Suicide bomb attack  against innocent people in Pakistan, is a heinous crime, says CCA General Secretary.

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:
General Secretariat (GS)
Second Preference:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
29 March 2016

[caption id="attachment_1718" align="aligncenter" width="559"]Photo Source: AlJazeera Photo Source: AlJazeera[/caption]

“Suicide bomb attack on innocent people, mostly women and children in Lahore, by terrorist groups, is a heinous crime” said Dr. Mathews George Chunakara, General Secretary, Christian Conference of Asia. 

In  reaction to the news of a suicide bomber killing more than 70 people and injuring 300 others at the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore on Easter Sunday, the CCA General Secretary stated that CCA was deeply shocked and saddened to receive the news and further dismayed to learn from ecumenical colleagues in Pakistan, that the deadly suicide attack on Easter evening caused untold suffering for many people while several families from predominantly Christian settlements in Youhanabad and Bahar Colony areas were spending time with their children in the park, after Easter services in churches. 

In a pastoral solidarity letter sent on behalf of CCA to the National Council of Churches in Pakistan and other member churches of CCA in Pakistan, CCA General Secretary wrote that "it was unfortunate that sectarian violence and blatant terrorism was continuously taking place in Pakistani society due to widespread religious hatred against Christian minorities."

He added that "such cowardly actions destroys the very core of the social fabric and communal harmony in the country." 

"The increasing trend of attacks against innocent people raises questions over the security measures by the government to protect the lives of its citizens.” 

He appealed to the government of Pakistan to prevent these savage inhuman actions from over-running the lives of people who have every right to live in peace, security and freedom of movement. 

Recalling the suicide attacks carried out in 2013 at All Saints Church in Peshawar’s Kohati Gate area, killing 80 and wounding hundreds as well as other suicide bombings at two churches in Youhanabad area in March 2015, the CCA General Secretary raised the concern of the plight of Christian minority in Pakistan who are constantly facing deadly attacks, while the perpetrators continue with impunity. 

Dr. Mathews George was of the opinion that these incidents are clear indications of the vulnerable situations in which Christians in Pakistan are forced to live. 

Expressing solidarity of CCA member churches and councils in Asia at their time of grief, CCA General Secretary wrote “Our thoughts and our prayers are with the people and communities affected by this tragedy” and added that "CCA conveys profound sorrow and condolences to the bereaved families whose loved ones were killed and injured during the blast." 

CCA urges all member churches and councils to pray for the comfort and solace of numerous victims irrespective of their religion or faith. 

(The full text of the letter of solidarity is  available here)