Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA-2026) to focus on the theme “Break Every Yoke”

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.

22 December 2025

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) will organise an Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA) from 17 to 21 April 2026 in Chiang Mai, Thailand under the theme “Break Every Yoke” (Isaiah 58:6).

The landmark youth gathering in April 2026 will be the fifth ecumenical youth assembly organised by the CCA in its ecumenical journey.

AEYA-2026 will provide opportunities for Asian youth to reflect on global and regional issues from biblical and theological perspectives, and to analyse the complex web of social, economic, cultural, political, and ecological challenges that affect the lives of young people in Asia.

Explaining the main objectives of AEYA-2026, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara said, “Asia stands today at a crossroads, where an array of challenges often creates disillusionment among Asian youth. In this context, AEYA-2026 will provide a platform for young Asian Christians to come together and reflect on emerging Asian realities within a broader contextual thematic framework, ‘Break Every Yoke’ (Isaiah.58:6).”

AEYA-2026 will address major dilemmas faced by Asian youth, including economic pressures, mental health struggles, rapid and complex cultural shifts, the impact of migration, political disillusionment, systemic discrimination, social media pressure, cyberbullying, unemployment and limited opportunities, distrust of both tradition and modernity, and political disengagement. These challenges contribute to a growing gap between aspirations and opportunities, affecting the stability and well-being of young Asians across the region.

The deliberations of AEYA will also enable participants to share and learn from each other’s lived experiences, while highlighting the creativity, resilience, and spiritual vitality of Asian youth. It will include networking opportunities, country spotlights on specific situations, and testimonies shared by people from some of the most vulnerable situations in Asia, the CCA General Secretary added.

AEYA-2026 aims to strengthen the ecumenical vision of Christian youth and to nurture a new generation committed to fostering unity and peace with justice in the household of God.

The programmes of AEYA will include thematic presentations, theological and biblical reflections, plenary discussions, workshops, contextual exposures, creative expressions, and common worship. Participants will explore contemporary issues affecting Asian societies, within the framework of Christian discipleship and public witness.

CCA will cover the expenses for accommodation, meals, and local transportation for all selected participants. Limited international travel subsidies will be available for youth from South and Southeast Asian countries, in accordance with the CCA Travel Subsidy Policy. Participants from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Australia are encouraged to bear their own travel expenses by seeking sponsorship from their respective churches or organisations.

Asian youth between the ages of 20 and 35 years are eligible to apply.

The deadline for submitting completed applications is 30 January 2026.

For the Application Form and further information, please click the links below:
1. AEYA-2026 Application Form
2. AEYA-2026 Concept Note