Solidarity Letter to NCC-Sri Lanka

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 July 2014
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

In Prayer and Solidarity with Riot Victims in Sri Lanka

The Christian Conference of Asia is shocked and saddened at the reports on ethnic and religious riots that occurred during June 2014 in Aluthgama, Beruwala and Dharga towns of Kalutara District, in south-western Sri Lanka.

In a solidarity letter addressed to Rev. Joseph Ebenezer, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka (NCC-SL), Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, General Secretary, CCA, wrote, “We are appalled by the nature of violence that has left hundreds homeless, thousands displaced, and many dead and injured. We are also dismayed to hear that attacks on shops and factories are reported to have resulted in the loss of stock worth millions of rupees. We are convinced that though this isn't the first occasion that such acts of violence have been directed against Muslims, as well as against other religious minorities in recent times, the continuing campaign of inciting hate and violence is against all norms of justice and a gross violation of their human rights, safety and security."    

CCA sympathizes with the sentiments of NCC-SL, of being “deeply perturbed with this trend of growing religious intolerance, which certainly does not augur well for a country that is emerging out of a violent conflict that plagued the nation over three decades and stands in contradiction to ideals of justice, reconciliation and tolerance which alone will create a climate where all people can live without fear, suspicion and hatred.”

While affirming the steps taken by the Government to control the violence, and announce compensations to the affected people, CCA urges the government to undertake an impartial investigation so that all responsible for the riots, will be held accountable. It further urges the Government to take effective steps to curb those who are involved in inciting violence and taking the law into their hands.

Pledging solidarity Ms. Lebang said, “We at the Christian Conference of Asia express our deepest sympathies to our brothers and sisters who are affected by the violence. We are with you in solidarity and in spirit, praying that all violence and discrimination based on religion will stop, so that the people of your beautiful island will live together in peace and harmony.”

CCA requests all member churches and councils to join NCC Sri Lanka in their prayers for “justice, peace, and amity among all who call this country, home.”