the first round of peace talks and their genuine efforts that led to the successful signing of a historic joint declaration are remarkable achievements.

CCA General Secretary further said that, “It is our sincere prayer and hope that the six agreements reached between the GRP  and NDF, including the reaffirmation of previous agreements, the release and amnesty of political prisoners, and a call by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for a unilateral ceasefire indefinitely by the New People’s Army (NPA), will lead to more meaningful negotiation for a lasting peace in the country”.

 “CCA recognizes the role of churches and the ecumenical movement in the Philippines over the years in witnessing and accompanying the oppressed and marginalized sectors of Philippine society, including the peasants, workers, indigenous peoples, students, women and migrant labourers in their struggle for a just and peaceful society. CCA looks forward to the GRP and the NDF panels meeting again in October 2016 for their second round of peace talks, and sends our best wishes for both parties to reach a successful political settlement to resolve the longstanding armed conflict”, he added. 

The statement of CCA also expressed it’s concern about the situation of the rapid rise of extrajudicial executions committed by security forces and death squads. More than 1,700 Filipinos, suspected drug traffickers and drug users, were summarily killed during the past two months ever since the new President came to power on 1 July 2016. 

The rebellion launched in late 1960s and the ongoing insurgency claimed the lives of thousands of people in the country during the past forty-seven years.

Click here to Read the Full Text of CCA General Secretary’s Statement

Philippines Peace Process CCA General Secretary Statement