Korean Theological Students and Professors Dialogue with CCA

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).

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16 February 2016

e966d1dac39a55fd601cd04aa827a691A group of 23 theological students and  professors  visited Christian Conference of Asia’s headquarters in Chiang Mai today.  The students and staff were from theological seminaries in Korea such as Honam Theological University and  Seminary, Busan Presbyterian University, Daejeon Theological University and Youngnam Theological University  that belong to the the Presbyterian Church of Korea ( PCK).

The students visited CCA headquarters as part of a Training Program for Mission and Diakonia co-conducted by the Presbyterian Church of Korea (PCK) Training Center and Diakonia Ministry of PCK. The group had an enlightening dialogue session with CCA’s General Secretary and staff about ecumenism, ecumenical movement, Diakonia and mission of the Church in the context of Asia.

“Inter-denominational dialogue and unity of the churches alone are not the main focus of ecumenism, but the oneness of humanity and unity in the entire household of God should be the principles of ecumenism.  The tendency to create denominational identity often hinder Church unity and divert the attention of the real goal of ecumenism, the oneness of all God’s creation”,  told Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary of CCA to the  group during the dialogue.

In response to questions on Diakonia and mission of the Church, CCA’s General Secretary added that, “authentic Diakonia should involve more than the giving of money and engaging in charity. Diakonia should be prophetic in terms of reaching out all those who suffer, accompanying them while striving for justice and human dignity. The Church has a responsibility to constantly be engaged in prophetic Diakonia, although the road ahead might be painful.”

Korean churches’ aspirations for a peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula, especially peace and security in Korea and future ecumenical advocacy strategies were also discussed during the meeting.

The group will also be visiting the Diakonia office of Church of Christ in Thailand in Chiang Mai and the Maleah Refugee Camp in Mae Sot before going back to their home country.