Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines

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.

09 December 2012
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

Typhoon Bopha Pastoral Letter to Philippines

More than 300 people have died and hundreds more are missing in the wake of Typhoon Bopha, which brought devastation, death and widespread damage to houses, shelter homes,  roads and bridges  across the southern Philippines. In a pastoral letter addressed to the heads of member churches and the national council,  CCA General Secretary wrote:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is with great sorrow and dismay that we learn that disaster has struck again in the Philippines, a country that is already fatigued by the numerous natural disasters that has devastated it within the span of the last 12 months! We hear of death, destruction of roads and bridges, widespread damage to communication lines, landslides and flooding in the wake of Typhoon Bopha that brought very high winds and heavy rains, especially in Mindanao Island.

We grieve with the families that have lost their loved ones; pray for hope and courage for those who are searching for missing relatives, and are deeply concerned of the plight of the 200,000 people who have been moved to shelters.

We are aware of the pressing need of basic essentials like food, water and shelter, especially water, and medicines for epidemics that normally break out after such disasters. It is quite alarming to note the increase in the intensity and frequency of such disasters. We hope and pray that the Government and the Church will seriously address the issues of eco-justice, disaster preparedness and management, on a war footing.

But, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  (Psalms 46:1-3)

The CCA family joins me in prayers and solidarity with people of Philippines.

Sincerely,

Henriette Hutabarat Lebang

General Secretary

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