Prayers for Earthquake-hit Nepal

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:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
Second Preference:
Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)
25 April 2015
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

Prayers for Nepal CCA is shocked to hear of reports of a powerful earthquake that has rocked central Nepal. The quake that measured 7.9 on Richter scale struck an area between the capital Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara. Tremors were felt as far away as the Indian capital Delhi and other cities in northern India, which border Nepal. Tremors were also felt in Pakistan, Bangladesh and a minor quake of 3.1 magnitude at the Qijiang district of South west China's Chongqing municipality. Witnesses say that people were killed and injured, and historic buildings in Kathmandu had tumbled to the ground. Avalanches were reported on Mount Everest. Aftershocks at strengths of 6.6 and 5.1, among others were reported (USGS). Dr. Rokayya, Member of the CCA Presidium and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Nepal (NCCN) from Kathmandu, said over phone that they are safe. He said that there were extensive damages and that they were all waiting outdoors fearing aftershocks. In a pastoral letter addressed to the President, Mr. Aiman Singh Gurung and General Secretary, Dr. K B. Rokaya of NCC Nepal, Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, General Secretary, CCA and Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary (Elect), CCA, wrote that they were ‘shocked at the news about the tragic earthquake of 7.9 magnitude, the worst to strike Nepal since 1934.’ ‘It is with great distress that we follow the effects of the devastation in your beloved country, which claimed the lives of more than 1800 so far,' they added. On behalf of the Christian Conference of Asia, they expressed deep sympathy at a time when the people of Nepal and all others, were grieving with a growing sense of loss due to the ravage. Noting with alarm the strong tremors and aftershocks that severely affected Nepal, and parts of India and China they prayed for God’s divine grace to strengthen all those who were undergoing pain and suffering due to the widespread damage, destruction and death of their beloved ones. Stating that Nepal would require immediate help for massive relief and humanitarian assistance at this critical juncture, they urged all churches and ecumenical councils in CCA’s fellowship and other partners in the ecumenical networks around the world to extend every possible support for humanitarian assistance in Nepal and prayed for solace and strength for all those who are mourning and suffering. Let us be reminded of the divine assurance that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain.” (Revelation 21:4). To see full text of Pastoral letter please click here Photo credit : BBC online