Church and ecumenical leaders call for a renewed ecumenical vision and a united witness in Asia

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Church and ecumenical leaders from across Asia and beyond have called for a renewed vision of ecumenism rooted in united Christian witness amid rapidly changing ecclesial and social realities in Asia.

Organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) as a prelude to its Platinum Jubilee in 2027, the international consultation brought together over 70 participants, including church and ecumenical leaders, theologians, mission partners, and representatives of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) and the Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA).

In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the consultation, participants affirmed Christian unity as a gift of God and a shared calling rooted in Jesus’ prayer “that they may all be one” (John 17:21). They reflected on the profound transformations reshaping Christianity in Asia, including the growth of non-traditional churches alongside historical churches, as well as growing Asian diaspora communities, digital forms of worship, and changing patterns of religious belonging.

While celebrating the faithful witness of Asian churches in education, healthcare, peacebuilding, social justice, humanitarian service, and care for creation, participants also acknowledged the persistence of denominational divisions and shortcomings in responding to the suffering of vulnerable communities.

The consultation expressed concern over growing fragmentation within the Asian churches and the ecumenical movement, particularly the emergence of “ecumenical archipelagos”: isolated networks and parallel structures that weaken common witness. Participants called for a renewed paradigm of ecumenism characterised by collaboration, synodal listening, shared mission, and prophetic witness in response to emerging realities. They emphasised that ecumenism and mission are inseparable and urged churches to move beyond institutional self-interest toward a broader vision of God’s Kingdom.

The communiqué also highlighted urgent challenges facing the peoples of Asia, including authoritarianism, militarisation, religious and political extremism, human rights violations, forced migration, poverty, mental health crises, shrinking democratic space, and environmental degradation. Participants expressed deep concern over the suffering caused by war, displacement, persecution, political repression, and violence across the region, and called on churches to strengthen ministries of accompaniment, advocacy, reconciliation, peacebuilding, and hospitality toward migrants, refugees, and vulnerable communities.

The participants reaffirmed the importance of interreligious dialogue and cooperation, emphasising that Christian witness in Asia must be marked by humility, openness, and a commitment to peace with justice in Asia’s pluralistic context. Participants also affirmed the leadership of women and young people and welcomed the growing contribution of migrant and diaspora churches to the life and mission of the Church.

Looking towards the CCA’s Platinum Jubilee in 2027, participants recommitted themselves to strengthening Christian unity while celebrating diversity, and to walking together in faith, witnessing together in love, and serving together in God’s mission for the life of the world.

The international consultation was held from 1 to 3 June 2026 at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The full text of the communiqué can be found here.