A fresh agenda for ecumenism in Asia

No time has been wasted since May last year when the 14th General Assembly of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) mandated its newly elected executive committee to reorganize CCA’ s programme structure. In October, after five months as its new general secretary, Dr Mathews George Chunakara could present a new strategic plan focused on four programme areas with clear priorities outlined.

The plan, which is now being implemented, is the outcome of a thorough process involving the CCA General Secretariat and staff, the programme committee, a financial advisory group and the executive committee itself.

"The plan aims to shape a new paradigm in Asia for living together in the household of God. It stakes out the path towards a revitalization of the ecumenical movement,” explains Chunakara.

He is determined to lead a more visible ecumenical organization in Asia, covering a vast geographical region starting from Iran in the West to Japan in the East and from Nepal in the North to New Zealand in the Southwith a set of clear strategic priorities.

"That will require a systematic approach, continuity and better follow-up of program activities. Monitoring our activities is essential in order to keep the ecumenical movement on track. At the same time emerging issues must be addressed on a parallel basis, Chunakara points out.

The new programme structure now adopted comprises four areas:

• Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology
• Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Ecumenical Spirituality
• Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts
• Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy

This strategic programme plan (see link) spans over five years, from 2016 to 2020, and contains comprehensive break-downs of all activities including budgets.

“This document guides the CCA through the coming years and is a critical instrument to shape the new paradigm for living together in the household of God, Chunakara concludes.

A more visible church

Systematic communication in order to support the programmes and increase the visibility of ecumenical initiatives is also crucial. As an example of an activity which usually catches considerable public attention, he mentions Asia Sunday which takes place on the Sunday before Pentecost each year. Asia Sunday focuses on a specific issue and this year churches around the world were urged to pray for peace and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula. The theme was ‘Korea: Towards Unity in the Bond of Peace’ based on Ephesians 4:3.

"To unite our members around one specific issue profiles ecumenical work to a broader audience. The impact of well-coordinated actions like Asia Sunday is substantial and it is vital for the CCA to observe and publicly express solidarity with the Korean people,” Chunakara explains.

Such initiatives are also a way to inspire and invite churches to be partners in ecumenism and involve them in ecumenical work.

"It is a question of equipping them to do so from grassroots levels and upwards which requires leadership training and engagement at all levels. Ecumenical formation and  leadership development training programme is therefore a cornerstone in our programme structure, Chunakara points out.

The path towards "a more inclusive and comprehensive ecumenical fellowship; rooted, grown and flourished from a grass root level itself, as he envisioned a year ago, has been staked out in the new strategy and programme priorities

Encouraging young people

Nurturing a new generation of clergy, lay leaders and young theology teachers is another concern that is addressed in the new programme structure. A concrete example of an initiative engaging more young people in ecumenism is through the Young Ambassadors for Peace (YAPA) programme, where 200 peace activists will be trained within five years and be instrumental in multiplying the number of peace activists in many parts of Asia.

"In the past, the ecumenical movement has had a tendency to recycle the same issues and the same group of people in all activities. We must introduce new people and bring them into the mainstream of the ecumenical movement. Otherwise we risk becoming a club for the same old people,” Chunakara notes.

A pluralistic environment

The empowerment of churches to live in harmony in a pluralistic society is yet another key area where church leaders can demonstrate leadership by engaging in faith-based dialogue and valuing the uniqueness of other religions, according to Chunakara.

"In most Asian countries, Christians are a minority and we cannot neglect the fact that cultural roots and local traditions are important. A big challenge for us is the proliferation of a new generation of para-churches preaching against other traditional religions as well as propagating a prosperity theology. Many people, including those from the mainline denominations, are attracted to this, but that is not a meaningful and relevant Christian witness. Churches must stand up firmly against all forms commercialization of preaching the Gospel, Chunakara says.

He notes that churches and the ecumenical movement have a crucial role in prophetic witness, which is mainly being done through advocacy programmes and that the churches have to be involved in prophetic diaconia.

"Rights and dignities of children; human trafficking; and HIV and AIDS are pertinent issues that we have to be alert about and address. Statelessness has also become an important area, as have the issues of migrant workers. Countries in Asia are in the sending, transiting and receiving end of the process.”

Mission with a meaning and purpose

Finally, articulating a relevant missiology which can help rediscover the meaning of mission and witness is on top of the agenda. A pan-Asia Mission Conference in 2017 is being planned and will be held in conjunction with the 60^th anniversary of the CCA.

"In Asia, mostly it is western churches and mission agencies that have initiated mission in the past centuries. We need now to analyse and engage in self-reflection on how Asian churches are doing their mission in the changing contexts in Asia. A reflection on mission together by Asian churches and all their partners also is important when growing denominationalism hinders witness in unity in today’s Asia,” Chunakara explains.

With a comprehensive programme structure in place and clear strategic priorities outlined, he feels confident about the role of CCA in nurturing the future of ecumenism and revitalising the ecumenical movement in Asia.

"Our toughest challenge – and one of the main hindrances – is lack of coherent and coordinated approach in ecumenical activities in the region. This is a growing trend; lack of cooperation and coordination among and between ecumenical actors and players is more visible in Asia these days,” Chunakara says.

He underlines that the World Council of Churches (WCC) must be instrumental in ensuring its role of furthering the coherence of one ecumenical movement. And in order to reach this goal, WCC and the regional ecumenical organisations like CCA need to work together in strengthening ecumenism in Asia through member churches and national ecumenical councils.

*Claus Grue is a communication consultant at the World Council of Churches

Related link:

"A moment with the new CCA general secretary" - WCC's 2015 interview with Chunakara