CCA expresses condolences on the demise of Indian Lutheran Church leader Rev Dr Augustine Jeyakumar

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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01 November 2019
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Rev Dr Augustine G. Jeyakumar, an illustrious ecumenist (Photo Courtesy: NCCI)

The Executive Secretary of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of India (UELCI) and the Treasurer of the National Council of Churches of India (NCCI), Rev Dr Augustine G. Jeyakumar, passed away on 31 October 2019 in Chennai, India.

Rev Dr Jeyakumar, an ordained minister of the Arcot Lutheran Church, has been in the leadership of the UELCI for decades, serving in various capacities. He was also active in the Indian ecumenical movement.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary of CCA expressed condolences on the demise of Rev Dr Augustine Jeyakumar.

Expressing deepest condolences to his family and the members of the UELCI, Dr Mathews George Chunakara said, “Rev Dr Jeyakumar was a committed ecumenist, and an ecclesiastical figurehead in the Lutheran communion of India. He was a beloved leader, and was inspirational to a generation of young Christians. His demise has left a deep vacuum in India’s ecumenical movement.”

The UELCI is a communion of twelve culturally and ethnically diverse Lutheran churches in India. Before becoming the UELCI Executive Secretary, Rev Dr Jeyakumar headed the Department of Social Action (DSA) of the UELCI, with the vision of creating a fair and sustainable society. He also served on the board of different ecumenical organisations and institutions.

He was at the forefront of promoting the rights of Dalits in India. He was respected among church people and also those who served in the social action sector.

The funeral service of Rev Dr Augustine G Jeyakumar was held on 1 November 2019 in Chennai and the burial will take place on 2 November 2019 in Kilkavarapet, near Chennai, India.