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!

On October 17 the International Day for Eradication of Poverty declared by the UN was commemorated. The theme for this year "Working Together out of Poverty" highlights the need for a truly global anti- poverty alliance.

Despite some spectacular progress over the last few decades, poverty remains the most pressing issue facing the world today.

Statistics reveal that at least 80 percent of humanity lives on less than 10 dollars a day. The poorest 40 percent of the world's population account for three quarters of world income; and about 30,000 children die each day due to poverty (UNICEF Report). The report also shows that if current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target of eradicating extreme poverty by 2015 is unlikely to be met in many areas in the world.

For CCA and churches, poverty should not be perceived only as a lack of economic prosperity, but the understanding should include people's empowerment for social justice and political decision-making. Therefore, poverty alleviation becomes everyone's responsibility, and churches are included.

One initiative relevant to this stand point of CCA is its continuing campaign for poverty alleviation for the people affected by Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Since the cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on 3 May 2008, people faced many constraints in devastated areas to begin their agricultural cultivation. For detailed information on this initiative and developments Justice, International Affairs, Development and Service program area of 
CCA can be contacted.

FMU in Action

Workshop on reconciliation and wholeness: I am pleased to share that Faith, Mission and Unity program area of CCA in collaboration with the McGilvary College of Divinity (MCD) of Payap University held a theological workshop from 13-15 October 2008 in Chiang Mai. The workshop addressed the theme "Kingdom of God: Reconciliation for Wholeness of the People of God". Around forty-five participants including students from the English program along with faculty members and local Synods (church districts) representative
attended the workshop.

Asian Ecumenical Course 2008: Dr. Hope returned from Indonesian the day before yesterday, where she organized the AEC2008. The program was held last October 2-18, 2008 at at Pondok Remaja Hotel in Salatiga.

Twenty-three (23) participants were present. Of the 23 participants, 9 were women. The participants included Christian/Religious educators, pastors and ministers, ecumenical and youth workers who came from CCA member churches and councils in 11 countries in Asia, and including a Catholic from Australia and two from evangelical churches in Indonesia.

With the theme, "Challenges and Opportunities for Ecumenical Formation in Christian/Religious Education," participants were exposed to Indonesian and Asian realities, and to a variety of issues such as ecumenism, multiculturalism, pluralism, liberation perspective, gender justice, ecological justice and conflict transformation and peace education. On the last day of the course, participants shared their action plans showing how they can integrate the concerns of ecumenical formation in their respective work and contexts.

Peacemaking in Asia

The 7th General Assembly of Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP) was held from 17-21 October 2008 in Manila, the Philippines. Around 370 participants representing 15 religions and Christian denominations from 25 countries along with the observers addressed the theme "Peacemaking in Asia".

A large delegation of 100 participants as well as a delegate from Magnolia took part in the event. ACRP also received two new members from Cambodia and Iraq chapters.

From CCA, I was invited to address the assembly (more details are available on CCA website). Ms Moumita Biswas, Joint Executive Secretary for EGY-Women was the co-facilitator for the Women's Pre-assembly. Ms Moumita shared that Dr Lilian Sison from the Philippines was elected as Women's ACRP Chair for Women's Committee. CCA was requested during the event to provide leadership to strengthen women's Asian inter-religious network.

It was also agreed that closer cooperation between CCA, Asian Conference of Religions for Peace (ACRP) and World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) should be strengthened to promote peace and unity in Asia.

Unity to Serve

The 30th Biennial General Assembly of the Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) is held at the Payap University in Chiang Mai from 21-24 October 2008. Around 400 voting and non-voting delegates, local and international ecumenical guests participated in the assembly. The theme of the assembly "Unity in Mission" calls CCT and its member churches and individual congregations to address the theologically issues and challenges emerging in the national and international contexts.

CCT holds its general assembly once in two years. The new officers and committee members will be elected to serve for the next four-years.

Ecumenical Assemblies

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) will be holding its 13th General Assembly on 15-21 July 2009 in Lyon, France under the theme "Called to One Hope in Christ". The assembly will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the conference. Let us remember this important event in our prayers. Let us also keep Methodist Church in Korea (MCK) in our prayers, as it is holding its Annual Assembly in Seoul from 30-31 October 2008. The assembly will also elect new leaders of the MCK.

Passing away

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines shared with us the sad news from Episcopal Church in the Philippines mourning the passing away of The Most Reverend Richard A. Abellon, its first Prime Bishop.

Bishop Abellon was Chairperson of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines from 1987 to 1990. He was also Chairperson of the Council of the Church in East Asia from 1987 to 1991. Bishop Abellon, 84 years old was called to great service on15 October 2008. Since retirement in 1993, he settled in Nayon, Lamut, Ifugao Province. CCA condoles sincerely with the bereaved family and keeps them in prayers.

Congratulations

On behalf of CCA I extend my warm congratulations to the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM), which held the Ground Breaking Service for its new Ecumenical Center/Headquarter on 9 October 2008 at the CCM land at No. 26 Jalan University, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Let us keep CCM and its ministries in our prayers.

Prawate Khid-arn
General Secretary

No. 44/22 October 2008