WCC general secretary addresses 130th Maramon Convention

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).

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10 February 2025

Photo: Screenshot from the livestream.

Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay addressed over 100,000 people attending Asia’s largest Christian gathering on 9 February.

“What a great witness your presence is, in this gathering of celebration, prayer, Christian unity, and an opportunity to drink from the wells of spiritual blessings,” said Pillay during his sermon. 

“God has called us to be together today. For whatever reason you have come, you are not here by accident. God has called you to be here today and in the days that will follow. God is always calling us to serve Him and to serve the world with His grace, justice, and love. Often times we do not understand this, and we push it away,” he said.

The 130th Maramon Convention is currently underway, taking place from 9-16 February on the sandy banks of the Pampa River in Maramon, Kerala, India. Organized by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, this annual event is renowned as one of the largest Christian gatherings in Asia. 

“God called me, God called the clergy present, and God called you as children of God. All through the Scriptures, God calls people to serve Him in different ways,” added Pillay. “What is God calling me to do? What is God calling you to do? What is God calling us to do?”

“There must come a time when we take the decision to follow Jesus, to take stock and reflect on the call God is placing in our lives. I say to you today: Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus.” 

Theodosius Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, inaugurated the event at a function to be presided over by Isaac Mar Philoxenos. 

Besides the bishops in the Mar Thoma Church, the convention also features Victor Aloyo, president of the Columbia Theological Seminary, Major Archbishop Mar Raphel Thattil, and Archbishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, among others.

The Maramon Convention continues to be a significant event for Christians worldwide, offering a platform for spiritual rejuvenation, community building, and discussions on pertinent social issues.

Photo gallery

Video: Inaugural Session of the 130th Maramon Convention

Orgnial News from World Council of Churches