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!

The Preparatory Committee meeting for CCA 13th General Assembly was held from 28-29 June 2008 in Kuala Lumpur with leaders of Council of Churches in Malaysia (CCM). The committee representatives discussed preparations for the assembly taking place from 14-21 April 2010 in Malaysia.

Rev. Dr Hermen Shastri, CCM General Secretary started the meeting with a prayer. Then I was invited to share and highlight the history, objectives and components of the CCA Assembly.

“The CCA General Assembly is usually held once in five years. It is a time for member churches, councils, ecumenical organizations and friends to get together and celebrate God’s blessings; to envisage new vision, mission and goals; and to elect new leadership of CCA for the next five years. Around 450 delegates are expected to participate in the Assembly.”

However, prior to the Assembly, as practiced, there will be other events including pre-assemblies for youth, women, differently-able persons, and people’s forum. This will be accompanied by meetings of the General Committee and an Extra-ordinary Assembly, taking place in this Assembly. 

During the meeting, various sub-committees of the assembly were designed and the co-leaders were assigned. The committee members visited possible venues in Kuala Lumpur. After sharing and discussions the venue will be finalized at the General Committee meeting.

On 29 June, CCA delegates attended the morning worship with local churches. Dr Rienzie Perera preached at the Anglican Church, Dr. Prawate Khid-arn preached at St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Ms. Susan Jacob extended greetings at the Orthodox Church and Ms Lu Yueh Wen extended greetings at the Presbyterian Church. It was a good opportunity for us to meet with member churches, share the Gospel, and be more visible as CCA.

Reclaiming Rights of Children Affected and Living with HIV/AIDS

The participants of Interfaith Pre-Conference on “Reclaiming Rights of Children Affected and Living with HIV/AIDS” gathered in Chiang Mai from 3-5 July at International Hotel YMCA. Around seventy participants from various countries in Asia are attending the conference to share experience and ideas, and to identify common concerns to protect the basic rights of children affected and living with HIV/AIDS. 

A joint statement will be produced at the end of the conference. The participants who are attending the International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Mexico from 3-8 August 2008 will disseminate the conference statement during the Mexico Conference. 

Rehabilitation for cyclone victims in Myanmar

CCA is continuing its efforts for rehabilitation for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, which left millions of people homeless and striving for the basic necessities of life. CCA-JID is organizing a special meeting with leaders of churches and councils from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. The meeting aims to discuss and set up sustainable strategies and action plan. The meeting will be held on 5 July 2008 at the Bangkok Christian Guest House in Thailand.

North Korea nuclear disarmament 

The Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea (PROK) circulated message of appreciation welcoming the declaration on 26 June 2008 by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of disclosing its nuclear program and its intention to destroy the cooling tower at its main nuclear reactor. The DPRK’s nuclear program was considered one of the major obstacles for peace building on Korean Peninsula.

“We believe that the DPRK’s accounting of its nuclear work and destruction of the cooling tower can revitalize efforts for normalization of DPRK-US relations and for peace on the Korean peninsula” the PROK statement said.

It also appeals the government of South Korea to actively cooperate for peace and reunification of the two Koreans. “ We expect our government also to actively cooperate for peace on the Korean peninsula. We will closely watch the course of developments and continue to pray for the realization of God’s peace on the Korean peninsula and around the world” 

New MCC leaders

Rev. Mar Gay Gui, the General Secretary of Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC) shared the decision from MCC 82nd Biennial General Meeting held from18-21 2008 June. Mr. Saw Shwe Lin was elected as a new General Secretary for a term of four years. 

The newly elected team leaders for the term 2008 - 2010 include:

CCA congratulate them and keeps them in prayers as they continue their ecumenical journey for God’s mission.

Prawate Khid-arn
General Secretary

No. 27/2 July 2008