CCA offers prayers for victims of earthquake in Java, Indonesia

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.

22 November 2022

The powerful earthquake left 162 dead in Cianjur region, West Java, Indonesia

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) is deeply saddened to learn about the 5.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Cianjur region, West Java, Indonesia.

The powerful earthquake left 162 dead with over 700 injured, with collapsing infrastructure being responsible for many casualties. The earthquake caused considerable damage with landslides also occurring after the initial tremors. The earthquake itself was quite shallow, occurring at a 10 km depth.

Rescue operations are underway, as there are fears the number of deaths and injuries could be higher with people still trapped under rubble. The affected area is densely populated with many poorly constructed buildings. Electricity outages are slowing rescue and recovery efforts.

The tremors were also strongly felt in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, located 100 km away.

The CCA General Secretary, Dr Mathews George Chunakara, expressed concern and deep sympathy for those affected and bereaved, and offered prayers.

The CCA General Secretary contacted CCA member church representatives in Jakarta and conveyed a message of solidarity and prayer support at this time of great sorrow: “Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this calamity. We offer prayers of consolation and comfort for all who have lost their loved ones and for the safe recovery of the injured. We also offer prayers for all who are engaged in the rescue operations in strenuous circumstances.”

CCA member churches on the Java island in Indonesia include the Gereja Kristen Pasundan (Pasundan Christian Church), Gereja Kristen Indonesia (Indonesia Christian Church), Gereja Protestan di Indonesia Bagian Barat (The Protestant Church in Western Part of Indonesia), Gereja Isa Almasih (Church of Jesus Christ in Indonesia), Gereja Kristen Muria Indonesia (The Muria Christian Churches in Indonesia), Sinode Gereja Gereja Kristen Jawa (Javanese Christian Churches), and the Gereja Kristen Jawi Wetan (Christian Church of Eastern Java).