Easter Greetings 2014

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).

First Preference:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
Second Preference:
Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)
20 April 2014
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

This week, from 13-20 April 2014, is a special week in Asia, when many communities celebrate and hope for the newness of life. The people of Thailand celebrated ‘Songkran’ festival, also known as ‘water festival’, which is a New Year festivity that symbolizes the commitment of individuals, families and communities for cleansing and renewal. The same traditional New Year was also celebrated in other countries such as Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. During the same week, Christian communities around the world and in Asia observe the holy week, remembering the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ which culminates in the joyous Sunday morning celebration of Easter, which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mary Magdalene and the other women who came to the tomb of Jesus on Sunday at early dawn, intended to embalm the body of Jesus, who they loved so much. However, as they got closer to the tomb they were terrified by the dazzling clothes of the angels. They were further stunned by the words of the angels: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” These words reminded them not to be caught by the power of death, but to look beyond to the power of life.

Death is a horrifying human reality as it refers to the limit of human capacities and capabilities. Many people try very hard to avoid death or to push the line of their human limitation whatever the cost may be. However, it is ironic that instead of promoting the value of life, more and more people, communities and nations compete in destroying life which has led to the death of the people and the whole creation. We notice with a great concern the escalating violence in the lives of many communities in Asia along social, ethnic and religious lines. The spirit of community which is central to Asian way of life has been eroded.The closeness and respect to nature as the creation of God has been violated due to human greed for power and money. Churches which are called to be God’s instrument of love and care to all are often trapped in the spirit of fractions and divisions.

Easter is a call for hope, that beyond many signs of death in our world today God continues to work for the goodness of all, and we, the church as the body of Christ, are called to be the partners of God. Just as the celebration of traditional new year in many Asian communities symbolizes a commitment to resolve and restore broken relationships in communities, our Christian faith reminds us of the unlimited love of Christ which empowers us to forgive each other, to extend our hand and say wholeheartedly to all: “salam” (shalom, peace) which is the sign of our assurance to mend and heal the brokenness in our life and relationships.

Salam Paskah, Happy Easter!

Henriette Hutabarat Lebang

General Secretary

Christian Conference of Asia unnamed