Digital ministry must go beyond content creation to shape identity, values and faith formation, say young Asian communicators at AEYA-2026

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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22 April 2026

Panellists of “Does Technology Make Us Less Human? Impact of Social Media on Youth in Asia”

Chiang Mai, Thailand: During a panel discussion at the Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA), young Asian communicators reflected on the impact of social media on youth.

Responding to the question “Does Technology Make Us Less Human? Impact of Social Media on Youth in Asia”, the panellists offered a compelling exploration of social media’s impact on youth in Asia.

Moderated by Qarlene Rishiqa Dharminder from the Asia Collaborative Mission Societies, Malaysia, the session featured three young speakers from Myanmar, the Philippines, and Australia, who shared their perspectives.

Sa Samuel from the Church of the Province of Myanmar (Anglican) spoke about the situation in Myanmar, where access to free internet is restricted under the current regime. In such a context, people must go to great lengths to access social media platforms and even basic search engines, while remaining constantly aware of the risks tied to their digital footprint.

Mr Samuel emphasised that everyone shares responsibility in the digital space, whether as content creators or consumers. He said that social media should not be used solely for worldly engagement, but also as a platform to serve God. Urging participants to shine their “light both offline and online”, he stressed that one’s digital presence should reflect deeper spiritual values.

Jhoanna Kylle Juan Ragasa from the United Methodist Church in the Philippines reflected on the growing role of technology in everyday life, noting that while it has become inseparable from human experience, the deeper question lies in how it is used to live out God’s commandments.

Describing social media as more than just a tool, Ms Ragasa said it functions as a “formation system” that shapes identity, values, beliefs and faith. Algorithms influence what people see, feel and consider important, raising the question of whether individuals are shaping these systems or being shaped by them.

“If algorithms shape people, then the Church is called to penetrate the people’s algorithm—not for popularity, but for presence, truth and transformation.”  This involves showing up in digital spaces with authenticity, creating content that reflects truth, justice and grace, interrupting cycles of hate and misinformation, and offering narratives that restore human dignity, said Ms. Ragasa

Ms Ragasa further added that we are not just called to go viral; we are called to be faithful. The Church is not called to compete with technology, but to discern and redeem it. She also stressed that digital ministry goes beyond content creation. It is about formation, discipleship and witness, calling on believers to use technology to share stories, proclaim the Good News and affirm what it means to be truly human.

David Abel Toogood from the Uniting Church of Australia shared personal reflections on his use of social media, highlighting the intentionality he now brings to his digital life. 

Mr Toogood invited participants to consider what it means to bring one’s whole self into both online and offline spaces, and to carry the “yoke of Christ” in a digital age.

Addressing the role of technology design, Mr Toogood noted that while current algorithms are often created to hold users’ attention for as long as possible, they can also be shaped by more ethical intentions, where technology works with users to help achieve their goals rather than hinder them. He called on young and ethically minded technology experts and entrepreneurs to continue imagining a different and better digital world.

A facilitator who assists churches in creating leadership pathways for youth and young adults, Mr Toogood urged participants to reflect and examine their engagement with technology. He posed a series of questions, ultimately challenging AEYA participants to consider whether their digital habits align with their values and their relationship with God. He also highlighted the words of Jesus, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” as a guiding principle for navigating the complexities of the digital world.

Photos of Day 4 of the Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA-2026) can be found here.