‘God, Heal Us as We are Vulnerable’: CCA’s Asia Sunday observance through online service on 24 May 2020

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.

20 May 2020

Asia Sunday 2020 will be observed with a focus on the theme, ‘God, Heal Us as We are Vulnerable’.

A unique virtual worship service will be organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) on 24 May 2020 from 16:00–17:15 (4 PM to 5:15 PM) Bangkok (Thailand) time.

Ecclesiastical and ecumenical leaders from the CCA’s constituencies across Asia will lead this one-of-a-kind virtual prayer service.

Asia Sunday is observed by the member churches and councils of the CCA annually on the Sunday before Pentecost. This year, Asia Sunday falls on 24 May 2020.

Speaking of the timeliness and relevance of the Asia Sunday 2020 theme, Dr Mathews George Chunakara, the General Secretary of the CCA had earlier stated, “As the global COVID-19 pandemic ravages the world, the CCA has decided to focus this year’s Asia Sunday theme on ‘God, Heal Us as We are Vulnerable’. The crucial conditions which we are currently collectively undergoing serve as a reminder for humankind to reflect on the fragility of human life and the ultimate vulnerability of the entire cosmos. Our world needs prayers, cure, and healing especially amidst this COVID-19 crisis.”

The registration for direct participation in the virtual prayer service which will be conducted via Zoom is now open. Please use this link to register: https://forms.gle/md82sXWzYdH8Z44y6

Additional technical details will be sent by email to all registered participants.

Those who will not be able to obtain an advanced registration can join the service through Facebook live-streaming on the CCA’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ChristianConferenceofAsia