CCA Expresses Solidarity with Typhoon Victims

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.

13 November 2013
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

Pastoral letter to the Member Churches in the Philippines November 12, 2013 Dear Friends,

We are shocked and deeply saddened at the loss of lives and the massive destruction that was caused by super typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines, particularly in the coastal city of Tacloban in Samar Island and Leyte.

Our heart goes out to the victims of the storm and tsunami-like surges of sea water, and share the sorrow and grief of those who have been bereaved and are in mourning. We have heard stories of men and women who died even while they were trying to protect their children and loved ones from the storm and the formidable waves that surged into the city. We are overwhelmed by the staggering estimates of more than 10,000 dead and millions affected by the devastation.

We the members of the Christian Conference of Asia, express our heartfelt solidarity, with the people who have lost their loved ones, their homes, and their entire city. We pray for the rescue workers who are trying desperately to reach the stranded victims and also for the city authorities who have to manage a disaster of such huge proportions. It is a tragedy that though 800,000 were moved to churches, schools and public buildings, the brick-and-mortar structures were simply no match for the fury of the storm. The tragedy is a reminder of the helplessness of human beings in situations like this.

We would like to affirm the resilience of the people in the Philippines in times of adversity and pray that once again they will be blessed with the courage and strength to rise, and will continue to look toward God with faith and hope. We pray for the tireless efforts of the churches in the Philippines to respond to these massive and recurring calamities.

As a token of solidarity CCA shares a small amount to help with the relief work of NCC Philippines, accompanied by continued prayers for those kind helping hands in the service of the survivors.

May I take this opportunity to encourage you my dear sisters and brothers of CCA member churches, councils and ecumenical partners, to uphold the churches and people in the Philippines in our prayers. You may send your letters of solidarity and support to the Philippines through the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), Rev. Rex Reyes at his email address: "Rex R B. Reyes Jr." <[email protected]>

May I also appeal to all CCA member churches and councils to support and donate to the CCA Emergency Fund. This fund is intended to respond in the quickest way to emergency needs that may arise. This is also our way of expressing our unity in Christ as we show solidarity and care for each other in times of calamities.

You can send your support to CCA account with the following details: Hang Seng Bank Hankow Road Branch 4 Hankow Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong Account number: 295-4-709594 (Multi Currencies A/C) Swift Code: HASEHKHH If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact us. May God, the source of life, guide us, especially the churches and the people in the Philippines in these trying times. "The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knows them that trust in him." - Nahum 1:7 Sincerely yours, Henriette Hutabarat Lebang General Secretary