Unprecedented Floods in Kashmir Valley

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:
Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)
Second Preference:
Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)
09 September 2014
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

The Christian Conference of Asia expresses deep shock and concern at the news of the worst floods in the Kashmir valley in half a century, that killed at least 150 people and left the main city of Srinagar under water, as residents are evacuated or retreat to their rooftops.  The flood situation became serious with unprecedented heavy downpour continuing in the region for fourth day on Friday the 5th September, and as of 8th September, the water was about 4 meters (12 feet) deep, submerging entire houses in many of Srinagar's neighborhoods. Some 350 villages are also under water after late-monsoon rains hit the region. Across the border, in Pakistan, floods and house collapses have left more than 180 people dead. Although rain slackened over the weekend, thousands of people remain trapped in their homes.

A Defense ministry statement said that the army has evacuated nearly 20,000 people marooned by floods in Jammu and Kashmir with the navy and air force also engaged in relief and rescue operation. The army distributed blankets, tents, medicines, drinking water and food to victims of the worst floods to hit the state in the last six decades. Around 60 medical teams of the Armed Forces Medical Services have swung into action and 16 relief camps were set up in the state.  Part of the army quarters in Srinagar was flooded, and 900 soldiers had to be evacuated. Hospitals in Srinagar were also submerged.

Stressing on the need  to address  the deeper causes of recurrent floods and strengthening the preparedness of local communities, the Pakistani Prime Minister stated that closer collaboration in disaster management should be a part of the agenda for peace and development in the region.

Let us uphold our brothers and sisters on both sides of the border in the Kashmir valley, in our thoughts and prayers, and seek for more ways in which we can be of help and support.

Photo Courtesy: Mirza Waheed/ Internet