Christmas message

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.

06 December 2005
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

Christmas symbolises peace and hope for humankind. The child born in Bethlehem brings peace to the humanity. "Christ is our peace." Christ, the babe in the manger restores dignity to human beings and brings hope to those who are in despair. He has come to heal life’s wounds and to restore human dignity.

The word peace in the Bible is translated from the Hebrew word shalom. It means the absence of war and conflict and signifies the presence of harmony, reconciliation and justice. The New Testament, which uses the word shalom more than 100 times, tells about the peace Christ brings.
How does the message of peace and hope that Christmas brings resonate with the realities of the present day world?

We live in a world of hate and destruction. Acts of terrorism are increasing day by day. The number people affected by HIV/AIDS are not decreasing. Poverty, unemployment, corruption and different forms of violence are creating havoc on individuals and communities.

Jesus was born to bring peace and justice to a world torn apart by wars and conflicts. The prince of peace came to demolish "the dividing wall of hostility." (Eph 2:14). He has come to set the captive free and to liberate the oppressed from all unjust structures.

We need Christi's peace and hope in this world where people and nations are burdened with socio-economic and political problems. We need self-emtying love of Christ to bring about a society that is just and humane. We hope for a day when wars and terrorism will end and when peoples and nations will live in unity, justice and freedom.

Peace comes from the presence of God. Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27). We as individuals and communities can promote peace when we are at peace with God and within ourselves. When there is such peace dwelling among us, there can be hope of building communities of peace for all people in the world, especially for those who are marginalised and broken.

Setting up a manger in our homes to celebrate the birth of Christ is customary. But the real birth of Jesus should happen in our hearts and minds everyday. It means being at peace with God, with oneself and with others. It means a conviction and commitment for building communities of peace.

May we rededicate during this Christmas to work toward building communities of peace, based on love, hope and justice.

Wish you all a joyous and meaningful Christmas.

Prawate Khid-arn