CCA pays Respects to the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide

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).

First Preference:
General Secretariat (GS)
Second Preference:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
02 August 2015
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity
The Armenian Genocide otherwise known as the Armenian Holocaust, the Armenian Massacres and, traditionally by Armenians, as  Medz Yeghern (“Great Crime”), was the Ottoman government’s systematic extermination of its minority Armenian subjects inside their historic homeland. The total number of people killed as a result has been estimated at between 800,000 to 1.5 million. The starting date is conventionally held to be 24 April 1915, the day Ottoman authorities rounded up and arrested, subsequently executing, some 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople.

The centenary of the genocide was marked by a historic and unique event organized by the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy See of Cilicia, on 18 July 2015 at Beirut, Lebanon, to commemorate the martyrs of the Armenian genocide.  Dr. Mathews George Chunakara represented CCA on this solemn and historic occasion. Please see the message delivered by him. 

       

Address by the General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia on the occasion marking the centenary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, organised by  the Holy See of Cilicia, Lebanon on 18 July 2015.

 

His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, ecclesiastical and ecumenical leaders from around the globe, distinguished guests and friends, 

It is a great honor and privilege for me to participate in this historic and unique event of remembering the martyrs of the Armenian genocide organised by the Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy See of Cilicia. I bring you greetings on behalf of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), which covers a vast geographical region, starting from Iran in West Asia to Japan in East Asia; from Nepal in the North of Asia to New Zealand in the South. In several of CCA’s member countries, the Armenian Diaspora has existed for several centuries, of course with their Christian faith and churches. This clearly shows that the presence of Armenians in various Asian countries has not been the result of their plight due to the Armenian genocide, but that they have been living in Asia for several centuries.

The presence of Armenians in Asian countries has been evident in several places in Asia, for example, in several major cities in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Afghanistan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and China.  Some of the reminders of the centuries-old Armenian presence in Asia and the bygone era are still evident. There are even streets named after Armenia in certain Asian cities – Armenian street in Singapore, Madras and Kolkata in India; centuries-old historic Armenian church buildings in Madras, Kolkata, Dhaka, Rangoon, and Singapore. The best known Armenian institution in India is the Armenian College and Philanthropic Academy established in the 18th century in Kolkata. These are significant legacies by the Armenians in South and South East Asia. As we know, Armenians have a strong presence and roots especially in the West Asian countries. The participation of the Armenian Church in CCA is more actively taking place now through the Armenian Church in Iran, of the Holy See of Cilicia. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, the primate of the Armenian Church in Iran is in the current leadership of CCA and has been serving as a valued member in the General Committee and Executive Committee of CCA. The relationship between the Holy See of Cilicia and CCA existed even before the Armenian churches from Iran or Australia became members of CCA. I remember the visit of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to CCA headquarters in 1997 and also the subsequent visits of His Holiness to CCA member churches and councils in Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

As you know, the Asian Churches and the Asian ecumenical movement have been part of various expressions of the global ecumenical solidarity with the Armenian people all over the world. The most recent of such expressions was during the 14th General Assembly of CCA, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in May this year. The participants of the Assembly paid homage to the martyrs of the Armenian genocide and prayed for the departed souls during a session of the CCA Assembly. A statement on the Centenary of the Armenian genocide also was adopted by the Assembly.

As a representative of the CCA and the Asian ecumenical movement at this historic and unique event, I convey to you the message that Asian churches and the Asian ecumenical movement will continue to be in solidarity with all Armenians around the world who still bear the pain of the brutality experienced by their ancestors. As you continue your struggle for reclaiming justice, human rights and your lost dignity, we will accompany you in your ongoing struggle and continue to uphold you in our prayers.

May God Almighty’s divine blessings continue to be with all Armenians.

Mathews George Chunakara

General Secretary, CCA

 

Photo: CCA General Secretary Dr. Mathews George pays respects to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide at the Armenian Genocide Martyrs Memorial at the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, Beirut, Lebanon. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Iran, CCA Executive Committee member is seen on the left.