[Update] Violence in Orissa

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.

28 August 2008
christian conference of Asia, Asia christianity

VIOLENCE IN ORISSA:

 

AN APPEAL FOR SOLIDARITY

 

Situation: The murder of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati and four other persons allegedly by Maoists on Saturday, 23rd August in Kondmal district of Orissa was shocking. The Church leaders across the country condemned such brutal act and appealed for restrain and harmony in the community. But it is distressing to note that some organization have pointed the finger at Christian community in Orissa for the alleged murder of Swami and his colleagues.

 

The eruption of violence across the state now crossing the boundary of Kondmal district is worrying when the memory of violence on the eve of Christmas of 2007 in Kondmal district had not faded. The twelve hour bandh on Monday, 25th August called by Viswa Hindu Parishad-Bajrang Dal to protest against the killing witnessed several churches and Prayer halls being burnt, ransacked and desecrated, Christian houses burnt and attacked, educational institutions and orphanage attacked. The cruelest was the burning of two persons alive including a woman. People had to flee to the forest. The extent of arson and violence could be envisaged from the list enclosed. Fresh violence of burning of houses again reported on Tuesday, the 26th.  The Law and Order situation in Orissa is volatile despite the effort of the state government in deploying police to control the situation.  Curfew had been clamped on Phulbani, Baliguda, Tumudibandh, G.Udayagiri, Nuagaon, Raiki, Phiringia.

 

Initiatives:  A delegation of National United Christian Forum – a United Forum of National Council of Churches in India, Catholic Bishop's Conference of India and Evangelical Fellowship of India apprised the Hon. Home of minister of the Government of India on 25th Evening in New Delhi and urged for immediate action. Appeal for immediate intervention at this time of crisis has been sent to Her Excellency the President of India , Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, Chairperson of National Commission for minorities, His Excellency the Governor of Orissa and Hon'ble Chief Minister of Orissa.

Appeal:

  • We are seriously concerned about the safety and security of our people for no crimes of their own. It will be highly appropriated if letter of solidarity extending moral support could be sent to the local bishops and church leaders and, to the Government requesting for immediate intervention to bring the situation under control as per the addresses enclosed
  • The National United Christian Forum appeals to Christian schools, Colleges and other educational institutions be closed on Friday, August 29, 2008 as a mark of solidarity with the suffering brothers and sisters in Orissa and as a protest against all acts of communal violence and atrocities on the Christian community and other innocent people.
  • We urge you to declare the Sunday, September 7, 2008 as a Day of Prayer and Fasting and hope that all our churches and church institutions will hold prayer services and memorial gatherings on this day, highlighting the need for our solidarity and prayer with all the victims facing most trying and difficult times.

Bishop D.K.Sahu

General Secretary

 

Addresses:

 

  1. Her Excellency Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
    President of India
    Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
    Fax: 011 – 23017290, 23017824
    Email: <[email protected]>
  2. Dr. Manmohan Singh
    Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
    Room No. 152, South Block,
    Central Secretariat, South Block,
    New Delhi, 110001
    (O) Tel : +91-11-23012312
    (O) Fax: +91-11-23016857
  3. Chief Minister
    Shri Navin Patnaik
    Chief Minister of Orissa
    Naveen Nivas, Aerodrome Road,
    P.O.-Bhubaneswar, District-Khurda,
    Pin-751001 (Orissa)
    (O) Tel: +91-0674-2531100, 2535100, 2531500
    (O) Fax: +91-674-2400100
    Email:[email protected]
  4. Shri Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare,
    Governor of Orissa
    Governor's House, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
    (Off) 0674-2536111, 2536582, 2400056, 2410550, 2402550
    (Fax) 0674-2404695
  5. Shri. Mohamed Shafi Qureshi
    Chairperson, National Commission for Minorities
    5th Floor, Lok Nayak Bhavan,
    Khan Market, New Delhi – 110 003
  6. Dr. Buta Singh,
    Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes
    Phone: 011-24632298, 24620435
    Fax: 011-24625378, 24634743, 24615014
    Email: [email protected]
  7. Rt. Rev. Dr. Samson Das
    Bishop's House, CNI
    Mission Road, Cuttack – 753 001, Orissa
    Tel: 0671-2300102, 3250268, 09337271726
    Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

  8. 8) Rt. Rev. Dr. C.K. Das
    Bishop's House, CNI
    Mission Compound, Bolangir – 767 001, Orissa
    Tel./Fax: 06652-230625, 09861018966, 09437038411
    Email: [email protected]
  9. Rt. Rev. Bijay Kumar Nayak
    CNI Biocesan Office
    Mission Compound, Gudripori
    G-Udaigiri, Dist Kandhamal
    Phulbani – 762 001, Orissa
    Tel: 06847260569
  10. Catholic Church
    Archbishop Raphael Cheenath
    Archbishop's House
    9/16, Satyanagar P.O.
    Bhubaneshwar - 751 007, Orissa
    Tel: (0674) 25 02 234, 25 20 524, 25 01 817 (P)
    Fax: (0674) 25 01 817
    E-mail: [email protected]
  11. Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
    Rt. Rev. Anam Chandra Khosla
    Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
    Central Office, Jeypore, Koraput – 764 001
    Orissa
    Tel: 06854-231440 (Off), 230925 (Res)
    Fax: 06854-232637, 231989
    Mobile: 09437125385
    Email: [email protected]

 

  1. Bengal-Orissa-Bihar Baptist Convention
    Rev. Daniel Das
    Executive Secretary,
    Christian Service Society
    Bengal-Orissa-Bihar Baptist Convention
    Sepoy Bazar, Midnapore (W) – 721 101
    West Bengal