Letter of Solidarity

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:
Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)
Second Preference:
General Secretariat (GS)
29 September 2012
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

To:

CCA Member Churches and Council in Pakistan

Church of Pakistan

Presbyterian Church of Pakistan

National Council of Churches in Pakistan 

 
Dear Friends,
It is with great shock and distress that we read about the mounting religious tensions and conflicts in Pakistan. With more and more incidents directed against churches and Christians, it is, to say the least, very traumatic and life-threatening to the Christian community living there. We, the CCA family assure you of our solidarity and constant support in prayer and spirit, in these troubled times.
It is ironic that on the International Day of Peace, when the world paused to think of peace and hope for a cessation of war and conflict, protests against the film Innocence of Muslims turned into large scale arson across major cities of Pakistan and across Asia, reportedly resulting in  death and considerable loss to both public and private property. We mourned with you and shared your grief at the incident in Mardan, a city near Peshawar, when a 75 year old church was burnt and properties attached to it which includes a school, were damaged.
While condemning the insensitive and derogatory film, we appeal for peace and understanding, and strongly call for the realization of the truth that this film does not in any way reflect the collective opinion of Christians all over the world.
It is of importance that we strongly affirm and communicate that Christianity is a religion of peace and it is our collective endeavor, as followers of Jesus Christ,  to promote peace, justice and fellowship; encourage respect for religions, languages and culture among people; and believe that all people are born free.
Amidst the shocking incidents of violence that is perpetrated on innocent Christians, let us stand in solidarity with the victims around the world and in particular with the Christians in Pakistan. Let us in one voice appeal to the Pakistani Government to protect the religious institutions and religious minorities, as the safety and welfare of citizens is undeniably a state responsibility. 
Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!
Matthew 5:9
In prayers
Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang
General Secretary