Prayers for Uttarakhand, India

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.

28 June 2013
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

A Himalayan Tragedy

The flood situation in Uttarakhand continues to haunt the minds of everybody, as mammoth rescue operations in the disaster-hit areas near completion. Though a total of 104,095 people have been evacuated, according to reports from the National Disaster Management Authority, around 2,500 survivors are yet to be evacuated, amid growing concerns over the fate of 3,000 people who were reported missing.

From 14 to 17 June 2013, Uttarakhand received heavy rainfall, which was about 375 percent more than the benchmark rainfall during a normal monsoon, resulting in large flash floods and massive landslides. Entire villages and settlements were obliterated, while some have suffered heavy damage and loss of lives. Over 70,000 people were stuck in various regions because of damaged or blocked roads. National Highway 58, an important artery connecting the region, was also washed away in many places, seriously damaged at others, resulting in huge traffic jams. Floods had also caused many cars and other vehicles to be washed away.

The upper Himalayan territories are full of forests and snow-covered mountains and thus remain relatively inaccessible. They are home to several major and historic Hindu pilgrimage sites and at least one such Sikh pilgrimage site besides several tourist spots and trekking venues, which explains why more than 70,000 pilgrims and tourists were stranded. About 6000 citizens of Nepal were visiting the Indian region, of which 1,000 were rescued as of June 22, 2013.

Last week, Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej had sent a message of condolence saying "The Queen and I are deeply saddened by reports of devastating floods which have caused immense loss of human lives and heavy damage to infrastructure and property in the northern part of your country." Thailand, on Thursday, extended financial assistance of $100,000 towards India's flood relief and rehabilitation.

Earlier in the week Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, CCA General Secretary, had written a pastoral letter on behalf of the CCA family to the member churches in the affected areas, saying, “We are shocked and worried to read about the flash floods and landslips in Uttarakhand, North India, and are worried about reports of buildings being swept away, of scores of villages remaining under water and the massive devastation that was caused. It is also distressing to hear that many places are still inaccessible due to heavy rain.”

“In these circumstances,” she added, “we offer you our thoughts and prayers and faith that God is with you. Though we hear that communication networks are down, we hope that this message will reach you and give you strength and courage to face all predicaments. Please do let us know in what way we can be of help and assistance. We earnestly request the CCA family to uphold our brothers and sisters in North India in prayers.”

Latest reports say that today (28th June), the sun is shining and with the weather improving, the rescue operations have picked up pace, with 17 choppers being flown to evacuate people still stranded at various locations.

Disaster has struck and so has an avalanche of questions on climate change and the part that human beings have played in this Himalayan tragedy.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." (Isaiah 43:2)