CCA to organise international consultation on emerging ecclesial landscapes and ecumenical paradigms in Asia

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 February 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: An international consultation on “Ecumenism in Asia: Emerging Ecclesial Landscapes and Ecumenical Paradigms” is scheduled to take place from 31 May to 3 June 2026 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) will bring together fifty church and ecumenical leaders for this consultation, which will serve as a prelude to the platinum jubilee of CCA in 2027.

According to CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara, the consultation comes at a critical time as churches in Asia undergo significant changes. Amidst profound transformations shaping churches across the region, and against the backdrop of a rapidly changing ecclesial and ecumenical landscape, CCA will initiate discussions on a number of issues and concerns pertinent to the life and witness of Asian churches.

“As increasing ecclesial diversity, the emergence of new forms of Christian identity, and changing patterns of mission and evangelisation reshape the Christian presence across the continent, there is an urgent need for visible unity among churches of different traditions and confessional identities. These developments pose serious challenges to the mission and witness of the churches and call for a renewed ecumenical commitment grounded in justice, peace, reconciliation, and solidarity,” added the CCA General Secretary.

The consultation will provide a platform for key church and ecumenical leaders in Asia to engage in reimagining an ecumenical vision and agenda for Asia.

Deliberations will focus on emerging trends and challenges to ecclesial unity and visibility, the future of conciliar fellowship, prophetic witness in Asia’s complex socio-political realities, transformative and receptive ecumenism, and the development of new ecumenical paradigms rooted in shared praxis.

For the concept note, please click here. For more details, please contact: [email protected]