CCA Observes International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2018

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.

24 May 2018

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The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) observed the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial 2018 at a Sunday service held at the Chang Kham Church in Chiang Mai on 20 May 2018.

The service, jointly organised by CCA and the Church of Christ in Thailand, focused on this year’s theme ‘Reflecting on our Past, Preparing for our Future’.

International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is a special campaign held every year on the third Sunday of May.

The first Candlelight Memorial was held in 1983 in San Francisco and it drew thousands of people. It began a movement that would inspire countless others to call the attention of communities and national leadership in raising awareness on HIV and the AIDS epidemic.

The service which was led by Rev. Sanan Wutti and Rev. Dr. Chuleepran Srisoontorn at Chang Kham Church was packed with lively singing and emotional testimonies.

A young woman who served as an assistant pastor gave a moving testimony of her struggles and hopes, having been directly affected by the disease. She shared her experience on how God embraced her wholly without any prejudice and ended the testimony by challenging everyone to embody God’s love by accepting and loving all of our brothers and sisters who are affected with HIV and AIDS, regardless of their status.

In her sermon, Rev. Dr. Chuleepran commented that “we Christians are often reacting to HIV and AIDS but do nothing and frequently find ourselves giving moral judgments”.

“Our response as Christians in this issue should be exemplified by how God showed compassion, love and forgiveness to all. The love of God comes from our relationship with every human being and thus, acceptance and compassion are the keys to our Christian witness”, stated Rev. Dr. Chuleepran.

Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary of CCA stated that “the initiative of observing the international candlelight service is part of CCA’s ongoing commitment to respond to HIV and AIDS and other related issues. The Church as a vibrant faith based community around the globe can play an important role in reducing stigma and discrimination, prevention, care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS”.

The CCA General Secretary further emphasized that “HIV/AIDS has been a special focus of the CCA and several skill building and advocacy programmes have been conducted to address the issue, along with efforts to build a HIV competent church and community”.