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!

Two significant CCA events were held in the last week. On 2 July 2008, eighty-four participants from ten countries took part in the interreligious pre-conference on "Reclaiming Rights of Children Affected and Living with HIV and AIDS". The conference was held at the International Hotel YMCA in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Ms. Win-Sie Cheng, the Asia-Pacific Regional Director of UNICEF in her keynote presentation described the role of religious actors and challenges in addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS in context of children.

"Faith based organisations are in a key position to provide family centered home based care and mobilize community based responses," she said.

Various presentations in the conference demonstrated how religions organisations in Asia have broken stigmas to help people living with HIV/AIDS. These steps include hospital care, education, support and efforts of working with the government to curb the epidemic.

The conference produced a statement of commitment in the end, which will be disseminated in Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance's Pre-Conference on HIV/AIDS and 17th International AIDS Conference taking place on 3-8 August 2008 in Mexico. The statement can be found on CCA website.

CCA policy on HIV/AIDS

After the pre-conference on "Reclaiming Rights of Children Affected and Living with HIV and AIDS" on 2 July the CCA Strategic Task Force finalised the HIV/AIDS policy document. The members included Dr. Simon Azariah from Pakistan, Dr Erlind Senturias from the Philippines, Ms Elijah Fung from Hong Kong, Rev. Dr Chuleepran Srisoonthorn from Thailand, Ms Rachel Ong from Singapore, Ms Sunita Abraham from India and Fr. Philip Kuruvilla, CCA's Consultant for HIV/AIDS Concern. After the meeting CCA-HIV/AIDS policy was finalized and is now available on CCA website.

The group critically analyzed and reflected on the HIV/AIDS issues and challenges for CCA and churches in Asia. In this context CCA's three year program plan from 2009-2011 was also discussed.

Response to cyclone crisis in Myanmar

Thirteen church leaders from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Myanmar met in Bangkok on 5 July at the Bangkok Christian Guest House. The meeting was called by CCA to involve member churches in extending humanitarian aid and sustainable development to affected areas hit by cyclone Nargis in Myanmar.

Dr Rienzie Perera, AGS-Finance welcomed the participant and thanked them for their prompt response and presence. He led the biblical reflections on the birth of early church with the community intention on how Jesus cared for the crowd; and how early churches helped people in the need. In relation to
Myanmar situation; he mentioned that it is more appropriate to ask, "where is my neighbor?" He shared that Asian region has experienced many disasters, therefore we have to focus on how to extend ecumenical solidarity to the affected communities in Myanmar.

Rev. Freddy De Alwis, Joint Executive Secretary for CCA-JID described the role of CCA in coordinating, facilitating and providing possible assistance for the victims and marginalised in Myanmar. The newly appointed MCC General Secretary, Mr. Saw Shwe Lin thanked all participants for their concern and
support.

People in Myanmar with their socio-economic and political realities still need help and support from us. I appeal to you to keep them in your prayers and extend help in any way you can.

FMU theological education initiatives

As part of Faith Mission and Unity program of CCA and World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Theological Education program, the Association of Theological Education in South East Asia (ATESEA) organised ATESEA/SEAGST Regional Faculty Meeting and Networking on 29 June-4 July 2008 in Taiwan. The event brought together the regional faculty of its South East Asian Graduate School of Theology (SEAGST), which includes Asian theologians in Asia and those at large (in diaspora).

CCA's Joint Executive Secretary for FMU Dr Hope Antone shared, "The idea of a regional faculty came about within ATESEA to have a pool of Asian scholars and theologians who can be called upon to help in the SEAGST doctoral program. FTESEA also wants to have a network of Asian scholars and theologians between those at large and those in Asia. The two concerns were brought together in this one meeting in Tainan."

New role of Dr Ipe Joseph

We are pleased to share with you that Rev. Dr Ipe Joseph, former general secretary of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has been appointed as the General Secretary of All India Sundays School Association (AISSA). CCA congratulates Dr Ipe Joseph on his appointment and keeps him in prayers.

Leave for CCA executive staff

Some of the CCA Executive staff will be on leave in the coming weeks. I will be on leave from 14 July - 11 August, Associate General Secretary Dr Rienzie Perera will be on leave from 7 July - 16 July and CCA's Joint Executive Secretary for JID Rev. Freddy De Alwis will be on leave from 8 July - 21 July.

Prawate Khid-arn
General Secretary

No. 28/9 July 2008