CCA General Secretary addresses Quadrennial Assembly of Asian Catholic Bishops

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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06 December 2016

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“Ever since the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the Federation of the Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) initiated joint ecumenical action in 1995 through dialogue and cooperation, we have learnt at every step of our journeying that we are pilgrims together in Asia, where we live as a minority amidst multi-religious contexts,” the General Secretary of the CCA, Dr. Mathews George Chunakara told delegates of the eleventh quadrennial plenary assembly of the FABC.

The week-long eleventh plenary assembly of the FABC was held in Negombo, Sri Lanka from 29 November to 4 December 2016, and was attended by more than 140 cardinals, archbishops and bishops from 40 countries. 

In an address to the highest ranking ecclesiastical leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in Asia, the CCA General Secretary said, “Twenty years of our journeying together is not a long period, especially when we compare the centuries-old history and tradition of Christianity in Asia. However, during the past two decades of our joint initiatives and actions, we have helped churches in Asia deepen their commitment to a certain level of visible expression of unity.”

“The united witness of churches in Asia is more essential today than ever before as we are faced with numerous challenges,” added Dr. Mathews George Chunakara.

The bishops addressed the theme on challenges faced by Asian families and the role of the domestic Church of the poor.

A draft document addressing a wide range of issues related to the challenges that Asian families face with far-reaching proportions, discussed from various countries’ perspectives, identified issues such as, Persecution – Religious Freedom under Siege, Poverty, Migration and Dislocation, Political, Ideological, Cultural Conflicts and Divisions, Ideological Colonialism and Cultural Values, Global Warming and Climate Change, Tensions within the Family, Deterioration of Religious Faith and Spiritual Values in the Family.

The final document adopted at the plenary outlined the state of affairs of Asian families and observed: “The Asian family is at a crossroads; we are faced with a barrage of questions. Besieged by a thoroughly secularist, individualistic and materialist culture, which is at the heart of the postmodern spirit, will the Asian family succumb to the spirit of “global indifference”? Or will it preserve that human and Kingdom value so characteristic of the Asian spirit – a deep dynamic sense of community, as well as of mercy and compassion?”

A message of the Asian Bishops towards the end of the plenary assembly stated, “Recognising the countless challenges that confront us in Asia, we acknowledge that family life has been impoverished in various ways. Though in many parts of our continent, economic poverty is a widespread reality, we are also concerned with other forms of “poverty” – emotional, spiritual, relational, cultural, intellectual, physical and social. These new forms of poverty have been brought about due to the fast-changing landscape of Asia. Though, these forms of poverty can often cripple one’s outlook to life, families must not be afraid to embrace the gift of life.”

The final message issued by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the FABC and Fr. Raymond O’Toole, SFM, General Secretary of the FABC, expressed hope that, “those engaged in ministering to the family will lead the way in celebrating the joys of family life, promoting the sacredness of life, marriage and the family, accompanying, supporting and sustaining families.”

Click here for more photos of the FABC Plenary Assembly.