CCA urges churches on International Day of Persons with Disabilities to amplify call for greater disability inclusion

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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03 December 2024

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) observed the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which falls on 3 December every year. 

In a statement released today, CCA amplified the call for inclusion and leadership of persons with disabilities. Reflecting on this year’s theme, ‘Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future’, CCA underscored the vital contributions of persons with disabilities in shaping a more equitable and inclusive society.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara, CCA General Secretary, emphasised the urgent need to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of community life, stating, “Their leadership is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing the barriers that hinder progress toward a just and sustainable future”.

With approximately 700 million people living with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, the CCA General Secretary highlighted the pressing challenges they face, including limited access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. He also drew attention to the heightened vulnerabilities of women and children with disabilities, who often encounter compounded discrimination and marginalisation.

The statement urged CCA member churches to reflect on their inclusivity, encouraging them to examine whether persons with disabilities are fully welcomed into worship, ministry, and community activities.

“Our faith calls us to emulate Christ’s compassion and advocacy for equality. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that people with disabilities find dignity, belonging, and love within our churches and society”, Dr Chunakara said.

The CCA General Secretary called for a concerted effort to dismantle systemic barriers and cultural prejudices that perpetuate the exclusion of persons with disabilities, noting that this included addressing harmful practices in healthcare, challenging societal stigma, and providing equitable access to education and employment.

He further urged churches and society to take active steps toward holistic healing—of spirit, mind, body, and soul—ensuring that no one was left behind and that all individuals could experience dignity, belonging, and love.

The full text of the CCA General Secretary’s Statement on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – 2024 can be found here: