Pastoral Letter to Churches in Indonesia

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.

07 February 2014
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

One of Indonesia's deadliest volcanoes in recent history, Mt. Sinabung, erupted on Saturday, killing at least 14 people, including a local television journalist and several high school students traveling to the region to provide emergency care to families evacuated over the past few months following the volcano's previous eruptions. This weekend's disaster followed two other recent disasters in Indonesia - flooding in Jakarta and Sulawesi - making it difficult for relief efforts.

In a pastoral letter to the Churches in the affected areas and the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, General Secretary, Christian Conference of Asia, wrote:

“We have noted with great concern the natural calamities that have occurred in many parts of Indonesia recently. We would like to express our deep concern for all the people who were affected by the volcanic eruptions in Karo land, North Sumatera, and by floods and landslides in many places, especially in Manado area. We are sad to hear that the volcanic eruptions and floods have caused considerable damage to private and public property leaving thousands homeless; disrupting traffic and affecting normal life. We also understand that the lava from the volcanic eruptions have caused considerable damage to crops and resulted in thousands having to be evacuated from their homes. We deeply understand the feelings of fear, anxiety and uncertainty that our brothers and sisters are experiencing, especially the trauma of those who were evacuated to temporary shelters.

Our minds and hearts are with the people and the churches in Indonesia in this time of difficulty. We have learned that many churches have promptly responded to these calamities through different forms of ministries. We would like to assure you that we, the CCA member churches and councils, are upholding our brothers and sisters affected by these disasters, in prayers. We become more and more aware of the challenging tasks the churches have to actively undertake in addressing the impacts of climate change and other forms of ecological degradation that destroys the life of the people and the whole creation.”

She called on all CCA member churches and councils to continue to pray for the people who are affected by the calamities and the churches in Indonesia in their efforts to respond to these great challenges. She concluded with a request for assistance for relief operations for the victims, saying, ‘May God’s love inspire us to share our lives and resources to accompany those who are directly affected by these natural calamities.’

We also remember in prayer the journalist and the brave high school children who lost their lives while they tried to bring solace and relief to the suffering people. God of Life, we turn to you in hope and prayer.

  Photo Credit: Internet Sources:  The Christian Post