Ecumenical Enablers Training in Cambodia

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:
General Secretariat (GS)
24 November 2015

Ecumenical Enablers Training in Cambodia 

Kampuchea Council of Churches, Phnom Penh
24-27 November 2015

A three day Ecumenical Enablers Training being held in Cambodia from 24-27 November 2015, is the fourth in a series of seminars held for theological educators at various places in Asia. This seminar which is being conducted at Kampuchea Christian Council, Phnom Penh, will reach out to 40 participants, as part of CCAs efforts to enhance Ecumenical Formation and leadership at the grass roots, in the region.

Cambodia, an ancient kingdom in Southeast Asia which used to be known as a land of the “enigmatic smile”, had to suffer a horrific and tragic era under the control of the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot from 1975 till 1979. Thousands of people were tortured to death and many of them were brutally murdered for their faith and beliefs. During the Pol Pot regime, Christianity was totally wiped out. Church buildings and church-related institutions were totally destroyed or transformed into ware houses or military barracks. Any religious act or gatherings were forbidden. The scars of the terrible genocide of 1975-79 remain evident till now. Nearly two million were killed, over 60,000 lost lives or limb to land-mines and most of the population over age 30 need deep healing from the trauma of their losses and suffering.

The Cambodian Church has survived against all odds. During the 1990s, Cambodian churches were re-opened and spread to all 19 provinces. However, mature leadership for the churches is the greatest challenge nowadays. The loss of many educated people during Pol Pot’s regime, combined with the dysfunctional society, pushed many new Christians quickly into leadership before they were ready. Their lack of theological training, their need to provide for themselves and the overwhelming practical needs of the faithful are huge challenges. The challenge is to rebuild and strengthen churches and people who have experienced long years of war, isolation, poverty, suffering, lack of freedom, trauma and marginalization.

Based on the theme of the 14th General Assembly of the CCA, ‘Living Together in the household of God’, this training will help the participants in understanding Asian realities within the local, regional and global context and God’s call for churches in Asia to respond in the light of the values of love, justice and peace that Christ taught. Rev. Dr. Pradit Takerngrangsarit; Rev. Dr. Chuleepran Srisoontron; Mr. Pun Krisna & Mr. So Samoun from Peace Bridge Organization and Rev. Oum Sovy, Moderator of KCC; and Rev. Grace Moon from CCA are facilitating the Training.

Bible studies, thematic lectures and group discussions will cover a wide range of topics that will educate them on ecumenism and about CCA as a regional ecumenical organization and encourage them to move beyond the boundaries of the church to witness God’s love for all, regardless of social, economic, cultural and religious backgrounds. This seminar will have a special session for women participants led by Rev. Dr. Chuleepran Srisoontorn, ordained Pastor and Faculty member at the McGilvary College of Divinity; and elaborate sessions on Conflict Transformation and Peace Building in Cambodia, facilitated by Mr. Pun Krisna and Mr. So Samoun from Peace Bridge Organization. The participants are also encouraged to take seriously the responsible role of the churches in prophetic witness and diakonia wherever injustice and conflict exists.

The training will end with discussions on how Cambodian Churches will take up their role in prophetic witnessing and advocacy; how they plan to strengthen and promote ecumenism and engage in ecumenical formation and leadership training for all, including women and youth.