CCA reaffirms commitment to cultivating a culture of peace on International Day of Peace

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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21 September 2024

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara, in a statement released to commemorate the International Day of Peace 2024, reaffirmed CCA’s commitment to cultivating a culture of peace and promoting peace in Asia and beyond.

The International Day of Peace, observed globally on 21 September, calls for 24 hours of non-violence and ceasefire. The theme for 2024, “Cultivating a Culture of Peace,” carries special significance, as this year also marks the 25th anniversary of the UN General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace—a landmark in global efforts to foster peaceful societies.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated, “As Christians, we are reminded of our duty to be peacemakers, following the teachings of Christ: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God’ (Matthew 5:9). The task of cultivating a culture of peace begins with us and must extend to those spaces where violence and discord have taken root. It is vital to instill the values of peace, non-violence, and justice in children, our future generation, through both formal and informal education. Churches, as beacons of peace, play a central role in this endeavour.”

He further added, “The future of our world depends on our collective efforts to nurture understanding, respect, and harmony. Inculcating a culture of peace and prioritising peaceful solutions over warfare is vital to achieving this.”

Asia, home to approximately 4.7 billion people, has experienced a range of conflicts that have led to immense suffering and instability, with peace remaining elusive for millions of people. Ongoing issues include the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir, North and South Korea’s unresolved tensions, and territorial disputes like those in the South China Sea. Ethnic and religious violence, such as in Myanmar and Afghanistan, along with insurgencies in regions like the Philippines further exacerbate instability. Additionally, political authoritarianism, economic inequality, and extremist groups contribute to the violence, making peace efforts complex across the continent.

The CCA recognises the urgent need for conflict resolution across the region, and peace with justice and human security continues to be one of its major concerns. Through its Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts programme, the CCA is committed to nurturing a culture of peace in Asia and equipping member churches and councils to become effective prophetic voices for reconciliation and peace-building in conflict situations.

The full text of the CCA General Secretary’s Statement on International Day of Peace-2024 can be found below: