CCA opens applications for virtual Asia Regional Consultation on ‘Strengthening Interfaith Actions in HIV Response’

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.

17 August 2021

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) invites applications to a two-day online regional consultation on strengthening interfaith actions in HIV response in Asia to be held on 21–22 September 2021.

Applications are open to representatives of interfaith organisations and individuals who are engaged or willing to be part of the advocacy in combating HIV and AIDS. Participation in the consultation will be limited to 40 participants.

Given the prevalence and integration of religion and society, especially in Asia, the faith of most people shapes their perceptions of themselves and others; conditioning how they respond to their neighbours. This extends to the nature of interactions with people living with HIV – the majority of whom are themselves members of a faith community.

Faith-based organisations (FBOs) have historically played an important role in delivering health and social services. The networking and leadership capacities of FBOs represent a strong potential asset if used as part of a comprehensive response to HIV and AIDS, nationally, regionally, and globally. The capacity of FBOs to deliver care, treatment, and support in most rural areas and in the poorest neighbourhoods should be maximised. The work that faith-based communities and organisations do is essential in confronting the HIV epidemic with a sustainable and efficient response.

The CCA has organised and been involved in different interfaith initiatives across the region with special focus on interfaith initiatives in responding to HIV issues.

The upcoming virtual Asia Regional Consultation on ‘Strengthening Interfaith Actions in HIV Response’ will be a platform to define common strategies on the role of faith and faith-based institutions in responding to HIV and AIDS including prevention, promotion of health, reduction of stigma and discrimination, enhancement of care, support, and advocacy at all levels, and revitalisation of regional and national interfaith organisations and networks in Asia.

The deadline for receiving applications is 10 September 2021.

For the application form and the concept note, please download the documents below: