Letter from CCA

(“A Letter from CCA” is a sharing message of the CCA General Secretary to update member churches and ecumenical friends about the life and works of CCA. It is electronically published every Wednesday.)

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ!

CCA visit to partners in Europe successfully ended and the team members returned to their home countries. All tired due to exhaustion of the traveling yet full of spiritual strength and inspirations. I would like to thank Ms Manju Baroi, Bishop Thomas Soo, and Mr. Anthony Row for accompanying CCA staff in the visit.

CCA continues to move ahead with its activities and programs as scheduled.

CCA-UN/ESCAP meeting

In Bangkok, the mid-term review meeting of the CCA-UN/ESCAP joint project ‘strengthening of life skills for positive youth health behavior’ was held at the UN/ESCAP building from 5-6 November, 2007. Around thirty participants representing project partners from Cambodia, China, Philippines and Sri Lanka were invited. Representatives from UN agencies, CCA committee member Mr. Sirimal Peris and CCA staff Ms Shirley Susan and Rev. Freddy de Alwis along with the EED general secretary Mr. Heiner Knauss attended the meeting.

The unique dimension of this joint project is its coordination and implementation with government structures. This is another example of CCA integrating and promoting ways for sustainable development and mutual cooperation between government agencies, non governmental organisations and religious communities in Asia. 

Annual Human Rights Training for Church Workers

In context of human right situation in Asia, CCA-JID organise Annual Human Rights Training for Church Workers, taking place from 4-9 November, 2007 at Crystal Spring House in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Around twenty-five participants from member churches and councils are attending the program. The training is aimed to provide basic knowledge and building capacity of church workers in addressing human rights in their communities.

Ms. Lee Ye Ja, a former coordinator of WCC Program on People with Disabilities from Korea said during the training, “I am working with people with disabilities in Korea. I am here to learn and share what are the basic rights of the people with disabilities.”

Global South Anglican Primates visit China

At invitation from the minister of State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA), nine members of the Primates of Global South of the Anglican Communion representing Africa, Asia and the Middle East made a visit to Beijing, Xian, Najing and Shanghai in China from 21-30 October, 2007. The team discussed the national religious policies and cooperation between the state and China Christian Council (CCC) and National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Church in China (TSPM). 

The statement states;

“We wholeheartedly commend the Chinese government for its openness and desire to extend sustainable support to the work of the churches here (in China). This was expressed in concrete terms by a very significant amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China during the recent 17th National Party Congress. The amendment mentioned the word ‘religion’ in Constitution for first time in the history of modern China, and resolves to strengthen the work for the full implementation of the policy of freedom of religion in China.” Source: Francis Wong, ENI writer, Hong Kong.

New Leaders

The annual assembly of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh (NCCB) elected Mr. Joyanta Adhikari as new president for the period of two years. Mr. Adhikari is well known for his work in the ecumenical movement. He is now serving as director of the Christian Commission for development in Bangladesh (CCDB) and as a committee member for ACT Development.

The Salvation Army, Hong Kong and Macau Command appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Merv Rowland from Australia as a new general secretary replacing Commander Alfred H.M. Tsang. He will start working in this position from 1 December, 2007.

The WCC Executive Committee appointed Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory as director for Public Witness (addressing power and affirming peace) and Rev. Dr Shanta Premawardhana as director for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation.

We pray that God’s wisdom and power continue to fill and surround them, so that they continue to be a source of inspiration and empowerment for many people.

Prawate Khid-arn
General Secretary

No. 44/7 November 2007