Tribute to Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi SJ, Bishop Emeritus of Kaohsiung in Taiwan

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 August 2012
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity
23 August 2012
We mourn the sad demise of Cardinal Paul Shan Kuo-Hsi SJ, Bishop Emeritus of Kaohsiung in Taiwan, at the age of 88, after a prolonged battle with cancer.  We understand that Cardinal Paul, who was appointed as the first Cardinal in Taiwan in 1998 by Pope John Paul II, focused on education, building a strong laity and presenting Christ to the Asian people as his key ministries.
We the Christian Conference of Asia take pride in his conviction that the church's mission of love and service must begin with "a genuine regard and respect for all the peoples of Asia, their religions and cultures."
His belief that the Spirit of God is at work in the world only in the recognition of the "truth and grace" present in other religions, while continuing to witness to "the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ," strengthened the Interreligious Dialogue Commissions that he was actively involved in. This thought will also remain a guiding principle to all of us in the ecumenical world.
We are inspired by his close interaction with eminent Buddhist leaders and his tireless efforts in bringing unity and peace among the major religious groups in Taiwan. We are saddened that in his passing away we have lost a visionary of peace and unity, but we are sure that his humanitarian spirit and the memory of his dedicated life will live on.
May his soul rest in peace.
Sd/- 
 Dr. K B Rokaya, President CCA                                            
 Ms. Arun Vanrasmey, President CCA
Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang General Secretary, CCA