PASTORAL LETTER TO CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES

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.

09 February 2012
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

PASTORAL LETTER TO CHURCHES IN THE PHILIPPINES

Beloved Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
We deeply grieve with you, especially with our brothers and sisters in the island provinces of Negros and Cebu, as you struggle to cope with the devastating earthquake that struck on Monday the 6th February 2012, causing death, and large scale damage to buildings, roads and bridges. We learn with sorrow that these provinces were heavily populated, and that the 6.8 magnitude earthquake left about 43 dead, some crushed under buildings that collapsed, with the toll likely to cross a hundred. We are painfully aware of the landslides that lasted for about 2 hours and the after shock of a magnitude of 6.2 that struck central Philippines 4 hours later causing more panic and fear. We are worried that damage to buildings, roads and bridges is making the area inaccessible to people engaged in rescue operations, and also that food and medical aid is delayed for the same reasons.
We read with anxiety the newspaper reports that Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” which is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. In times like this we realize the vulnerability and helplessness of human beings, and the resulting pain and trauma at the loss of loved ones, the despair and frustration, and mainly the fear of getting on with life, when one is exhausted emotionally and physically. We the members of the CCA family share your sorrow and pain and hold your hands in solidarity and prayer. Let us gain strength from each other and at the same time take courage in the fact that God the Creator is compassionate. He is the rock and the fortress in whom we take refuge. (Psalm 18:2)

May I appeal to the members of the CCA family to pray for the churches and the people in the Philippines and to generously contribute to lend support and solidarity to our brothers and sisters affected by the earthquake. Rev. R B. Reyes, General Secretary, NCC Philippines may be contacted at the following telephone numbers or email :

Tel: + 63-2-928-8636/ 929 3745;  Fax: + 63-2-926 7076; Email:  [email protected] May the God of love and compassion embrace us all. Yours sincerely, Henrietta Hutabarat Lebang General Secretary Cc: CCA Member Churches and Councils,  Members of the General Committee and Program Area Committee          and Ecumenical Partners