CCA mourns the passing of Harold Williams, former Communications Secretary

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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10 February 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) received the sad news of the passing of Harold Williams, former Communications Secretary of the CCA. He breathed his last on 29 January 2025 in a hospital in Agra, India, after a long illness. He was 74 years old.

Mr Williams joined the CCA in 1992 and played a significant role in advancing its communications initiatives while CCA’s headquarter was based in Hong Kong. He served as CCA’s Communications Secretary from 1992 to 1996.

General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara expressed heartfelt condolences on the passing of his former colleague, stating that Harold William was instrumental in strengthening CCA’s communications programmes and systematising its regular engagements with member churches and councils across Asia.

Reflecting on their time together, Dr Chunakara said, “Harold was a true friend to many in the ecumenical movement and a loving person. He was very sincere in his dealings and he was always willing to help others in times of need with pastoral care”.

Mr Williams began his career as a science teacher at the prestigious Tyndale Biscoe School in Srinagar, Kashmir, India. He later transitioned from education to communication, joining the office of the Synod of the Church of North India in 1988 as the Head of the Communications Department and editor of its monthly journal, North India Church Review, along with other publications.

In addition to his postgraduate studies in Science and Education, he earned a Master’s degree in Ethics and Christian Communication from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

He also served as Communications Secretary of The Leprosy Mission in India and as Director of Programmes at YMCA Greater Noida.

He is survived by his wife, Rita.