Christmas Greetings from CCA

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.

23 December 2014
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Christmas season has once again blessed us with happiness and hope, festive cheer and wishes from loved ones far and near. Christmas carols, beautifully decorated Christmas trees and nativity scenes, inspire us to relive the beautiful Christmas story. This is the time of the year when we, like the Magi, manifest our sincere love and affection by giving precious gifts and by travelling the extra mile to be with relatives and close friends. Malls and public places also join in the festive mood. The world is so caught up with the celebrations, that most of the time we miss the real message of Christmas.

Baby Jesus whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas was born in very simple surroundings. Jesus the incarnate God was born in humility, in lowliness and simplicity, wrapped in swaddling bands of cloth and lying in a manger. The news about his birth was first announced by the angels to the shepherds who watched their flocks in the field during the night. The announcement to the shepherds who were modest people, living on the fringes of Jewish society, indicates God’s special concern and solidarity with the simple and poor people who are often marginalized and forgotten in society. The Christmas message is one of joy and hope that this little child, is born to bring hope to all people. God unceasingly hears the cries and agonies of the suffering and marginalized people, as well as those who are mourning, the lonely and the needy. God continues to be concerned about the exploitation of nature by people who are greedy for profit, and works towards their full redemption. We as churches in Asia are called to be God’s co-workers to deliver those who are in various forms of captivities to freedom and liberation.

Jesus was born in the midst of hostility perpetrated by a powerful empire. Many little children were killed by Herod who felt threatened by the news of the wise men from the east, who came to visit and pay respect to the newly born king. We remember many parents who lost their children and family members due to wars and escalating violence in our communities. We specially hold in our prayers the many children who were killed in the attack on a school in Peshawar (Pakistan) this month. It is heartbreaking to read what a father who lost his son said “……my son went to school in the morning in his uniform, but now he is no more.” Indeed voices of lamentation and bitter weeping of parents are heard in many places in Asia and around the world, like Rachel in Ramah, weeping and mourning for their children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18). May the Christmas message touch their hearts and comfort them.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus who came to the world so that all may have life abundantly, let us renew our commitment to heal the wounds of many; to dismantle the unjust structures in our family, our church and society; and to promote life together in joy and peace with justice, within the household of God. “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6-7). Wishing you a joyous Christmas and a blessed New Year 2015,

Sincerely yours,

Henriette Hutabarat Lebang
General Secretary