CCA Celebrates 50 years (1957-2007)

On 9 March 2007, the last day of the two-day General Committee meeting of the Christian Conference of Asia held at Medan, Indonesia, members were united in expressing gratefulness to the Indonesian churches for their generous hospitality and their very able and systematic organizing and hosting of the 50th anniversary events in Parapat, in Pematang Siantar, and in Medan, all in North Sumatra, Indonesia. 

The fact that all the churches in Indonesia (including CCA member churches as well as those that are not) had come together to host the activities from 4 to 7 March is a concrete sign of the unity that is already there in Christ Jesus, our common Savior.

The kind support of state officials, including the presence of Muslim brothers and sisters to greet during some parts of the events, was also a concrete sign of the wider unity that we are all called to live out as we get engaged in "building communities of peace for all", the theme of the CCA in the years 2006-2010.

However, the committee members expressed sympathy for the loved ones of the victims of the two calamities that had happened (an earthquake and a plane crash) during the time of the anniversary celebration. These sad incidents in the life of Indonesian people heightened the concern for environmental sustainability in Asia,with a visible sign of commitment being made not only through discussions at the international symposium and speeches during the other events, but most especially through the tree planting activity at the government-given land in Parapat, which is now the CCA garden.

In a speech to a crowd of around 150,000 people gathered at the Teladan Stadium in Medan on 7 March, Dr. Prawate Khid-arn, General Secretary of CCA, described the 50th anniversary as not merely a time to celebrate, but also to "thank God for accompanying us right through the past 50 years. We have also come to seek God's forgiveness for our lack of courage to witness and to take a stand for justice and peace amidst the challenging realities and to renew commitment to become ambassadors of Jesus Christ to transform the principalities and powers of this world which kill the innocent, deny food, shelter, education, and security, to the majority of our people and abuse God's creation."

Speeches of the early ecumenical pioneers who conceived the Christian Conference of Asia (then the East Asia Christian Conference) in Parapat in 1957 recalled the challenges that went with the movement for genuine independence from colonization and imperialism among the countries in Asia. The ecumenical movement was born as a concrete sign of the Asian people's determination to uphold their freedom and dignity and to live out their being a witnessing community, called to witness to the reconciling power of Christ.

What will happen next? What will be the direction of the CCA in the coming years?

Taken from CCA Update 10 March 2007