Reconciliation is not just a biblical-traditional category of ecclesial discourse, says Japanese feminist theologian Sawako Fujiwara

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).

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23 November 2019

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HSINCHU, Taiwan: “Reconciliation has to be understood not just as a biblical-traditional category of ecclesial discourse, but as a principle that guides Christian life and service. Thus, the brokenness of our communities needs to be discerned and tirelessly addressed by women,” said Dr Sawako Fujiwara, a feminist theologian from Japan.

In the second thematic presentation at the Asian Ecumenical Women’s Assembly (AEWA) on the sub-theme ‘Be Awake to Reconcile’, Dr Sawako called upon the participants to be agents of reconciliation.

Dr Sawako, a prominent young ecumenist from the National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ) urged the majority women participants ‘to reconcile with their sisters first, then to share what they witness with their brothers, and finally be catalysts for the reconciliation of the whole community’.

“We need to ensure safety and security of all in our communities, and realise the full participation of all, regardless of gender or sexual identity. We need to properly focus attention on transwomen who too often remain ignored in our society, knowingly or unknowingly,” Dr Sawako articulated.

“Today, we need to listen sincerely to the criticism that our theological movement is too often wrestling with gender-based injustice without seriously considering the sexual orientation of others,” stated Dr Sawako Fujiwara, a feminist theologian who currently teaches at the Japan Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tokyo.

Dr Sawako concluded her presentation by providing positive examples and lauded the development of the Asian feminist theological movement.

Stephannie Joy P Mayores from the Philippines moderated the session.