EGY News and Updates

Ecumenical Creative Workshop for Youth and Students

2011-08-17T16:12:00.000+07:00

The Ecumenical Creative Workshop of Youth and Students in Asia and the Pacific based on the theme, ‘Justice and Peace Now!’ was held in Tao Fong Shan, Hong Kong, on 25- 31 July 2011, where 25 youth leaders from CCA member churches and EASY Net participated.

Organized by CCA – EGY in partnership with the Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC) and EASY Net, the workshop aimed to create a common platform for youth church leaders/students from Asia and the Pacific to articulate and demonstrate peace and justice concerns through alternative creative art forms; develop theological understanding to uphold and affirm life in its fullness in the context of an unjust society (world); strengthen revive/revitalize Asian youth ecumenical networking and promote youth involvement in prophetic ministry of peace, justice, healing and reconciliation; and produce a resource material/book to help mobilize and revitalize ecumenical youth groups in grassroots communities and local churches.

Featured were creative workshops on dance and spirituality for justice art therapy, healing and reconciliation, and participatory Bible studies using Asian contextual hermeneutics in re-reading the Bible. Participants shared how they celebrated the International Year of the Youth and their efforts in advocating for recognition of the youth participation in the decision making processes in church and society. (with news from Moumita Biswas)

South Asian Christian Youth Network

2011-08-17T16:11:00.000+07:00

The South Asian Christian Youth Network or SAYCN came into being following the 1st South Asian Christian Youth Conference in May 2002, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was further strengthened by the second conference in June 2005 in Bangalore, India. Both conferences had around 200 participants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.

Key youth leaders from the conference have met regularly since then along with other leaders from partner churches to carry forward initiatives, link up and plan for the future. Some of the key events besides the two major conferences of 2002 and 2005 were various youth leadership development and conflict resolution workshops and joint advocacy for youth on justice and peace issues.

SAYCN aims to motivate and enable South Asian young people from the region’ churches to link up, overcome barriers and work together to spread the good news and strengthen the Christian youth movement in South Asia and help South Asian Christian Youth to be regionally and globally connected with other youth, mission, church, faith and advocacy networks and initiatives. SAYCN members come from the Church of South India, Church of Bangladesh, Church of Pakistan, Church of Ceylon, National Churches Fellowship of Nepal, Churches in Bhutan, Church of North India, Presbyterian Church of India – Mizoram Synod, and the Syrian Orthodox Church.

Mr Kasta Dip from the Church of North India and former intern of CCA EGY is SAYCN coordinator. To strengthen SAYCN and link up with other churches in South Asia and other youth networks, Ms Moumita Biswas, Executive Secretary of EGY represented CCA in the SACYN meeting in Bangkok in 2009. Ms Devashrie de Silva, CCA General Committee member represented CCA in the SACYN Core committee meeting held in Colombo on 1-5 August 2011, to further facilitate SACYN linkages with other member churches of CCA in South Asia and enhance ecumenical relations and networking.

CCA-EGY seeks the partnership of SACYN to network with EASY Net in organizing the Asian Students Youth Gathering to be held in India in 2012 where more than 150 youth from all over Asia are expected to attend. (with news from Moumita Biswas)

Consultative Workshop and Program Area Committee Meeting

2011-04-18T15:11:00.001+07:00

Reviving Prophetic Ecumenism: Role of Youth and Women in Asia in the Journey of Healing and Reconciliation.
09-12 February 2011, CNI Bhawan, New Delhi

STATEMENT

“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:24)

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute”.(Proverbs 31: 8)
Preamble

1.We, the Church leaders Youth, Women participants and Program Area Committee Members of Ecumenical Formation Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment cluster from different countries and representing Churches, National Councils and Christian youth organizations all over Asia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia have gathered in unity and bonded by the love of Christ to attend the Consultative Workshop and Program Area Committee Meeting (EGY) organized by CCA based on the theme: Reviving Prophetic Ecumenism: Role of Youth and Women in Asia in the Journey of Healing and Reconciliation at CNI Bhavan, New Delhi organized in partnership with NCCI, Church of North India and Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action ( CASA).

2. We come from diverse cultures and ethnic backgrounds representing Cambodia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, India, Aotearoa New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Iran to bear common witness to God’s love and are ambassadors of transformation.

3. We proclaim that Asian women, youth and children are not only an integral part of Asian Churches but they have been playing a crucial role in the advancement of the reign of God and in shaping Asian ecumenical movement throughout history.

4. We also acknowledge and recognize that Asian women and youth make profound contribution in prophetic ministry of the Church. However we regret that many times such contributions and prophetic voices and role of youth and women are not only ignored and undermined by Asian society but often suppressed by the Church and society.

3. We regret that various forms of injustices prevalent in this neo-colonized Asian society which is ripped apart by negative impacts of globalization, war, ethnic conflicts, terrorism, fundamentalism, military dictatorship and violence and have adverse impact on the lives of women, youth and children in unique ways. We lament that women, children and youth are the worst victims of any forms of violence in Asia. We acknowledge despite their vulnerability women, youth and children are not always passive recipients of violence. They have resilience and hope in continuously striving for justice, peace to heal one another and reconcile broken communities.

Context:

1. Asia as a region has been endowed by God with diverse natural resources. It is home to myriad ethnic groups of people, rich in diverse culture, diverse faith traditions and spirituality.

2. However, Asia is plagued by different fissiparous tendencies like globalization, neo-colonization, climate change, war, ethnic conflict, terrorism, militarization, caste based violence, gender based discrimination and violence, etc are resulting in abject poverty for many and accumulation of wealth by few, hunger , malnutrition , disease, forced migration, human and child trafficking, violence against indigenous people, etc. Women, children and youth are all the more susceptible to these issues, as poverty has a ‘female face’, particularly in South Asia. In such context we are called to be prophets of justice and peace and ‘speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves’. We need to envision life together in a common witness to God’s love and engage ourselves in the ministry of ‘healing and reconciliation’.

3. The Ecumenical youth and women’s movement in Asia has a splendid and glorious history. The ecumenical youth leaders of the yesteryears have led us to practice the ecumenical lifestyle in the different arena of our communities, continuously engaging in ecumenical pilgrimage of justpeace.

4. However we cannot deny that in present time Asian ecumenical movement is facing a crisis and many times Churches have failed to address the relevant issues and respond to the needs of the time. It has many times failed to nurture, sustain, promote, recognize, revive or revitalize the prophetic energy and ecumenical spirit of youth and women.

5.Having said that, despite many complex challenges in this post modern era Asian women and youth Church leaders even today are continuously striving to search of new vision, mission, hope and praxis oriented paradigms to be prophets of peace. Many youth and women Church leaders throughout Asia are being martyred for championing human rights and for their prophetic role to speak and act for justice.

6. We are now facing an ecumenical winter in Asia. Even today hierarchical structure of the Asian churches prevents the young people and women to be involved in decision making process of the Church. Many times Asian Churches, National Christian Councils and even Regional Ecumenical organizations have failed to promote or nurture youth or women’s ecumenical movements in grassroots, locally or sub regionally. The absence of full time youth secretary in many National Councils and even CCA reveals a manifestation of such ecumenical winter. Asian Churches have often failed to address issues relating to wider ecumenism in multi pluralistic context of Asia. Even today in Asian context Gender Justice is mistaken and misunderstood by many Asian Church leaders as women’s issue per se and that woman alone needs to be empowered in their journey of liberation form violence. There is lack of initiative or understanding among many member Churches in Asia that men also needs to be empowered to promote gender justice and there is need for men-women partnerships in healing communities.

Faith Affirmation:

We believe in a God of Justice, whose transforming and redemptive love embraces the universe and upholds the rights, dignity and sacredness of all people, especially Children, Youth & Women.
Recommendations:

1. We recommend CCA to promote among Asian Churches the need to mainstream and prioritize youth and women’s ecumenical formation and leadership development as an important ministry of their Church. We recommend EGY to emphasize on ecumenical formation and leadership development of youth and women through its programs, projects and activities in collaboration with member Churches, National councils and ecumenical partners. (
2. We encourage CCA to promote among Churches in Asia to observe the 2nd Sunday in August as the CCA youth Sunday, coinciding with the International Youth Day of 12th August/Youth Week (Or any other day that is appropriate to local situations).

3. We recommend CCA to engage in ecumenical formation for promoting gender justice not only among women but also sensitize, train and equip male lay and ordained Church leaders in Asia to build inclusive communities of justpeace and restore broken relationships.

4. We recommend CCA to organize Asia Ecumenical Course for the youth and the women for their ecumenical formation.

5. We encourage Church leaders and ecumenical bodies and organizations in Asia to stop ecumenical tourism and nepotism by reviewing their nomination process for international / national meetings /seminars and in committees and thus ensuring fair and genuine participation of youth and women.

6. We encourage CCA and EGY to take adequate steps to engage in follow-up seriously after every programmatic intervention involving all stakeholders, e.g., the sending member Churches, Councils, participants and resource partners and help them to be accountable in promoting youth or women’s ecumenical movement in locally or in the grassroots.

7. We recommend that CCA Executive Committee must take adequate steps to appoint a full time, ecumenically committed, youth secretary or youth person in charge at the earliest, in order to revive and revitalize the ecumenical youth movement which is losing its fervor. We also recommend a full time secretary who will be in responsible for promoting women’s leadership development, Gender justice and issues related to Children’s human rights.

8. We affirm that the youth and the women should not be made the scapegoat of the financial crisis in CCA.

9. We recommend CCA to engage in advocacy work promoting children’s right to life and dignity and also promote and engage in advocacy for child protection policies among it member Churches and councils of CCA

10. We encourage CCA to promote among member Churches’ polices against sexual harassment.

11. We recommend CCA to review the joint cluster of EGY and establish an exclusive youth department of the CCA with adequate resource allocation, however keeping the integrated approach of youth and women in terms of program focus areas.

12. We encourage CCA to adequately distribute financial resources and nurture and promote the activities of EGY. We also recommend adequate efforts should be made to prioritize strategic planning and lobbying to raise adequate financial resources to support youth as well as women and gender justice related program and activities.

13. We also encourage member Churches and councils or CCA to own EGY activities and share resources. We call for innovative interventions regarding promoting youth and women ecumenical movement in Asia which are not totally dependent on financial resources.

14. We recommend EGY to make efforts to promote Asian youth and women’s theology, theological articulation and spiritualities and also promote publications of such theologies of youth and women in Asia.
15. We recommend CCA should develop a data base of the potentialities of the Churches / Councils and CCA youth and women for joint ventures on issues of common interest.

16. We recommend EGY to revive its networking with WSCF- AP and EASYNET in order promote ecumenical youth movement in Asia – as in the recent years the networking has been deteriorating.

17. We encourage CCA to affirm the commitment to the Indigenous Peoples and Dalits in Asia, Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. CCA should express solidarity with Indigenous Peoples and Dalits in their struggles against discrimination and injustice, and encourages member churches to do so. We encourage EGY to engage in ecumenical formation and leadership development of indigenous and dalit youth and women.

18. We recommend CCA in accompanying newer member Churches and councils in their ecumenical journey. We encourage CCA to facilitate older member Churches and councils to accompany new member Churches and councils in promoting women and ecumenical movement and in their journey of healing and reconciliation.

Conclusion:

We beseech the blessing of our parent God to help us to reinvigorate, revive and revitalize youth and women’s ecumenical movement in Asia in this present time. We pray to God of love, peace and justice to make us prophets and prophetess of transformation as we journey in our mission to engage in prophetic, compassionate, healing and reconciling ministries for the realization of justice and equality for all.

Indigenous / Dalit Young Women’s Internship Program- 2009

2009-03-15T09:16:00.001+07:00

An Ecumenical Experience for Young Women

CCA- EGY in order to promote leadership development has initiated this internship program especially for indigenous and dalit women in Asia. In 2009 CCA welcomes an young indigenous or dalit women from India (aged 24- 34 years) to serve as intern in CCA office in Chaingmai for a period of nine months . We look for indigenous or dalit women Intern who is committed to the ideals of the ecumenical movement, to bring their energy, commitment and fresh vision to a specific work assignment. For the CCA, interns represent the potential of the ecumenical movement, and its search for a renewed vocation. The intern will be also responsible for organizing group training in her home country in collaboration of the sending Church and organization. This internship this year will be chosen from India.

Tenure of Internship- April – December 2009

Last date of Sending Application- 26th March 2009 ( Forms can be downloaded form CCA website.

For further information please contact- Moumita Biswas, Joint Executive Secretary-
EGY

WORKSHOP ON WOMENS SPIRITUALITY AND HEALTH IN EAST TIMOR

2009-01-18T11:45:00.003+07:00

Theme: Prevention of HIV/AIDS

A workshop on Womens Sprituality and Health was organized in Dili in East Timor form 11th- 13th December 2009 participated by church women from Igreja Protestante Iha Timor Loro Sae [IPTL] from differnt districts . The program was part of Ecumenical Formation, Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment cluster’s ongoing project ‘Women’s Ecumenical Accompaniment Program for Vision and Empowerment (WEAVE) in East Timor. The main aim of WEAVE is to equip Church women with skills of peace building in conflict ridden societies. Dominica L. Faurillo a full time ecumenical accompanier facilitates in accompanying Church women.

Objectives of the Workshop:

Creating Awareness among Church women in East Timor to combat HIV/AIDS and Stigmatization
Evolving women’s spirituality of healing
Evolving grassroots Church women’s Theology of Dignity of Life

Ms Nina Noyan facilitated the Bible studies and morning devotions. Her Bible study on ‘Women in the Bible’ and Jesus Heals besides the Pool focused on the need for praxis and spirituality for healing and reconciliation ministry in East Timor context. Rev Daniel Marcal – Director of Church World Service facilitated sessions on ‘Awareness regarding HIV/AIDS its prevention and combating stigmatization. Dominica Faurillo facilitated a participatory sessions on ‘Gender Justice and Over coming Violence in Home’, ‘Awareness of Health and Women’s Bodies. Rev Albino- General Secretary of IPTL led the closing worship .

Outcome:
Increased awareness among Church women about women’s human’s health Rights and basis of HIV/AIDS .
Increased awareness among Church leaders about the need to support, recognize and encourage women’s contributions in building communities of peace through healing and reconciliation ministry.
Precipitation of grassroots Church women’s theology of life through their participation and sharing of stories and spiritualities

South Asian Women Leaders Capacity Enhancement Training

2008-12-20T17:28:00.002+07:00

The South Asia Women Leaders Capacity Enhancement Training Program organized by CCA- EGY in partnership with ‘South Asia Ecumenical Partnership Program (SAEPP) and ‘Church of North India’ was held from the 18th to 22nd November in CNI Bhaven , New Delhi. Thirty five women Church leaders form six south Asian countries – Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan participated in this program. The theme of this training was same as forth coming Assembly theme ‘Called to Prophesy, Heal and Reconcile’ The main focus of this training was on Women's Human Rights and Advocacy skills.

Context

In 2007 form 8th -14th October CCA organized a women’s meeting- theme-Challenges Struggles and Strategies – Asian Women Building communities of peace ’in Bangkok participated by women Church leaders from different countries Asia. The south Asian women leaders who participated in this meeting claimed that there are many similar issues and problems in the sub region which has escalated gender violence in leaps and bounds in the present era. They claimed that CCA and ‘South Asian Ecumenical Partnership Program’ in partnership with member councils and Churches of can journey together to for promoting women’s leadership development in South Asia.

The Different Workshops
Along with Bible studies, panel discussions on Women’s Movement in South Asia. Dr Azinun Nahar Islam - Professor Dhaka University, Mrs Indira Mahandar- Chairperson RAMPAN - Nepal, Ms Arya Inderyas- Women's Desk Secretary- Lahore Diocese were the Panelists. There were three workshops. (1) Women's Human Rights- facilitated by Ms. Mercy Kappen. (2) Advocacy Skills to Promote Women's Human Rights’(3) Revitalizing Women’s Ecumenical Movement in South Asia facilitated by Moumita Biswas. The Key note address was delivered by Ms Kanti Rupeshinge- Generaral Secretary- YWCA

Violence in Church: Breaking the Silence
One of the important components in this training was to encouraging the participants to break the culture of silence and share their stories to violence they face in their day today life. Participants shared stories of how they face violence not only at home but also in Church. Through role play participants were facilitated by resource persons regarding advocacy skills to campaign against such violence.

VOICES

Member Churches Ownership

This is a historic gathering where women from six south Asian counties could meet in New Delhi the capital of India and even our five Pakistani participants. The Church of North India is happy to host and be a partner in this joint ecumenical endeavor- Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan- General Secretary – Church of North India

We South Asian Women Need More Support

There is essential need for follow up of such similar trainings locally for multiplying affect in local communities. We south Asian women need more solidarity and support-Gloria Kalpona Sirkar- Women Desk Secretary- National Council of Churches in Bangladesh

Gender Justice School

We should also have similar workshops for our male South Asian Church leaders. Most of the time gender justice is mistaken as agenda for women only. I am glad that in 2009 CCA will

organize Asian School for Ecumenical Formation for Gender Justice for both male and female participants to build communities of peace - Manju Baroi- President – CCA.

Church and Government Working Together

Human trafficking especially of girl children is a major problem is South Asia. Churches need to work together with the government of different countries. We can network together to eradicate such violence. Ms. Manju Hemrom- Member Women Commission of Government of India

EGY Networking to Promote Women's Ecumenical Movement of Prayer for Peace and Reconciliation

2008-12-20T17:08:00.002+07:00

One of the major goal of CCA is networking to build communities of peace. EGY plays a crucial role in promoting 'Fellowship of the Least Coin' Movement among member Churches in Asia.

The Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC) movement is a worldwide ecumenical movement of prayer for peace and reconciliation. Through this movement, Christian women around the world meet and pray with each other and are reminded to live a reconciling and forgiving life with others. Though the 'least coins' are given with each prayer, supports many life affirming projects for women, children and peace however it is not a fund-raising project, but a movement of prayer, peace and reconciliation. EGY makes full effort to promote this prayer movement for healing and reconciliation in Asia.

The EGY Women and Gender Justice concern Executive Secretary Ms Moumita Biswas is also the committee member of 'International Committee of Fellowship of the Least Coin'. The ICFLC committee comprises of representatives from different ecumenical organizations The 28th Annual Meeting of ‘International Committee of Fellowship of Least Coin’ ICFLC held in Toronto in Canada from 25th -31st October 2008. This meeting was hosted by 'Women’s Inter Council Church of Canada'. In this meeting participatory decision is taken regarding project grants give for women's life sustaining projects for peace and justice . EGY plays a active role in endrosing the application request forms for project grants in Asia and participatory decision making.

New officers were selected were selected in the ICFLC meeting . CCA congratulates the new offices of ICFLC
Chairperson: Ms. Esther Kilaghbian from Middle East Council of Churches, Lebanon
Chairperson: Ms. Shirley Maginley- representing the WCC
Treasurer: Ms. Pat Allison – Director- Women Inter Council Church of Canada

Women of Faith Network in Asia

2008-12-20T16:49:00.002+07:00

In order to engage multi-religious cooperation and common action for peace among women leaders across diverse religious traditions in Asia EGY have played crucial role in facilitating in forming women of faith network in Asia. The journey began in April 2008 when CCA- EGY in partnership of ‘World Conference of Religions of Peace’, ‘World Fellowship of Buddhist’ and ‘International Network of Engaged Buddhist’ organized ‘Summit of Asian Women Religious Leaders’ in Bangkok in April 2008. From 14th -16th October 2008 again many members of the women of faith network met in Manila during the Women’s Assembly ‘Asian Conference of Religions for Peace’. A coordinating committee was formed where Ms Moumita Biswas representing CCA was requested to facilitate in the networking of women of faith network in Asia. There were discussion regarding action oriented partnerships with governments, civil society organizations to promote advocacy and campaign to overcome violence against women in Asia where women of faith network can work together.

Women's Capacity Enhancement - Training the Trainers Workshop - East Timor

2008-08-17T01:08:00.003+07:00

planned on 8th March to also to comommorate ‘International Women’s Day’- however due to political unrest in East Timor and curfew the workshop was dealyed. This workshop was facilitated by Women’s Ecuemnical Accompaniment for Vision and Vision and Empowerment (WEAVE) project of CCA. WEAVE or is a on going project of EGY-CCA for capacity building of women in conflict ridden societies.

WEAVE Goals

· To accompany Church women in East Timor in order to help them to develop leadership skills for conflict transformation.

· To encourage CCA member Churches and Councils to support newer Churches.

· To Link Women's organizations in support of women in conflict situations.

Outcome Training the Trainers Worshop:
13 women from different districts in East Timor namely Dili, Baucau, Aileu, Ermera, Bobonaro and Ainaro actively participated in this training.

The women jointly evolved concrete action plans and straegies for promoting women’s ecumenical movement in East Timor.

Women’s committee was elected through secret ballot and five women were elected namely Leocadia de Jesus ( Chairperson), Kristin Garvalho, Elen Ira Mata, Erna Lily and Sildonia Pinto.

SUMMIT OF ASIAN WOMEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS: AN HISTORIC EVENT

2008-05-14T13:13:00.005+07:00

in collaboration with ‘World Conference of Religions for Peace’ (WCRP), World Fellowship of Buddhist (WFB) and International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB) organized ‘Asian Religious Women’s Leaders Summit’ in Bangkok in Asia Hotel from 21st-23rd April 2008. The summit brought together thirty five women religious leaders and few male religious leaders from the Buddhist, Won Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Taoist communities from Asia to strengthen the role of religious women as agents of sustainable development and peaceLand Mark in Asian Women’s of Faith Journey for Peace:
This is also a landmark in CCA- EGY’s ministry to bring together women religious leaders in collaboration with partners for the first time for joint endeavour for peace. The Asian women of faith gathering aimed to build on already existing women’s networks, organizations and ecumenical groups, and work towards developing action-oriented partnerships with the United Nations, UNIFEM, UNFTA and civil society organizations. This is also the first time a religious women leaders network is formed in Asia as a result of this summit.Objectives of the Summit1. Strengthen multi-religious cooperation and common action for peace among women leaders across diverse religious traditions in Asia.
2. Mobilize action by religious women to confront violence in all its forms, including misuse of religion for violence.
3. Launch a process of building an Asian multi-religious women’s leadership body to undertake multi-religious advocacy and action and enhance communication and networking among women leaders and practitioners from different religions in Asia.
4. Develop action-oriented partnerships with governments, civil society organizations, the United Nations, and other inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.Different Faiths Common Action Plan1. Strengthen multi-religious and common actions for peace among women religious leaders of diverse religious traditions in Asia.2. Promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in multi –religious collaboration for peace3. Mobilize action by religious women to confront violence in all forms, including misuse if religions for violence4. Strengthen capacities of women of faith through training for building peace and promote justice and harmony in respective societies.5. Initiate actions in networking and communication peace building, conflict transformation and on issues related to gender, poverty, health HIV/AIDS.

Women’s Ecumenical Accompaniment for Vision and Empowerment (WEAVE) Project – in Timor Leste

2008-03-26T14:22:00.002+07:00

WEAVE is an ongoing project of CCA-EGY to assist new CCA member Churches or Councils in need of capacity building of women in ecumenical leadership and organizational and program development through full time Ecumenical Accompanier. The program is faciliated and supported by CCA, in partnership with sending and receiving member Churches or Councils of CCA.

WEAVE in Timor Leste is an ongoing project of EGY-CCA for capacity building of women in conflict ridden societies since 2007. Previously WEAVE project was implemented in Cambodia Dominica Faurillo form 'United Church of Christ in the Philippines' is full time Ecumenical Accompanier of CCA in Timor Leste working in collaboration of ‘Igrja Protestante Iha Timor Loro Sae’- (ITPL) - Protestant Church of East Timor. IPTL is the newest member Church of CCA and also the newest country in Asia.

Objectives:

Accompany Church women in Timor Leste in order to help them to develop leadership skills for conflict transformation.
Train in management and organizational skills
To encourage CCA member Churches and Councils to support newer Churches.
To Link Women’s organizations in support of women in conflict situations.

WEAVE Activity Updates:

Organizing and Strengthening Women’s Network in Local congregations- The women of the Dilli District in Timor Leste has been organized. Ecumenical Accompanier is facilitating district officers for planning for the first General Meeting of ITPL women in July 2008.

In Baucau Church women’s fellowship group has been organized. In Maranatha Church Women’s Bible fellowship has been organized.

Establishing and Strengthening Women’s Desk of IPTL: Since the women's desk of IPTL is disfunctional in the present context due to no full time women worker- Dominica Farullio is helping IPTL to establish a women's desk . Church women are also being organized through capacity enhancement local training is grassroots level preparing them for the first ITPL women's Assembly in July where the full time women secretary will be appointed.

Self Sustainable Women’s Business Projects: Dominca Farullio -Ecumenical accompanier is facilitating Church women of IPTL to network with Nongovernmental organizations like 'Mondus Russi' and YASONA to start micro credit and other self sustainable projects.

Strengthening EGY Networking- Meeting with Partners from ' Church Mission Society ' (UK)- 14th March 2008.

2008-03-15T16:44:00.007+07:00

This meeting was held in CCA on 14th March 2008 in CCA head office in Payap University Thailand mainly to strengthen the EGY networking with mission partners of CMS especially to engage in ecumenical formation and mission work among youth, and young women in Asia.

Rev Adrain Watkins- Regional Manager - South Asia, John Hayward – Regional Consultant for Pakistan, Ms Sheila – Manager of Thai- China Mission Exchange program from CMS and Dr Prawate Khid arn-General Secretary of CCA , Ms Moumita Biswas - Executive Secretary EGY, Mr Adam Anand Row – Youth Consultant was present in this meeting.

Ms Moumita Biswas also represented CCA in 'South Asia Christian Youth Core Group Meeting' supported by CMS was held in Bangkok from 6th-9th March in Bann Phu Wann Pastoral training Centre . The main aim of this meeting was to organize the 6th South Asian Young Adult and Youth Forum in 2009 based on the Theme – 'Building Leaders for Mission in Multi Faith Context' . Mr Kasta Dip former intern of CCA- EGY at present working as Youth Co-coordinator of Church of North India also member Church of CCA is choosen as the new co-ordinator of this South Asian Youth and Young Adult Network. There were deliberations in the core group meeting how CCA and other mission partners in solidarity CMS can support this South Asian youth Christian network and its various activities.

Summit of Asian Women Religious Leaders- Preparatory Meeting-10th-11th March 2008

2008-03-14T14:25:00.006+07:00

Under the initiative of 'World Conference of Religions Peace'*, CCA in partnership with International Network of Engaged Buddhist (INEB) and World Fellowship of Buddhist (WFB) is organizing a 'Summit of Asian Religious Women Leaders' which will be held in 21st-23rd April 2008 in Bangkok.

A preparatory meeting for this summit was held with partners in Bangkok on 10th-11th March 2008 . Ms Lappapan Supamanta Executive Secretary of INEB, Ms Moumita Biswas , Executive Secretary of CCA-EGY, Ms Kanchanna Soonsawd – General Secretary Regions for Peace and Ms Nareeboon Rachkeeree- President of Asian Church Womens Conference (ACWC) , Warunee Klinsukhon- CCA- EGY staff was present for this preparatory meeting.

GOALS OF THE SUMMIT

1. Form a Network among Asian Women Religious Leaders.

2. Promote Gender equality and womens empowerment in multi religious collaboration for peace.

3.Develop relevant multi strategic multi-shareholder partners and alliance to and transform conflit , build peace and just societies.

IMPORTANCE OF THIS SUMMIT

Though Asian Women religious leaders have worked together for peace and in many joint collaborations over the years however this is for the first time women leaders from all the major Asian religions are gathering together to establish and network. Please keep us in your prayers for this peace endeavor of women religious leaders.

Indigenous Women's Alternative Leadership for Transformation- Regional Follow up Training

2008-03-13T10:36:00.009+07:00

What is IWALT?

The IWALT in Asia is a three year project of CCA in partnership with World Council of Churches supported by United Church of Canada and Canadian International Development Agency . Since 2005-2007 there were three sub regional trainings in India, Thailand and Philippines. The uniqueness of this training was organize as an final event a Regional follow up Training Program in order to gauge and evaluate the multiplying affect of IWALT training in local communities.

( Photo) Dr Anna May Sa Pa and Moumita

Biswas in IWALT Regional Workshop

Rationale for IWALT:
Indigenous, Dalits and ethnic minority women suffer from sexism, casteism, exclusion and marginalized all factors that undermine community and ultimately threaten life in itself. However even in the context of violence, exculsion Asian indigenous/dalit/ethnic minority Asian women have tremendous spiritualities, skills, knowledge and feminist tools of theologizing to transform society and build communities of peace. Hence there was need for scope of sharpening such skills.

GOALS OF IWALT:

1. Foster indigenous and Dalit women’s leadership development and networking in addressing theological and social issues from gender, race, class, caste, culture and religious perspective.

2. Support indigenous and Dalit women’s empowerment in their own communities.

INDIGENOUS AND DALIT WOMEN'S AFFIRMATION
We affirm the rights of all people:
To life and cultural expression
To education, health and employment
To prosperity and security
To participation in decision making and self government

‘We affirm the rights of people to chart their own destiny:
To be liberated from the triple burdens of gender, class and race
To participate in the creation of just, sustainable and peaceful society free from racial discrimination

IWALT: REGIONAL FOLLOW UP TRAINING PROGRAM

The Regional follow up training was organized in Chaing Doi, near Chaing Mai, Thailand from 4th -8th February 2008. 32 indigenous /dalit women participated in this program. Thirty-two indigenous/Dalit women participated in this training who did the follow up of IWLAT in local communities after their participation in IWALT Sub Regional Training.

MAIN AIM OF REGIONAL FOLLOW UP IWALT TRAINING

To bring together in celebration the results (or multiplying effect) of the follow-up activities of the women participants from the three sub-regional IWALT workshops.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1.To assess the attainment of objectives of the sub regional trainings through the sharing of the participants of their follow up activities.

2. To deepen and sharpen their understanding of feminist theologizing and reading of Bible through indigenous and Dalit women’s eyes.

3.To evaluate the applicability of alternative i.e. feminist leadership in their respective contexts.

4.To build a platform for action, solidarity and co-operation among indigenous/dalit women on building communities of peace.

HIGHLIGHTS OF IWALT- REGIONAL FOLLOW UP TRAINING:

Alternative Transformational Leadership:

Dr Anna May Say Pa, a renowned indigenous feminist theologian from Burma, gave the keynote address and led a Bible study on feminist leadership. “Women are more transformational leaders, use power from charisma, interpersonal skills, and hard work, rather than power from the organizational structure, and who lead by attempting to transform the self-interest of the worker to the larger interest of the group,” she said. “The transformational leaders serve as role models, help others to develop their skills, energize them and motivate them to be more creative,”

A Frame Work of Asian Femenist / Women's Theologizing Theologizing

Dr Hope Antone (Executive Secretary for CCA-FMU) facilitated the Asian feminist theologizing but critically locating it in the context of indigenous/Dalit women. In small groups, participants went through the steps of feminist theologizing by naming oppression, identifying agents of oppression, identifying dominant theology and ideology that reinforce oppression, doing feminist critique of religious texts and cultural practices, and planning transformative action.

Re- reading the Bible through Indegenous/dalit Women's Eyes
Indigenous/Dalit women have unique resources for theologizing – their folk stories, oral traditions and myths. Dr Limatula Longkumer an indigenous Naga feminist theologian part of IWALT said 'Folklore, oral traditions are indigenous people’s expression of faith, beliefs, struggles, sufferings, fears and hopes and has ethical value. Therefore, it is an inevitable tool to understand a society/community – its past, its traditions, culture and worldview and also to re-read the Bible.' She facilated the participants to share their myths and folk stories to use it as an hermenutics to re-read the Bible.

Towards Self-Reliance: Handful of Rice
The group discussed how they can continue promoting IWALT and multiply its effect. Ruth Raksham, a Garo from Bangladesh, and Langsanpui, a Mizo from India, shared how women keep a handful of rice every time they cook. Such handfuls of rice are later collected from every house and sold to raise funds for women’s training program. Such contribution of Asian indigenous women in kind cannot be compared with dollars or pounds but it reveals the power of Asian indigenous women to contribute to grassroots women’s ecumenical movement.

No More Sorrows in God’s Garden of Justice

Participants shared amazing stories of multiplying effect of IWALT in local communities. As a part of IWALT follow up in India the indigenous students in the seminary wanted IWALT to be a part of the college curriculum. A book named 'No More Sorrow in God’s Garden of Justice' was also published gaining inspiration form IWALT.

INDIGENOUS AND DALIT WOMEN'S VOICES

Need to Train Younger Generation Indigenous Women:
Rev Elizabeth Enjut from Malaysia- 'I want younger generation to involve in the IWALT in my local community. I have made efforts to train Long House community in Malaysia. Ecumenical Movement and Churces should commit to do so.'

Ecuemnical Formation Worshops for Indigenous/dalit Women:

Maureen BLoste: 'Especially there is need to train indigenous women to pen down their oral traditions, spiritualities and folk stories as resource to interpret the Bible, engage in advocacy and campaign in the process of liberation. Or else our stories, traditions and culture will be erased form the memory of our young people. We need more Ecumenical Formation and Writing Worksohps where young indigenous dalit women can be trained- they are our future'.

Training Dalit Women:

Moumita Biswas ( Executive Secreatry EGY, CCA ) 'The dalit women are missing in this Regional follow up training though some of them were trained in the sub regional follow up trainings. They are our missing sisters this time. They have not send us their follow up reports as the others. Their silence speaks. Our Dalit sisters need more ecouragement and nurturing and support from local Churches and their communities to carry out their follow up activities. '

WHERE TO GO FROM NOW

Since IWALT Project is ending its project cycles question was raised where to go from now. The participants strategized how that

1.There should be more capacity enhancement program for indegenous womenWriting and

2.Theologizing Workshops should be organized to help indegenous women to pen down their oral traditions and folk stories and use them as Asian indigenous dalit women's hermenutic to re-read the Bible.

3. Intoduce IWALT in theological seminary curriculum.

4. Organize Ecumenical formation of Gender Justice Schools for Alternative Leadership Development of indegenous women as well men and deconstruct patriarchal ideologies together to build incluisve communities of peace.

Celebrating International Women's Day

2008-03-06T13:25:00.006+07:00

Renewing our Pledge to Promote Gender Justice and
Overcome Violence against Women in Asia'

Dear Fellow-pilgrims of Peace,

Greetings from Christian Conference of Asia.

As you know on 8th March we commemorate International Women's Day (IWD). The celebration started as a political event to claim the rights and dignity of women. Though the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are however in the present context many times our celebrations end up in the form of tokenism. The consumerist capitalist culture in neocolonized Asia IWD celebration has often lost its human rights flavor of promoting gender justice in order to build communities of peace.

Asian Churches have a very crucial role uphold the real essence of IWD and educate the congregation to reflect their 'faith into action' to promote gender justice. This is crucial because gender violence through present in every country of the world but in some conservative societies of Asia, it has not even been considered an issue until recently and remains a taboo subject for public discussion. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations rightly claims: "Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace."

Many times Asian Churches also needs confess that:

It remained silent about violence against women in society, domestic violence within families of congregational members and abuse and discrimination within Church.
Secluding women in decision making process of Church.
Mistaken gender justice as agenda of women only and not educating both men and women together for partnership of equals.

IWD is an important day for the Asian Churches to renew their commitment and pledge to promote

Re-affirm and strengthen commitment to gender justice and full participation of women in Church and society.
Acknowledge and recognize the achievements of women especially the contributions of the grassroots women to society.
Engage in education and action to end all forms of violence against women and children in Church and society.
Continue to encourage resistance to all forces of globalization that disintegrate the dignity of women, children, people of vulnerable communities and the Mother Earth.
Engage in healing and reconciliation ministry by guaranteeing support to women victims of abuse and violence especially in situations of conflict and war.

Asian Churches have tremendous potential to be salt and leaven so that every one can have life to its fullness. Therefore brothers and sisters on the IWD we urge Asian Churches to practice genuine solidarity with women to be embodiment of our faith in Jesus Christ who showed us the way to build communities of peace.

Shalom
Dr Prawate Khid-arn
General Secretary- CCA.

4th School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation, SELF 2007

2007-07-20T10:24:00.000+07:00

Dear Friends,

This is my pleasure to share with you that the 4th School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation, SELF 2007 is now opened to the applicants. SELF is an alternate year program, which aims to bring young people a deep understanding about ecumenism and the issues of our society.

This year, SELF will be taking place on September 2nd to 22nd, 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka and jointly organized by CCA Youth and World Student Christian Federation Asia-Pacific, WSCF AP. We are sincerely inviting your young people to join us.

The cost of this program will be jointly covered by CCA Youth and WSCF AP. However, your kind support in any amount of expense will be very much appreciated! The dateline for your applications will be on August 20, 2007.

Please kindly send your application form to us at your earliest by either email at egy@cca.org.hk or fax to (66)53 247303
For more information, kindly contact with us at egy@cca.org.hk

ChungChih

Program information:
invitation%20to%20participants.doc
SELF2007Conceptpaper.DOC
Application%20Form-SELF%202007.doc

Statement of North East Asia Peace Consultation, NEAPC 2007

2007-07-13T11:26:00.000+07:00

For building peace in North East Asia under current situation of people’s suffering, we have joined in NEAPC 2007 with specific focus on “de-militarization” at Methodist Retreat Center, Taipei, Taiwan on May 16-22, 2007 jointly organized by Christian Conference of Asia-Youth, Ecumenical Youth Council in Korea, Hong Kong Christian Council, National Christian Council in Japan and the Youth Committee of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan. We were thirty-three youth leaders, academics, lay and ordained, from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Sharing national issues and our stories, we sought for peace in NEA by reflecting concrete keyword, “de-militarization”.

Violence and militarization which caused many wars in the past and brought lots of sufferings are still obstructing peace to each nation. During the war, people were always the victims and it also broke the relationship to each other. Although there were the loss of lives and property under military action obviously, military powers have not been reduced in NEA which caused the problem of division in Korea, tensional relationship between China and Taiwan, violation of Human Rights in Japan and the threat of human right in Hong Kong.

Theological Reflection:
The biblical theme of the consultation was "To Keep the unity through the Bond of Peace"(Ephesians 4:3). This passage shows that peace will come true if we have a peaceful solidarity instead of being ignorant, the situation of militarization must be changed by positive action. We believe it is God's will. In this, we saw the biblical imperative to act for peace.

Taiwan
De-militarization is not one-side Taiwan’s business. Nowadays, life of people in Taiwan is still under the threat from China. Both sides, Taiwan and China, should dialogue in order to face the issue together based on mutual understanding and trust. Only if China remove their military threat and Taiwan reduce our defense, the security of Taiwan Strait will be assured. On the other hand, despite China doesn’t admit Taiwan as an independent state, Taiwan and China should have equal status in international community and co-operate with each other. Therefore, peace of justice will emerge.

Japan
Japanese militarization is accelerating now. Revision of Article 9, the Constitution of Japan is an actual step to train Japanese military forces and to integrate its function with US forces, realignment of US base in Japan. In this situation, especially, the struggle of people in Henoko, Okinawa is an urgent issue. It is crucial to support their blocking action against construction of new US base with people’s solidarity in order to build a nonviolent, peaceful world.

Korea
Peace Settlement and Reunification on Korean Peninsula
The tension in Korean Peninsula was intensified by nuclear testing of North Korea. However, after recent six-party talks it is getting better gradually. We hope that peace on Korean Peninsula will emerge and sustain forever through successful six-party talks and more confidence between North and South Korea.

Hong Kong
The enhancement of patriotic education by HK Government, which only caters to the status quo of rich and the controlling power of the government, is getting stronger. In order to encourage political consciousness and critical thinking of HK people, especially youth and students, human right and citizen right education should be promoted to build a society of justice, peace and solidarity.

Sub-regional issue (Taiwan)
Lately, China has disposed over one thousand missiles targeting Taiwan and the US military bases in Japan and South Korea; meanwhile China has increased military budget over 10% every year. This fact becomes a severe threat to the peace in NEA as well as to the security and self-determination of Taiwan people. Therefore, cooperation among nations in NEA should be built for regional peace.

Sub-regional issue (Japan)
Militarization in Japan goes on rapidly against its peaceful ideal, Article 9 and its revision is a big concern for North East Asia, too. Japanese government aims at increasing its ability of forces by the revision of Article 9 and will unite its military power with US forces after realignment of US base in Japan. Therefore, Japanese-US forces would be a serious threat for peace and enable to attack enemy nations depends on their common interest like the Iraq War. For this reason, it is an urgent issue for NEA to support the struggle by people who strike for peace, especially those in Henoko, Okinawa in order to break up this situation of Japan-US military coalition and to build a non-violent, peaceful world.

Sub-regional Issue (Korea)
Peace Settlement and Reunification on Korean Peninsula
Supremacy fight between China and US in North East Asia is strengthening. US is relocating US military base in the name of security of South Korea. However, US are hiding their military strategy to aim at China. Meanwhile, China support to North Korea with military aid. Military strain in Korean Peninsula must be relieved for peace in North East Asia. Therefore, we think that peace settlement and reunification on Korean Peninsula must come true and we appeal concern and support from the countries in North East Asia.

We require that first of all, the church in North and South Korea must work together for the reunification of Korean Peninsula. We, Christian youth and students, will strive to arouse the passion of reunification of Christian youth and students, and for bringing inter-personal encounter between North and South.

Conclusion
In conclusion, war brings people suffering and sadness. We can replace war with peace. We should understand each other in the international cooperation and strive for justice. We bring all of you here, to share and work against injustice and oppression with non-violence, so that we can accomplish de-militarization in the North East Asia and keep the unity through the bond of peace in the world.

Message for World Youth Day 2006

2006-08-19T12:19:00.000+07:00

Let us act together for Peace!

Do you know, at this moment, how many people are living with fear? How many of us are worried about tomorrow? How many of us don’t know where to go? How many of us have no hopes at all?

How about you? My dear young people, what is your next step?

In early of 2006, the democratic movement in Nepal has been practiced like wildfire. The reaction from nature to human being never stops such as typhoons, earthquakes and tsunami. From the perspective of worldwide concern, I find out that how phlegmatic our young people are. Those youth who had been motivating the movement in the pass, are now presider of main power and decision making. The passion of justice and integrity as creation of God has been eaten up by the desire of power and benefit. And the young generation, so call “pillar” of our future, are no more attracted to justice and peace movement. Aloofness becomes the reaction of young people to those important issues of world. In the moment of CCA Jubilee and the next half century of youth ecumenical movement, how as youth should we lead our way forward?

The theme of CCA 12th Assembly is “building the communities of peace for all” Hence, CCA Youth also takes Peace as our main concern for the working plan in 2006-2010. On one hand, CCA Youth is promoting peace and justice in all programs actively. On the other hand, we would like to equip our young people to be “Peace Maker” In the pass 50 years of ecumenical movement in CCA, youth had been a great energy of it. However, for the next 50 years, what could we do to face all challenges and share the spirit of ecumenism?

To be a “Peace Maker”
Over hundreds years, the reformed movement of churches had been loosing its positive meaningful idea. Even as the industrial revolution has gone to crassness, it became a disaster to our nature and human being. The reformed movement of churches brings more boundaries among us. Instead of being the hope of ours, churches become the inter-medium of political games and predominant over others. Let us be the Peace Maker! For we are the leaders now and pioneers for next century, let us be the peace maker! Start from our daily life, please reduce the waste of energy, turn off the light when you don’t need it, protect our environment by our action and to give back the peach to our earth. Let us be the peace maker! Start to smile at everyone. Wherever they are from, whoever they are, what languages they speak, which denomination they belong to, we are all the sheep of God. Start to smile at everyone. Let us be the peace maker.

To be an Actor!
Action has positive affection and negative injury. The satisfaction at dominance on others results in war. The negative impact of globalization is due to the greed of getting much money from others. However, the success in democratic movement and against with militarization and imperialism is because of action. The good news of God has been speared from mid-Asia to Europe and back to Asia also results from action. We all agree that youth are advocators of issues, criticizing the society, motivators of changes. Let us be an active actor. We had rather take action than only talk. If words are leaves then deeds are fruits! Peace will not come to us, if our thoughts have no action.

Today is the World Youth Day, a day for reminding us to pay attention to youth. As youth, we have to remember every moments we have, composes the present of future of our world. Let us work for the World Peace and react energetically. The World needs our response and every small reaction we have, so that every change will be in the process of re-building the peace in our heart. Let us work together with the peace in our heart!

Asian National Youth Secretaries' Meeting, we meet, dream and act together!!

2006-05-01T17:00:00.000+07:00

Vision in Action

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose is to create in himself one new man out to the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” (Eph 2:14-17)

Ecumenism, the whole Christian world, has been a movement to bring back the “one” Christianity since late of 19th century. It started with our young people who struggled for their daily life and saw our society had been getting worse and worse, the barrier among different denominations of Christianity had been expanded by us. 200 years after the reformation movement of Christianity, young Christian firstly brought out the issue of “unity of Christian”, ecumenical movement has been widely spread by the action of young people.

Obviously, Peace is our vision for the unity of Christianity. What Jesus Christ had shown us the purpose of his sacrifice for us is the Peace (Eph 2:14-17). It’s the peace from his sacrifice and the peace from God’s grace. Peace means freedom from war or civil disorder, quite, calmness, public security, serenity etc. No natural disasters, no exploitation, no discrimination on all levels, no sexual harassments, no poverty, no displacement, love each others, be good to our motherland, living as family and so on, are also expressed as a part of peace. However, where the peace is:
1. God of Peace (Phil. 4:9) and Peace with God (Rm. 5:1)
2. Christ the Peace (Jn. 16:33) and to build the communities with others (Jn. 14:27)
3. Peace with neighbors (Lk 19:8) and Peace with poor (Mt. 19:21)
4. Peace with nature (pm.8:18-25) and the whole concept of the creation (Gen. 1-2)
(adapted from Dr. Ahn Jae Woong’s report to the CCA 12th Assembly)

What peace means to you is the peace for all human beings. Hence in the 12th assembly of Christian Conference of Asia the theme is, “building the communities of peace for all”. It’s not something far away from our young people but a real need for us, since Asia is a continent with variety culture, ethnics, also with a long history of colonization by people outside of Asia.

Young people, the leaders “Now”. With creative thoughts, critical eyes and brave hearts, young people are the dreamers and executors in the pass, now and future. From observation of previous presidium of CCA, a crucial deficiency of our leadership of ecumenical movement is the lack of youth. Nevertheless ecumenical movement was initiated by youth. The absence of young leadership is greatly felt especially when the future of ecumenism is at its stake. As youth leaders from our respective churches, we should be reminded that the search of “new” ecumenism will make none sense without the presence of young people. Thus to spread ecumenism to local youth and equip young people for the ecumenical movement will be our vision as youth leaders.

Ecumenism should be contextualized and practiced in all levels of ecumenical movement. It’s not a thought but a daily life practice. We as Christian, the vision of our ecumenical movement should be practiced in every moment of our life. As Jesus Christ, who is a dreamer but also an executor. The sacrifice from him is not only a dream but indeed an action. James reminded us: “You foolish man, do you want the evidence that faith without deeds is useless? ... you see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did,… you see that a person is justified by what he does and not by the faith alone. ” (James 2:20-24)

Vision in Action, dream and work at same time, so that peace will come to us and through us to others who are far way from peace.

With this vision, CCA Program cluster, Ecumenical Formation, Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment(EGY) combines all concerns regarding to these three main issues, has been giving its efforts to make sure and provide opportunities to our young women and man for their empowerment of leadership and the formation of ecumenism. Aside from this, EGY executive team has also been working jointly with our Program Area Committee (EGY PAC). EGY PAC meets at least twice between assemblies. It helps EGY executive team to identify issues and plan action plans according to mandates which are provided by assembly. The main issues for CCA EGY are:
1. Ecumenical Formation
2. Intervention in many aspects of violence
3. Issues of gender justice
4. participation of women and youth in decision making body
5. awareness on youth issues among churches fro action

The purpose of EGY PAC aims to empower youth leadership; to promote gender justice; to facilitate the promotion of ecumenism and to advocate networking. With these aims and key issues, we seek an alternative of collaborations within program clusters of CCA and with CCA member churches and councils. Hence the ecumenical movement will be neither only within CCA, nor institutionalized in the regional ecumenical organizations. Accordingly CCA EGY has its program plan from 2006-2009 as below:
1. In responding to “need for ecumenical formation”:
School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation, SELF
2. for “Awareness raising on Gender Justice for women and man”
1) Trainers training on Gender Justice (new)
2) To make sure the participation of women and man in all programs of CCA, and promote gender justice among our member churches and councils.
3. In order to “Raising awareness on youth issues in churches and society”:
NCC Youth Coordinators’ meeting
4. Building Bridges of Peace:
Youth SALT- sharing and learning together (exchange program, new)
5. Capacity building:
Youth internship program, Young woman internship program
6. Supporting local ecumenical youth leadership development:
Rural Youth Project (Funding Program)
7. Sub-regional cooperation initiatives:
World Youth Program, WYP (supporting specific issues according to sub-region to sub-region, new)
8. Networking:
1) Networking with NCC youth, and among NCC Youth in sub-region
2) Ecumenical Asia-Pacific Student and Youth Network, EAST NET
9. Advocating Asia Youth Ecumenical Movement:
1) CCA EGY Webpage, link with other youth ecumenical movements’ webpage (new)
2) Publications

CCA EGY PAC has started to play a very important role of implementation on EGY programs. In addition, if we recall back to the very beginning of youth ecumenical movement in early 1900s, the students had been the main power and have been pushing our society to reflect and analysis what we have done. Thus the early beginnings of the Joint Program between CCA and WSCF AP tracing its roots from the early 60’s, when the representatives of then EACC (East Asia Council of Churches) and WSCF met in Hong Kong to identify their common vision for ecumenical student ministry in the region. The CCA-WSCF AP joint consultations has reflected the need to expand the discussions of ecumenical campus ministry and respond to actual needs of the SCMs and Churches to dialogue and identify issues of common concern in the national level.
In last CCA-WSCF AP Joint Program Committee meeting (CCA-WSCF JPC), we have identified the challenges which are faced by our youth today are: there is a relative weakening of the ecumenical youth movement in general; the Ecumenical Movement has become too “institutionalized” and structured, preventing it from growing and moving forward; the ecumenical youth groups should have to work in dialogue with the evangelical youth movements; The growing movement towards confessionalism and fundamentalism; the worsening economic condition of the youth brought about by economic globalization; The growing number of out-of-school-youth due to the rising cost of education and the growing poverty in many countries. CCA-WSCF JP have agreed from both ecumenical organizations will keep our efforts on promoting ecumenism as well as the peace together.
Coming year action plan of CCA-WSCF JPC are:
1. Baseline Research Project on the Churches Campus Student Ministry in Asia Pacific. This Research Project will provide the necessary information on the situation and the needs of Campus Student Ministry, and hopefully, assist the Joint Committee in identifying appropriate strategies in providing support to the Churches and SCMs in Campus Ministry work.

2. The National Consultations between the Churches and the SCMs will continue in the countries of Austalia, Thailand in 2006, and Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Timor Leste in 2007. The national planning committees will be encouraged to focus these activities on the theme” The Challenge of Campus Student Ministry in the Context of Pluralistic World”.

3. The Committee also affirmed an earlier recommendation for a Joint CCA and WSCF Youth Secretaries and Coordinators Meeting in mid 2007, focusing on Interfaith Dialogue.

4. The School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation (SELF) in October 2007 will once again be a joint undertaking between the two organization.

5. The Committee also agreed that the Joint meetings should be held at least once a year or in conjuncture with any joint activity.

6. They also affirmed the importance of inviting a representative from each organization to attend as an observer in the organizational meetings of each group such as the Regional Committee Meeting of the WSCF AP in July 2006, and the CCA Youth Secretaries Meeting in March 2006. The presence of the representative will enhance the partnership by being aware of the realities, priorities and concern, limitations, as well as the dynamics of each organization.

Besides these action plans, the role of youth in the leadership of CCA should also be addressed by us in our action. Youth voice will be heard by our youth representatives in all levels of CCA decision making body. How will the youth network of ecumenical movement be carried out efficiently, it must be done from local to national, and from national to regional. Hence the role of youth leadership shall be supported by local, national as well as regional youth movement. CCA EGY will advocate it by every program we plan and every project, which we support or join. I believe that how did our young people make this ecumenical movement true, was because of their one mind and one heart. If Peace is the eager for us in this challenging 21st Century, let us work for peace together!

“Faith without deeds is useless”, I again remind all of us to reflect what we have done for our youth ecumenical movement, should be always have faith in God and have action for our vision. Dream without action is only “Fancy”; Vision without action is “Illusion”. While we are worry about the lack of young people in future ecumenical movement, why not we make ourselves the instrument of bring our young people in ecumenism.

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Rom. 8:17)

Let us give glory to our Lord, and start to act for our youth ecumenical movement.

2006 Youth Interns

2006-03-25T11:13:00.000+07:00

Two new interns have joined the CCA in last December, 2005.

Ms Lo Chia-Fang, 27, is a member of the Presbeterian Church in Taiwan(PCT). She has a bachelor of art degree in foreign languages from the Presbyterian Bible College. Chia Fang attended the 12th general assembly of CCA held in Chiang Mai as a steward. She was also a youth delegate of PCT's Ecumenical Youth Exchange Program in 2005.
Watching movies is one of her hobbies. She wishes to
learn more about ecumenism.

Ms La Wun Shwe Wut Ye, 25, is a member of the Methodist church from Myanmar. A graduate from the Myanmar Insitute of Theology, she attended the WCC central committee meeting held in Geneva in 2005 as a steward. She likes swimming. She hopes to gain lot of experience during her CCA internship and return home with new ideas.

We welcome them and hope they will learn from their and our experiences.

Welcome To CCA Youth Interns

2004-10-21T17:21:00.000+07:00

The two youth interns have arrived on 18th October 2004. The EGY intern, Sunila Azmat, hails from Lahore, Pakistan. She has Master of Science in Economics. She works as a mathematics teacher in St. Peter�s School, Lahore. She is an active member of the church youth and church choir at Naulakha Presbyterian Church in Lahore, Pakistan.

The Youth intern, Erdian Sembiring, is from Berastagi, Indonesia. He is a graduate from YKPN Business School in Yogyakarta. He works as an accounting staff in a company in Berastagi and also as a part time teacher in college. He serves in youth fellowship and also a part of Cell Group Team in the youth programs of Karo Batak Protestant Church.

We welcome them and hope they will learn from their and our experiences.

2004-04-30T13:49:00.000+07:00

Strategic Workshop & Seminar on Ecumenism of the Youth Committee of the Bangladesh National Council of Churches, 4th-9th March, Cox�s Bazar, Bangladesh:

Representatives from NCCB Youth met March 5th through 8th 2004, at Cox�s Bazaar Bangladesh to attend a workshop outlining future plans and implementation. The meeting included the presence of Mr. Subodh Adhikari, General Secretary of NCCB, who spent his time with the youth and joined their strategic deliberations. His contribution to the workshop and time devoted to the youth activities was encouraging. The CCA youth staff provided inputs for the workshop. The meeting achieved its objective: to prepare an action plan for the next two years based on the needs of the youth, ensuring that the programs are owned by the youth in Bangladesh. The meetings and the workshop resulted in the NCCB Youth Action Plan 2004-2005.

The Workshop had two distinct events: a seminar and a workshop devoted to the formation of an action plan and its preparation. General Secretary Mr. Subodh Adhikari, Dr. James Tejosh Das, Mr. Rakesh Peter Dass, and Youth Moderator Mr. Proloy Samaddar conducted the seminar. Topics addressed were: the ability to identify issues directly concerning today�s Asian Youth, Interfaith Relations, Youth Empowerment, and a history of the Ecumenical movement. Small group activities worked on the action planning. This was conducted with a SWOT analysis of the youth movement of NCCB in the past two years, since its resurgence in 2002.

The CCA staff started off the seminar portion of the meeting with an outline of contextual national-workshop guidelines and identifying local issues; an important point made was that through the 40 members present 1000�s others should be, and would be, influenced by the outcome. The importance of religious tolerance and economic injustices leading to disparity in wealth in developing Asian countries was highlighted during the session. It was also mentioned that the spirituality of the Churches should contain flexibility as opposed to deconstruction to overcome today�s challenges.

Mr. Proloy Samaddar provided a historical perspective of the ecumenical movement spanning the past century. His emphasis was on the last 20 years in which many of the leaders have made significant contributions, some of which were the uniting of the Churches and youth together. Also noted, from a more national context, was a challenge where the Evangelist church�s heavily funded presence is overwhelming other Christian efforts.

Mr. Subodh Adhikari spoke on �Discipleship�, and stressed the decreasing Christian population in Bangladesh over the past 20 years. He also mentioned a decrease in literacy rate and a 60 / 40 split in population between Catholics and other Christian Groups. His composure during an unfortunate disruption, because of the arrival of a college tour at the venue, was appreciated by the participants as �a sign as to his leadership in a Christian context. He exhibited the same sort of patience that we learn to achieve through the church.� according to the report of the program prepared by the youth committee of NCCB.

Dr. Tejosh Dass described the geographical spread of Christianity and other religions throughout the Indian Subcontinent. He also focused on inter-religious tensions and the understanding of how it has evolved as a smart way to understand how we may change it.

The following day and a half was devoted to developing an action plan for implementation by and for the youth for 2004-2005. Here the tempo clearly picked up. Guidelines were to devote attention to one or two current issues only. We followed a format geared toward solutions for issues with realistic National and local consequences. Four separate breakout groups generated much overlap with their individual outcomes. The deliberations came up with many issues, but three were adopted for action in 2004-05. These were: education, inter-faith relations, and a focus on issues of peace and justice.

2004-04-30T13:48:00.000+07:00

25th General Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India, 7th-13th February, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India:

The CCA Youth Secretary attended the 25th General Assembly of the NCC India as a Fraternal Delegate representing CCA. A brief greetings was presented to the Assembly on behalf of CCA.

Among other agenda, the Assembly discussed:

1. The life and ministry of the NCCI is the previous years since the last Assembly in Ranchi;
2. Reports of the President, the General Secretary, and the Treasurer were discussed and received with appreciation;
3. A new group of Officers [which included a President, three Vice-Presidents, and the Treasurer], and the Executive Committee for the term of this Assembly were elected.
4. Reports of the eight pre-Assembly Forums were received. [Women, North-East India Concerns, Dalit and Adivasi Concerns, Stewards Program, Youth, Interfaith Group, HIV/AIDS, and Life of the Church]. Noticeably, the Life of the Church Forum focussed on Corruption in the Church and Society, a topic which is not so openly discussed in forums like GAs of NCCI.
5. The Assembly re-iterated its committed to keeping the Dalit agenda at the center of its mission and life.

Importantly, the NCCI was re-structured from its present organization in Units and Desks into five Commissions. They were outlined as follows:

1. Commission on Mission, Ecumenism and Unity.
2. Commission on Transformation of Society [Youth, Women, URM].
3. Commission on Polity and National Governance.
4. Commission of Life: Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation.
5. Commission on Dalits, Indigenous People and Tribals.

New commissioners were elected.

Outlining the various successes and failures, happy and challenging moments during the past five years, Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph, the General Secretary of NCCI in his Report to the Assembly writes, �We are proud to be citizens of this great nation. Through the Council God has given us an opportunity to lead God�s people and stand up boldly for gospel values. Now is the time to strengthen our prophetic engagement and build a counter culture, a culture of truth and peace. Let us together dedicate ourselves for this purpose�.�

This Assembly also marked 90 years of NCCI existence and was an occasion to celebrate this. The Assembly was hosted by the Tirunelveli Diocese of the Church of South India.

2004-04-30T13:45:00.000+07:00

Symposium on Ecumenism in the 21st Century organized by the Hong Kong Christian Council, 15-17th January, Hong Kong:

The Youth Secretary attended the above mentioned symposium along with other colleagues from CCA. The symposium featured prominent speakers, including Dr. Konrad Raiser, former GS of WCC, Dr. Philip Wickeri of SFTS, Dr. C. S. Song of GTU, and Dr. Ahn Jae Woong, GS, CCA, among many other distinguished panelists.

It was a time to reflect on the role of the ecumenical movement globally, regionally in Asia, and in Hong Kong. The following issues emerged:

1. The need for the Christian and church mission to be focussed on the people. As the ecumenical movement is of the churches, this understanding of mission should apply to the ecumenical movement too.

2. The need for the ecumenical movement to be consolidated in its response, which required a reconfiguration of the ecumenical movement. Unity and coordination was stressed over conformity or uniformity.

3. The role that the churches and the ecumenical movement have played in Hong Kong was appreciated and encouraged.

4. The need for there to be �ecumenical formation� of the present generation of church leaders. This was also expressed in terms of the ecumenical movement to articulate its mission and vision in clear language and one that speaks the language of the churches in a more direct way.

5. It was noted with concern that there was an urgent need to focus on the ecumenical formation among the youth in churches, if the movement is to survive and pass on to healthy leadership.

2004-04-30T13:40:00.000+07:00

Ecumenical Asia Pacific Students and Youth Network (EASY Net) Second National Coordinators� Meeting and Core Team Meeting, 6-14th January 2004, Bangkok, Thailand:

1.1. Second National Coordinators� Meeting 6-11th January:

Hosted by the IYCS member in Thailand [YCS Thailand], the 2nd National Coordinator�s Training Workshop of Ecumenical Asia - Pacific Students and Youth Network (EASY Net) was successfully held from January 6-12, 2004 at the We Train Center in Bangkok, Thailand. It was a time of mutual sharing and reflection on the progress achieved and the challenges faced in the work of the networking among the youth and student organizations at the local and national levels. It was also a time to reflect on the relations between the regional network of EASY Net and her national partners.

Meeting in times of un-peace and war, the meeting took this time together to reflect on the situations of conflicts in the world and in Asia and reflect on the role that young Christians and the EASY Net can play in addressing such issues.

The meeting also took the opportunity to spend time in discussing and planning, in broad terms, the theme or issue/s which the ASYG 2004 should address. A basic outline with the theme was finalized by the National Coordinators, which was then picked up by the Core Team [CT] in its deliberations after the meeting concluded.

National Coordinators and representatives from National Ecumenical Teams from Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Korea and Taiwan participated in the training, while Core Team members of EASY Net served as facilitators.

The meeting was organized as a training and consisted of the following four components:

1. The National Ecumenical Team Reports;
2. A Workshop on Networking and Ecumenism;
3. Input and Discussions on Peace by Mr. Francis Lee; and
4. Initial Planning for the Asia-Pacific Student and Youth Gathering ASYG) 2004.

As mentioned earlier, the training also served as a preparatory meeting for ASYG 2004. The National Coordinators identified key issues and activity components for ASYG, which served as the basis of the EASY Net Core team in its planning for ASYG.

The theme identified by this planning session was �Together in Action for Peace and Reconciliation�.

During the meeting a farewell dinner was organized in honor of Mr. Masao Koide, who completed his two-year stint with EASY Net as the Regional Coordinator.

Following interviews of short-listed candidates by the CT, Ms. Glenda Rocas was appointed on an one-year renewable term as the next Regional Coordinator of EASY Net, effective from January 2004. She was welcomed during the meeting and introduced to the National Coordinators.

1.2. Annual Core Team Meeting, 12-13th January:

Immediately following the NCs� Meeting, EASY Net�s CT had its annual meeting. Among other matters, the following issues were addressed, discussed, and decided upon:

1. Interview of short-listed candidates and appointment of new EASY Net Regional Coordinator;
2. Budget for ASYG 2004 and budget for EASY Net for 2004;
3. Planning for ASYG 2004 and charting a time-framed plan. The ASYG was scheduled for December 2004;
4. Evaluation of the Second NCs� Meeting and EASY Net�s progress in the past two years.
5. It was decided that EASY Net will organize its 3rd Creative Writing Workshop on April 22-29 2004. It will be hosted by the Taiwan Ecumenical Student and Youth Network. The Workshop would come up with fresh and new reflective liturgies, worship guides, songs, poems, and other visual arts for the Asia-Pacific Students and Youth Week Resource Book for 2004. In addition, the Workshop will strategize to put together an ASYG Working Book, to facilitate national movement work leading to the ASYG. The workshop will be followed by a 2-day Asia-Pacific Students and Youth (ASYG) Working Group Meeting.
6. EASY Net Office location: IYCS Asia, based in Manila, would host the office in 2004.
7. New representatives of EASY Net member organizations were introduced and welcomed into the Core Team. The CT expressed its gratitude to outgoing RC, Mr. Masao Koide, for his tireless service to EASY Net. It also welcomed Ms. Glenda Rocas, the incoming RC.

North East Asia Peace Consultation [NEAPC], 23rd to 29th November, Seoul, South Korea

2004-02-04T21:44:00.000+07:00

For promoting peace, the NEAPC gathered under the theme �To be a PeaceMaker: Overcoming Violence� at the Ill-Young Methodist Research and Training Center, Seoul, South Korea from 23rd-29th November 2003. The Consultation was organized by Christian Conference of Asia and hosted by the Ecumenical Youth Council in Korea, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan, the National Christian Council in Japan and the Hong Kong Christian Council. The aim of the Consultation was to facilitate sharing and exploration on issues of conflict transformation and peace initiatives in the context of North East Asia helping to build a network of peace activists among the youth in North East Asia. Its objectives were:

1. To bring together youth from the NEA countries together for deliberation and exploration of peace and conflict issues, and issues of globalization and economic neo-colonization in the sub-region.
2. To provide a platform for formation of a peace network in NEA.
3. To provide an opportunity for inter-linking with other regions in Asia.

The program included Bible Studies, Theological Reflections on peace building, inputs on Realities of North East Asia with a specific focus on militarism in North East Asia, and workshops on Initiating and Building a Peace Network in North East Asia. As such, the topics explored were:
1. Militarism in NEA;
2. People�s Security;
3. Theological perspectives on peace building and related contemporary issues;
4. Economic dominance and globalization;
5. Developing a network for peace in NEA.

The Consultation included 35 youth leaders, lay and ordained, academics and resource persons from Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Experiencing the context, the Consultation focused on issues of militarism and its affects on North East Asia.

The national delegations suggested and decided on specific action plans to be carried out over the next 2 years to address these issues.

The following sub-regional issues relevant to North East Asia were identified:
� A Multi-racial, Multi-cultural Society: After sharing the background of multi-racial problems in each country, the group found that the most common problem is that foreign people are not treated fairly in social welfare and that they are looked down upon by the local residents. They affirmed the need to address the safety and rights of foreign workers in North East Asia. As a concrete step, the participants decided to set up a web page to provide information on relevant issues as resources for them.
� Peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait: The group recognized the need to promote solidarity and understanding for security and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The participants decided to share information and facilitate an education program for the peaceful and healthy co-existence of all East Asian countries and their peoples.
� Military bases in NE Asian countries, �We need Friendships, not War-Ships�: the group re-affirmed their right, and the right of their nations, to make their own decision without depending on the hegemony of powerful nations. The participants resolved to make themselves more aware about issues related to militarism in each other�s country, and support each country�s action against War-Ships with their physical presence, where possible, as well as with their prayers.
� Reunification in Korean Peninsula: The Consultation participants took cognizance and recognized the division of the Korean Peninsula, a division that is keeping families and peoples apart. They committed their support to the Unification efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

An important aspect of the Consultation was the two-day workshop on action planning for peace initiatives, nationally and sub-regionally. The workshops helped the participants focus their concerns on one or two national issues and two to three sub-regional issues. The national delegations prioritized one issue and developed concrete action plans to be followed by the respective NCC youth departments.

2. Asia Consultation Meeting of UN Secretary-General�s Panel of Eminent Persons on United Nations-Civil Society Relations, UN Conference Center, UNESC

2003-11-20T21:38:00.000+07:00

The UN SG�s Panel of Eminent Persons, or High-Level Panel [HLP] as is more commonly known, on UN-Civil Society Relations met with nearly 60 representatives of national and international civil society groups in Asia-Pacific. Civil society groups included mostly NGO�s focused on a variety of issues like education, human rights, labor issues, environmental issues, social development and also faith-based organizations like CCA and Pax Romana involved in the social development of their communities, nations, and societies at large that they live in.

The Asian members of the HLP who attended this consultation were Ms. Malini Mehra, from India and Ms. Mary Racelis, from the Philippines. Ms. Zehra Aydin, UN-staff member working with the UN-HLP Secretariat in the UNSG�s office, assisted them. Mr. Seonghoon (Anselmo) Lee of Pax Romana on behalf of CONGO coordinated the event. The Keynote Address was by Dr. Cielito F. Habito of the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development.

The following important questions were discussed:
1. Does engagement with UN assist civil society's dialogue with Government?
2. What could UN do to improve government-CS relations?
3. What role should civil society play in matters of global governance?

1. Does engagement with UN assist civil society's dialogue with Government?

As a response, the group felt that generally engagement with the UN assist CS�s dialogue with governments. However, challenges are faced in terms the multiplicity of UN agencies and the weak implementation follow-up mechanism of the UN toward governmental commitments. Also there is a gap in information flow between the UN and CS.

2. What could UN do to improve government-CS relations?

Some proposals on what the UN can do to improve these relations:

1. UN should be more pro-active in its monitoring processes and mechanisms to measure how governments are implementing and complying with their commitments at various World Conferences and to UN international standards and norms.
2. Creation of a more enabling environment for CSOs to become more effective. Bringing in CSO people into the UN bodies and agencies and also in government bodies.
3. Making more consistent the ways in which various UN bodies and agencies relate with civil society and maximizing synergies and resources of these bodies.
4. Implementation and widespread dissemination of UN policies and guidelines on civil society at all levels and monitoring how these are being used.
5. Shifting away from nation-state centric ideology or framework of the UN to a �We the people� framework.

3. What role should civil society play in matters of global governance?

Some suggestions made were, civil society should:

3.1. Continue, researching, analyzing and criticizing the way other multilateral bodies, governments and corporations are undermining the UN and the international norms and standards.
3.2. Help strengthen the UN to play effectively its role in global governance by articulating its critiques. At the same time continue to struggle for its increased and effective participation in UN processes and mechanisms, especially the participation of the marginalised sectors of society.
3.3. Southern civil society organizations should be provided and should acquire more resources to be able to enhance their participation and increase south-south and south-north networking. Northern CSOs should focus a big part of their work in making their own governments more accountable to the rest of the world.
3.4. Continue to disseminate widely and raise awareness among its constituencies, especially at the grassroots level on what are the existing and evolving international standards and norms, the programs and declarations of World Conferences, mechanisms and instruments which people can use to ensure that these standards, policies and programs are implemented at all levels.

Civil Society plays an important role in the betterment of the people. As such, it is an important actor nationally, and internationally, and some would argue as important as governments themselves. Civil societies also play a role in counter-checking the actions of governments. As such, the UN�s recognition and acceptance of CS in their framework is important. And so far there has been progress on this front in terms of bringing the CS with governments within the UN framework. However, much needs to be done.

As a faith-based organization, we analyze our involvement with the CS and with the UN and with our governments, especially in the Asia-Pacific, which is the region of CCA. It was felt that there is a large gap between the level of commitment of the non-religious CS actors and the religious CS actors like CCA. Mechanisms need to be devised to improve our credibility and effectiveness in CS. One way to achieve this is to strengthen our links with the CS movements in our communities.

It is an undeniable fact that most of civil society work, and also that of an organization like CCA, becomes reactionary, or �putting out fires� such as human right abuses, religious intolerance, economic injustices, labor mal-practices, etc, that, many a time, are a result of inter-governmental decisions, planned or unplanned. The CS needs to play a continued role in preventing such �fires�. This is as important as trying to �put them out�. The role of the churches, through their ecumenical movement, in this regard needs to be looked into, as an independent actor or as an active part of CS. Again, building an strengthening our links with the grassroots CS seems an mutually beneficial way ahead. It is also important for the ecumenical movement in Asia to be more involved with the inter-governmental set-ups in the region, again independently or with the Asian CS, so as to play a proactive role in the betterment of our societies.

A meeting of the Asian CS�s participation in the UN threw up challenging, yet important, questions of the Asian ecumenical movement�s participation in the Asian CS, and in the regional national and international decision-making set-up, i.e. the governments in Asia. The answers to these questions require a collective effort on our part.

The Second School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation [SELF], 21st September to 12th October, North Sumatra, Indonesia

2003-11-20T21:26:00.000+07:00

The Youth Department of the Christian Conference of Asia conducted the Second School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation [a.k.a. SELF]. The School was a 21-day intensive training program, organized amidst the scenic hill-station surroundings of Sukamakmur, near Medan, the capital city of the western Indonesia Island of North Sumatra. Dominated by a majority Christian population, North Sumatra is the home place of the Batak Karo Christians in Indonesia.

The SELF is a leadership development program, which aims to train and empower first line national ecumenical youth leaders with international training, preparing them to take prominent leadership roles in the ecumenical movement, nationally and internationally. The SELF aims to facilitate ecumenical leadership formation.

SELF-2003 consisted of the following topics:

1. Reading the Signs of Our Times: Deciphering the challenges of our times and the issues that the churches in Asia face.
2. Feminism and Gender Sensitization and Mainstreaming: Analyzing, and responding to, the role and place of women in the Asian societies and churches.
3. Globalization and Economic Injustices: Analyzing, and responding to, the realities of the economic effects of globalization in Asia. Globalization is also understood as a process affecting not just the economic being of people, but also their culture, language, society, safety, and security.
4. The Ecumenical Movement: An anamnesis (memory) of the global ecumenical movement based on the ideology that youth leaders should know where the movement comes from so as to be able to lead her.
5. Interfaith Dialogue and Peace Building in a Multi Religious Context: Responding to the issue of facilitating peaceful communities in Asia and around the world.
6. Networking and Communicating the Ecumenical Vision: Analyzing and preparing oneself to be able to encourage people to become part of the ecumenical movement, and especially studying how one can communicate the ecumenical vision to the youth and other parties.
7. National Projects/Action Plans: Finally, at the conclusion of the theoretical and experiential input (through exposure programs and field trips), putting together concrete and pragmatic strategies for youth work in the national and international context. Emphasis on individual responsibility in the individual and organizational or group action plans.

The SELF 2003 incorporated the use of Bible Studies, exposure programs, field trips, session inputs by thematic experts, continuous theological reflections and understanding the theological and Biblical underpinnings of the SELF components, and sharing of personal and organization real-life experiences to undertake the study of the courses according to the topics included in the program.

An important element of the School was the �learn-as-you-do� pedagogy of learning. This required the participants to lead the general program and conduct the day-to-day activities. For this four groups of four participants each were formed balancing gender and sub-region. Hence, there was leadership development by practicing how to lead an international program along with the theoretical inputs on different topics provided by resource people. The organizers maintained the overall facilitation of the duration of the School. (This style of leadership on the part of the organizers is commonly described as �servant leadership�)

The SELF-2003 engaged in building a community of friends among the participants as concentric circles, yet co-joined with other circles of leaders.

The SELF-2003 included 16 participants representing 12 national councils/conferences of churches/Christian councils/conferences in Asia and one participant from the South African Council of Churches Youth Forum. Participant demography consisted of 6 females and 10 males. Background represented included youth leaders, student leaders, lawyers, trained-theologians, seminarians, educators, laymen and women, and Pastoral ministers. Work demography consisted of full-time/part-time staff of national ecumenical organizations, teachers, social workers, volunteers in church youth committees and various youth and student organizations and initiatives.

Countries/regions represented at the SELF-2003 consisted of Australia, Aeotoroa New Zealand, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. The age group ranged from 21-38 years.

SELF-2003 was hosted by Youth Wing of the Gereja Batak Karo Protestan [GBKP] (a.k.a. Permata (youth) GBKP). Mr. Jan Putra Perangin-angin, General Secretary of the PERMATA GBKP, headed the Local Hosting Committee [LHC] for the SELF-2003.

SELF-2003 was co-hosted by the Youth department of the Communion of Churches In Indonesia (CCI) under the leadership of Ms. Widowati Suwandi, Youth Secretary, CCI. Ms. Wido served as the national contact person for all arrangements regarding the SELF-2003 and played an important �intercessory� role between CCA and the Permata GBKP during the preparation stage.

Among the various challenges faced by a program of the duration and nature and composition of participants as the SELF, the most prominent were cultural and language barriers, cultural communications, the mental and physical stress of the long duration of the program, lack of modern communication facilities at the venue, different expectation levels, previous exposure to some topics being discussed, and other general adjustment challenges to the food, the weather, and the location.

The SELF-2003 provided a strong bonding among the participants, where the participants mutually supported each other in their stay and learning.

2003-07-21T09:58:00.000+07:00

WCC Programme Executive for Youth

The WCC has opened the Programme Executive for Youth position and is looking for young candidates between 18 and 30 years with practical experience with church and ecumenical work with young people. Please see the text below for more information.

"A successor to the current Programme Executive for Youth is now being sought by the WCC. This position, within the JPC Team, requires ecumenical commitment and familiarity with the structures and life of the churches and the ecumenical movement, previous experience of church/ecumenical work with youth, theological knowledge, analytical, editorial, writing and communication skills. The successful candidate must be between 18 and 30 years of age, computer literate, and able to work in English (with knowledge of another of official WCC language an asset), to listen, work in a team and respect intercultural and interpersonal relations.

She/he will coordinate the WCC internship and stewards' programmes and assist with the WCC World Youth Programme. She/he will organize ecumenical leadership development programmes for young people, assume responsibility for youth participation at the Council's next (9th) assembly in 2006, facilitate coordination between WCC member churches and international ecumenical youth organizations. She/he will, further, facilitate youth exchanges between churches in different countries and regions to promote ecumenical learning and solidarity, gather, compile and create resources for ecumenical leadership training, and generally assist the WCC and its member churches to integrate young people in all aspects of their life and work."

Closing date for applications: 25 July 2003

How to Apply for a WCC Staff Vacancy
Full details for an open position, together with the general conditions of service and application forms may be obtained from and must be returned to:

Ms Christina Minezac
Human Resources manager
World Council of Churches
P.O. Box 2100
1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

Please send your duly filled application, with reference to the open position, to : chm@wcc-coe.org

Note:
It is the intent of the Executive Committee to redress the balance in staff - regional, confessional and gender - to the extent possible in filling these vacancies. Competence for the job will take precedence.

http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/news/jobs.html

2003-05-28T12:54:00.000+07:00

CCA Youth Internships-Application Process Extended

The application process for the CCA Youth Internships [Youth & Y-WIN] has been extended. The extended last date for receiving applications is 30th June 2003. Kindly contact your local National Council of Churches' Youth Department or refer to information on the CCA web page at www.cca.org.hk

2003-05-22T14:28:00.000+07:00

Asia Ecumenical Academy

The venue for the Asia Ecumenical Academy is moved from Hong Kong to Bangkok. It is on August 3-23, 2003. Application forms are still welcome until May 30, 2003. Only 20 slots are available. Hurry for all CCA member church/council - endorsed applicants.

2003-05-17T12:23:00.000+07:00

North East Asia Peace Network Preparatory and Planning Meeting, 17-20 February 2003, CCA Center, Hong Kong:

The North East Asia Peace Network Committee met between 17-20 March in Hong Kong and has planned and decided to commence the NEA Peace Network. This would be activated at the national, bi-lateral and sub-regional level through strengthening various existing bi- and multi-lateral youth exchanges and programs and introducing new ones. This network would be supported, regularly analyzed, facilitated, and updated by holding regular bi-annual sub-regional NEA Peace Consultations organized by CCA Youth. These consultations will bring the peace network activists, volunteers, and leaders together. It has been decided that each NEA country would host these consultations in rotation and co-organize with CCA Youth. The first consultation under this network framework will be hosted by the Ecumenical Youth council in Korea and will be organized between 23-29 November 2003 in Seoul, Korea. The theme of this consultation will be "To Be a Peacemaker: Overcoming Violence" (from Matthew 5:9). Issues focussed on would be 1. Militarism in NEA; 2. People's Security; 3. Economic dominance and globalization; and 4. Developing a network for peace in NEA. 7 participants from each NEA country, along with resource people, staff, network committee, and local volunteers and participants from Korean NGO's will take the number of participants to around 40. The next sub-regional consultation will be hosted in Hong Kong in 2005. Observers will be invited from other Asia countries affected by militarization.

2003-05-16T15:45:00.000+07:00

Consultation on "Ecumenism in the 21st Century in a Globalized World", 1-3 February, Geneva, Switzerland:

Organized by the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation [JPIC] Team of the World Council of Churches, the Consultation on Ecumenism in the 21st Century in a Globalized World brought together 31 church leaders and leaders from the ecumenical movement for deliberations as a think-tank on the meaning and role of ecumenism in today's context. And to propose ways of consolidating solidarity among churches to raise issues of common concern.

Inputs were provided by Bishop Aldo Etchegoyen (from Argentina who commented on the Theme), and Professor Ninan Koshy (from India who presented his paper "Reflection on the context of globalization and the war against terror: challenge to the Ecumenical Movement"). A panel consisting of members from Canada (Rev. Chris Ferguson), Russia (Fr. Vsevolod Chaplin), Fiji (Ms. Lorine Tevi), and Kenya (Ms. Karimi Kinoti) provided comments under the rubric "Ecumenical challenges to the churches". Inputs concluded with comments by Dr. Konrad Raiser on " A response from the ecumenical movement to contemporary challenges" on the last day of the consultation.

Based on Prof. Ninan's paper, the group reflected on and acknowledged the formation of an empire-building process by the US in an increasingly uni-polar world. The realignment of geo politics in the world purposefully dominated and manipulated by the US was mentioned. This has led to situations of hegemony reminiscent of empire-building that, though the world has seen many times before in her history, is happening for the first time after the birth of the ecumenical movement post WW II. This has put the ecumenical movement in new and dangerous waters. At the same time, we are undergoing drastic changes in our understanding, rather manifestation, of the true meaning of the word oikumene, where ecumenism is being seen in light of unity with, and including, people of other faith and even no faith. These dual realities of an expanding ecumenism and empire-formation challenge the ecumenical movement at the beginning of this century.

Based on the backdrop provided above, the important outcomes from the consultation may be summarized as follows:
1. There is an urgent need from significant theological work on church and empire. The ecumenical movement lacks the language to communicate with her churches on issue of justice and resistance. There has to be deeper reflection in terms of the social, political, and economic analysis of the contemporary realities.

Such a reflection should also be a dialogue with the agencies, institutions, and other movements in order to have a common analysis and common strategies. We also need to promote "Dialogue of civilizations".

2. There should be initiatives towards an Ecumenical Social Forum, which consolidates and links the various social movements around the world. Such a forum should encourage churches also to be actively involved in social movements. In times where the sovereignty of many national governments has been surrendered to TNCs and international monetary institutions, social movements/peoples movements play a crucial role as pressure groups. Churches should build and support such pressure groups.

As a practical suggestion, a list of relevant social groups can be compiled from around the globe and brought in contact with each other through national social forums, regional social forums (like the Asian Social Forum), or global social forums (like the WSF). Such inter linking facilitates stories to be shared, strengthens the individual movements in their resolves, and importantly provides joint action when demanded.

3. There needs to be better coordination and relations in the efforts of the ecumenical movement at the national, regional, and international level while dealing with common challenges. In other words, there is a need for a clear linking in analysis and action with regional and national actors by the World Council. Such a cooperative and de-centralized model is important to counter the hegemonic forces of today. Such a model strengthens the indigenous knowledge and is in support of the many alternatives out there. Along with facilitating local alternatives, the ecumenical movement should also strive to develop applicable national and regional alternatives.

4. Finally, the work of the ecumenical movement needs to have an intentional inter-faith, inter-religious dialogue. Rather we need to proceed from dialogue to joint action/partnership where possible. Especially in times of turmoil, we need to promote "dialogues of civilizations".

The churches, and their ecumenical movement, have a chance to take a stand. Justice and unity are important. However, in times where a prophetic vision is required, justice needs to take precedence. Our unity is for our witness. Hence a unity without witness is not justified.

2003-05-16T14:46:00.000+07:00

Latest News [Updated Fri May 16]

Ecumenical Asia Pacific Students and Youth Network (EASY Net) Core Group Meeting, 16-19 January 2003, CCA Center, Hong Kong:

CCA Youth hosted the meeting of the EASY Net Core Group between 16th-19th January 2003 at the CCA Center in Hong Kong. The Core Group of EASY Net comprises of the regional staff/executive secretaries/representatives of CCA, WSCF-AP, IMCS AP, IYCS Asia, APA YMCAs, World YWCA. The meetings focussed on program plans for EASY Net for 2003. Some of the important decisions taken were:

1. Asia Pacific Students and Youth Week 2003 to focus on "Peace and Human Security"
2. Publication of EASY Net Resource Book [approx. 100 pages], by mid of November 2003. For this an Editorial Committee was formed comprising of One Chief Writer [Mr. John Williams, Catholic, Philippines], Two Advisors [one each from Protestant and Catholic side], Three members from the Core Group [CCA, IMCS, YWCA], and the Coordinating Secretary of EASY Net [ex-officio]. Publication of this Resource Book would be done by CCA. An initial draft outline was prepared and presented by CCA and accepted by the CG.
3. EASY Net Second National Coordinators Annual Meeting by late November 2003.
4. It was decided to have the Asian Students and Youth Gathering in 2004. Details are under discussion
5. Finally, under EASY Net's annually rotating Moderator-ship, Mr. Kiho, of IMCS AP, was selected as the Moderator of EASY Net for 2003. He takes charge from Rev. Shin, of WSCF AP.

It was a time to share about refining the functioning and successful implementation of the EASY Net. It was also a time to share about the important programs for each member organization for 2003. CCA Youth plays an important role in supporting EASY Net financially and through human resources.

2003-04-23T14:25:00.000+07:00

Ecumenical Council for Students and Youth Meets in Japan

Rakesh attended the Youth committee of the National Christian Council in Japan(NCCJ), the Student department of Japan YMCA(Student YMCA), and the SCM Cooperative Committee(SCM) held the Third Ecumenical Conference under the theme "Justpeace for overcoming violence" at Gotenba, Shizuoka, March 20-22, 2003. [Read the full statement]

National Youth Secretaries meet in Bangkok

National youth leaders and workers of the various National Church Councils and Conferences from Aotearoa-New Zealand, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kampuchea, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Timor Lorosa?e, and Thailand, met at the Student Christian Center, Bangkok, Thailand, from November 11 to 16, 2002, to share, reflect and analyze their national and regional ecumenical youth work in Asia. [Click here to read the statment]

Youth Empowerment Program for Bangladesh

A youth empowerment program brought together twenty-five youth from all over Bangladesh to Dhaka on 1-5 July. It was organised jointly by CCA and the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh. In his inaugural speech, NCCB President Sudhir Adhikari challenged the participants to social reflection towards achieving life in all its fullness for all.

He mentioned that capacity building is important but it should be according to the needs of the present day and within a value system. He encouraged the participants to utilise the workshop as a magnifying glass to open their perspectives. He cited areas of capacity building, drugs, HIV/AIDS, terrorism and information technology as priorities.

Of the youth participants, about 40 per cent were women and 40 per cent came from rural areas. The program included sharing of personal history as social history, input on leadership, partnership of women and men, contextual social analysis and drawing up of action plans.

Among the common concerns of the Bangladeshi youth were the need for skills development, especially in English speaking and writing, the need for staff at NCCB for youth work and the need to focus on interfaith and interreligious initiatives towards peace building and harmony.

Breaking the Silence

Women moving from darkness to light in Timor Lorosa'e

At Timor Lorosa'e airport, a big billboard picture of smiling Timorese children announces: 'All together for one future of Timor Lorosa'e. Todos juntos pelo futuro de Timor.'

And leaving the airport, one cannot but notice the big white crosses on top of the hills. They speak of the predominant Christian religion in Timor Lorosa'e. The crosses symbolise the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus remembered during the Holy Week. Indeed, they symbolise the suffering and deaths of Timorese people from 1975 to 1999 in the hands of Indonesian militia invaders. But they also symbolise their hope to rise above these dark memories so that they can move on to a new future, a new time, now that they have freedom as a new nation after their long struggle.

In this new future, members of CCA are invited to participate, to be in solidarity, to express concretely our being the body of Christ. Thus Rev. Francisco M. de Vasconselos, moderator of Igreja Protest-ante Iha Timor Lorosa'e (IPTL) and a CCA General Committee member, organised a visit on 20-21 July 2002 to Los Palos Imanuel Church, in the easternmost district of Lautem, a five-hour drive from Dili across the hills and along the coast. We were joined by two youth preparing for their ordination, Gerson and Samuel.

Los Palos has a circuit of eight local churches with 1,500 members (400 families), pastored by Rev. Albino Da Costa with the help of lay cathechists and elders. They have an active ecumenical relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, holding ecumenical services on special events and discussing among cathechists, pastor and priest problems in the villages. They were looking forward to ecumenical study in the villages and to an ecumenical youth work camp in mid-August.

After the worship, where I preached and shook hands with everybody, we had a meeting with forty-five women, young and old. Rev. Albino translated from my English and Rev. Francisco's Tetum and Bahasa Indonesia to Fataluku, the local dialect of Los Palos. When needed, gestures and facial expressions helped overcome communication barriers.

The women did not talk about personal stories and problems. Instead, as an organised group of traditional weavers, they spoke of their needs. They have a weavers' cooperative initiated by YASONA, the social development arm of IPTL, with Esther Gilarmina as their coordinator. They have weaving skills and a strong spirit but their problem is marketing, not only within the country but also outside. Where and how can they sell their tais to help put food on the table and send their children to school? Thus, they want to add to their weaving activities by engaging in buying and selling. They need capital, a facility and a place to do that. They also need management and networking skills--with the other two weavers' cooperatives that were also established by YASONA. They need ecumenical accompaniment for their development!

The young women want guitars and guitar lessons. In their culture, music is used to express their aspirations. They believe having guitars will be good for their youth gatherings. But they are also challenged to have a sustainable income-generating project.

After the visit, we held a two-day women's workshop at the IPTL Centre in Dili on 22-23 July. Twenty women attended, representing three local churches of IPTL--the Church of God, the Pentecostal Church and Bethel ELSADAI in Dili. This was the first time that this had happened, according to them. Within the framework of developing trust, we established the climate of acceptance through introductions and orientation. We used symbols to tell about ourselves, our strengths and how we feel about wanting to grow, to write experiences, to be a light like a candle and to serve God and people. We spoke of having strength because of God's presence and of being strong like a stone, but also of being simple and basic like a stone to build something good for God. On the other hand, a woman shared that she was 'like a paper with nothing on it. People write on it, get bored, crumple it and throw it away.' At times, we were in silence, empathising with the teary-eyed. At other times we shared in laughter.

The dyadic and big-group sharing of stories of experiences and problems in the home and in the community brought to the surface gender issues of violence against women, prostitution, overwork, women's lack of education, poverty, problems in the family (in communication and in parenting), the creeping Westernisation of culture, health issues such as HIV/AIDS, the need for reconciliation based on truth as expressed by an Indonesian woman who opts to stay in Timor, religious tolerance, living in harmony in the neighbourhood, trauma counselling and understanding the role of women in church and society during this time of nation-building. 'Sisters in Asia, please pray for us!' This is their plea.

We prayed together, reflected on biblical stories of Jesus healing women and having them as partners, reviewed the issues that surfaced from the sharing and discussed the concept of gender, though very briefly. They shared the situation and program priorities of women in their churches. In most churches not all women are able to attend activities because of preoccupation with traditional practices and ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, which take much of their time and limited money. Towards the end of the workshop, the women decided to work together for fellowship, prayer and study and formed the 'Persekutuan Wanita Kristen se Timor Lorosa'e (Fellowship of Christian Women in Timor Lorosa'e), with the following elected committee:

Chairperson: Frederika Thomas (Hosana, IPTL)
Vice Chair: Leocadia de Jesus (Ekaristi, IPTL)
Secretary: Lidia L. Malana (Bethel)

Members:
Palmira Maria (Pentecostal)
Maria da Costa (Pentecostal)
Adelaide L. Dias (Church of God)
Maria Dolores (Church of God)
Maria Simoes (Zebaot, IPTL)
Sri Yane Pello (Hosana, IPTL)

The visit initiated the coming together of church women from Dili to listen to one another and send their message to sisters and brothers in Asia. 'It is a healing experience to be together, breaking our silence,' one participant said.

They were able to go past denominational barriers. However, we did not have Roman Catholic women in this meeting. From what I learned in Bishop Belo's Centre for Development and Peace, the Catholic women are not organised yet. Sr Bernadita Guhit, a Filipina religious, shared that the Roman Catholics are reorganising. At the moment their preoccupation is on policy regarding amnesty about which Bishop Belo had a pastoral letter.

'God is light and in God there is no darkness at all.' (1 John 1:5b)

--Cora Tabing-Reyes

Perspectives on Ecumenical Formation

This is a composite paper drawn from experiences, materials discussed in ecumenical formation activities and insights from meetings that have taken place focusing on ecumenical formation. This hopes to draw conversation on this important facet of the life of the ecumenical movement and to engage people in the important task of ecumenical learning and ecumenical formation.

I. Ecumenical Formation as an urgent task--

is based on the imperative drawn from the prayer of Jesus, "that they may all be one; as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one."(John 17: 21-22);

recognizes that early in the history of the church, the church suffers tensions and factions which Paul calls sinful and thus he appeals for Christians to be "united in the same mind and the same purpose" (I Cor 1:10);

is part of our struggle to overcome divisions among us Christians against the background of all schisms as early as after the councils of Ephesus (in 431) and Chalcedon (in 451), between the church of the East and of the West in 1054, in the Western church during the Reformation, and new ones taking place in many churches during our age;

is a challenge to the credibility of the church and her mission in our context in Asia where, except Philippines, Christians are a minority and where denominationalism and fundamentalism increasingly contribute to communal violence;

is an affirmation that the spirit of ecumenism needs nurturing and does not come automatically;

affirms that the Holy Spirit is leading us in our search for ways to heal our divisions as a community.

II. Ecumenical Formation as a Process

Is an "ongoing process of learning within the various local churches and world communions, aimed at informing and guiding people in the movement which--inspired by the Holy Spirit--seeks the visible unity of Christians."

Ecumenical Formation is for life, about the whole of life and for fullness of life for all as Jesus Christ has promised.

as a process of learning, it is people-oriented-- begins with people?s life experience and actual context ? religious, social, political ,economic? and critically builds on the experience and knowledge they bring (called "wisdom for life");

recognizes people as subjects of cultural action addressing historical injustice towards a new life

is not only about sharing each other?s existing knowledge but discovering the new (vision of life) in an open, participatory and creative space;

is characterized by opening up to the "other" to learn from and with them ? the other person, the other way of believing, acting or thinking-- where trust is an important ingredient;

breaks through the barriers we build between us ? of race and ethnicity, age, gender, sexuality, culture, religion, class, politics, economics etc ? and enables difference to become a resource for learning;

builds community towards the unity of the church, of humanity and of creation--unity in the suffering and unity in the rejoicing;

is people learning together in community and learning to live as a community--
--learning about, from and with others of different traditions,
--praying for Christian unity and for each other
--acting together as an offering of common witness and expression of our common search for Christian unity
--struggling together over our divisions is being open to inter-religious dialogue in the context of plurality and secularism, aiming at deeper mutual understanding in the search for a world community.

means communities as well as individuals learning, finding their name for and understanding of God and what they hold as sacred ;

involves reflection and action that engages in alternative practice of encounter--field education, immersion, community research, community projects, exposure, study-visit, life encounter, but also in a thousand and one ideas on how ecumenical learning can take place in the family, in the congregation, in the church-related school, in the seminary, in the ecumenical organizations, etc.

is a holistic process which unites the physical, social and spiritual;

is not so much learning about the ecumenical movement as becoming ecumenical in attitude and practice.

III. Ecumenical Formation Components

exploring relevant contextual issues related to the ministry of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in that together with our brothers and sisters of other Christian confessions as well as other faiths, we are all on a mission of love and service to the peoples of Asia. Specifically, this mission is oriented towards the poor, the marginalized, and the oppressed.

ecumenical dialogue that looks at the history of church divisions as well as the history of ecumenism. Issues related to this division and attempts at unity will be explored in view of finding contemporary solutions.

inter-religious dialogue in view of the existential reality of Asia that Christianity is but one small religion amongst the rich variety of other Asian religions

IV. Ecumenical Formation as a Challenge

Ecumenical formation is for the whole body of Christ. However, strategically CCA is focusing on ecumenical formation of leaders or enablers: key pastors, religious educators, national staff in church and ecumenical institutions, lay women, men and youth leaders.

Four current major programs are:

School for Ecumenical Leadership Formation (SELF)(35 days) for the youth;

Asia Ecumenical Course (AEC) (I month);

Joint Ecumenical Formation (JEF) (2 weeks);

Asia Religious Educators Forum

All who go through these programs have the responsibility to be enablers of ecumenical learning and formation in the grassroots!