UPDATE on the Floods in Thailand

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.

21 October 2011
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

October 14, 2011

Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ,

BANGKOK, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday (Oct. 12) that the floods which hit many provinces in north, northeastern and central regions are likely to last for two months, and that residents should adjust their life to cope with the situation.

The Prime Minister said the flooding in Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya is the most critical and many provinces have been declared disaster zones. At least two industrial estates have been flooded, the Saha Rattana Nakhon, Rojana 1, 2 and 3.

The government is pulling out all the stops to rescue the Ban Wa (Hi-Tech) Industrial Estate in flood-stricken Ayutthaya province on Thursday after a section of the makeshift flood prevention dyke was breached and floodwater poured into the facility, according to Minister of Industry, Wannarat Channukul.

Nakhon Sawan is in critical condition after flood prevention dykes failed to divert overflows from the deeply flooded provincial business centre, while Dechatiwong Bridge is now being specially protected because authorities fear that its failure could paralyze travel to the northern region.

Meanwhile, Chiang Rak Road in Pathum Thani is submerged under 80cm of water causing a serious traffic jam after heavy rains in the morning.
This road is at the back entrance of the Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus where its gymnasium is being used as a temporary shelter for flood victims.

Opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and some senators on Monday proposed that the government impose an executive decree for administration actions in emergency situations, or an emergency decree, in flood-impacted provinces to facilitate relief operations.
(Source: MCOT online news)

CCT Response:

The CCT approved an additional 200,000 Baht for humanitarian assistance. In addition, The McCormick Hospital donated medicines and Dara Academy School contributed 50,000 Baht, a truck for loading; and driver and staff to assist the relief operations.

Sixteen members of the CCT Relief Team were scheduled to distribute humanitarian aid to the flood victims in Manorom District in Chainat Province on October 15-16, 2011. A bag containing rice, dried food, crackers, canned food, medicines, mosquito coils, soap, lighter, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. will be given to 1,200 households.

For long-term rehabilitation, ecumenical friends from Church World Service (CWS), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), DIAKONIA, Dan Church Aid (DCA), Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism (ECOT) and Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) met with the CCT-Social Development and Service Unit (SDSU) at the CCT-75 Anniversary Building in Chiang Mai on October 14, 2011. Mr. Natapong of SDSU presented pictures of the flooded areas in Chainat Province, one of the critical disaster zones.

The discussion was successful as ecumenical friends expressed concern to the flood victims in Thailand. Mr. Takeshi Komino of CWS will send an alert information to ecumenical organizations. He will also continue further discussion with CCT for future cooperation.

To support CCT in its efforts to provide relief aid to the flooded victims, pleased send your contributions to:

Account name: The Foundation of the Church of Christ in Thailand
Bank name: Siam Commercial Bank, Thanon Phetchaburi Branch (S/A)
Account number: 008-2-61457-4
Swift code: SICOTHBK

Prepared by:

Dr. Prawate Khid-arn
Acting Manager
Office of the CCT Policy Management
Chiang Mai, Thailand