CCA to observe Asia Sunday on 17 May 2026

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 May 2026

Observance of Asia Sunday - 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Member churches and councils of the Christian Conference of Asia will observe Asia Sunday on 17 May 2026.

Observed annually on the Sunday before Pentecost, Asia Sunday is a day when churches across the region reflect on specific concerns affecting the people and communities of Asia.

Asia Sunday-2026 will be observed under the theme, “Hope for Redemption of Groaning Creation Amidst Bondage to Decay,” focusing on the urgent social, environmental, and spiritual crises affecting communities across Asia.

Based on Romans 8:22, this year’s theme reflects both the suffering experienced by humanity and creation, as well as the Christian hope for renewal and restoration.

Emphasising the significance of and urgent need to address environmental degradation and climate change, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated that these crises threaten not only human societies but all living creation. In this context, the theme of this year’s Asia Sunday encourages churches in Asia to reflect on and respond to the ongoing struggles of Asians in light of God’s plan for renewal and redemption.

“As political and economic instability, ongoing conflicts and violence, militarisation, environmental degradation, rising unemployment, cultural fragmentation, weak healthcare systems, and the widespread effects of rapid technological change continue to shape the realities of the region, CCA member churches are urged to reflect on the anguish and suffering caused by decay and bondage, while holding on to the hope of renewal and new life”, added the CCA General Secretary.

The CCA General Secretariat will join the Myanmar diaspora congregation (Kachin) in observing Asia Sunday at the Wunpawng Christian Church in Chiang Mai.

The liturgy for Asia Sunday 2026 can be accessed here.