CCA mourns the passing away of Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, a doyen among Asian ecclesiastical and ecumenical leaders

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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18 October 2020
His Beatitude Most Rev Dr Joseph Mar Thoma

One of Asia’s most eminent ecclesiastical and ecumenical leaders, Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, a former president of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), passed away at 2:38 AM on 18 October 2020 at Tiruvalla, Kerala, in India, at the age of 89.

In a condolence message addressed to the Suffragan Metropolitan Dr Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, Dr Mathews George Chunakara, the General Secretary of the CCA, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, the Supreme spiritual head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the 21st Malankara Mar Thoma Metropolitan.

“It is with profound gratitude that the CCA acknowledges and recognises Dr Joseph Mar Thoma’s valuable contributions to the Asian and global ecumenical movement in manifold ways. As a President of the Christian Conference of Asia from 2000 to 2005, and as a member of different committees of CCA at various times, Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan endeared himself to many ecclesiastical and ecumenical leaders across Asia who had the privilege of working closely with him. Throughout the many years of his close association and involvement in the Asian and global ecumenical movement, he demonstrated his leadership in various international ecumenical events, and those have been deeply appreciated and valued by the ecclesial and ecumenical communities,” recollected Dr Chunakara.

The CCA General Secretary further stated that many ecclesiastical and ecumenical leaders across Asia had the privilege of working closely with Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan throughout the many years of his close association and involvement in the Asian and global ecumenical movement.

Dr Chunakara went on to say that many recall Joseph Mar Thoma’s simple lifestyle, caring love and affection for all, his genuine concern for the poor and the downtrodden, as well as his kind and encouraging words in all circumstances.

“The churches across Asia and the Asian ecumenical movement are indebted to him for the valuable contributions this great ecumenist has made over the years and the significant leadership he has demonstrated in the course of his many years of service,” he added.

Dr Joseph Mar Thoma participated in several CCA Assemblies and other major ecumenical events.

“We thank God for the life and witness of Dr Joseph Mar Thoma, and we offer our heartfelt condolences to all members of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. May his memory remain eternal in our Lord’s mind, and in the heart of all who knew and loved him,” Dr Mathews George Chunakara concluded.

Born on 27 June 1931 as P.T. Joseph, Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan’s childhood was shaped in the context of a noble tradition. He was ordained a priest in 1957, a bishop in 1975, and as Mar Thoma Metropolitan in 2007, thus becoming the 21st Malankara Mar Thoma Metropolitan to occupy the Holy Apostolic Throne of St Thomas after the re-establishment of the episcopacy in the 17th century.

He is the fifth Malankara Mar Thoma Metropolitan from a distinguished Christian family in Kerala, the southernmost Indian state, with one of the most ancient communities of Christians.

Read full text of the CCA general secretary’s condolence message can be found below: