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 2nd General Assembly of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) was successfully ended last November 19, 2008. It was held at the Grand Hotel Palazzo Carprgns in Rome, Italy.

About 120 participants representing member organizations, staffs and observers were presented to share.

The assembly has made important decisions included:

Important! The EAA is looking for a new “Executive Director” as Ms Linda Hartke is going to complete her assignment in September 2009. The job description and the application and more information can be found at: http://www.e-alliance.ch/execdiesearch. Inquiries and applications are to be sent to: execdiesearch@e-alliance.ch. The application deadline is February 28, 2009.

The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, created in 2000, is a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations committed to joint advocacy on HIV and AIDS and food. The two strategy groups guide each of the two campaigns. Member organizations come from Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical and Orthodox traditions. The Alliance is governed by a Board of Director an Association under the Swiss law. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, see http://www.e-alliance.ch/

South Asia Women Leadership Capacity Building Training

A joint CCA-SAEPP-CNI South Asia Women Leadership Capacity Building Training was successfully organized last week from November 17-22, 2008 in India. 

Rev. Vinod Victor, SAEPP Coordinator, and Ms. Moumita Biswas, Joint Executive Secretary for CCA-EGY sent a brief new said that the program went very well. Thirty-five (35) women from the six South Asian countries including five from Pakistan participated in this exciting event.

The CNI did all that was possible to make it a memorable event. Sudiptha Sing the Director of programs was present throughout the event (a full report is being prepared).

Role of the Church and Christian Organization in Society

On behalf of CCA, I welcomed participants at the seminar on Role of the Church and Christian Organization in Society. The seminar was organized by the Swedish Mission Council at the Belle Villa Resort in Chiang Mai, Thailand from November 24-28, 2008.

Forty participants from 8 countries include Sweden are invited to learn and reflect together on church’s mission in the new global changing contexts; how the church responds to the life crises of the people in Asia.

During the seminar, participants also learn various songs from the CCA hymnal book. The coordinator even brought copies for each participant. We wish them a successful seminar. 

Sad News

It is with great shock and sadness that we have received the news that Bishop Julius D. Paul, 63, is dead, drowned with two others when their boat capsized at Lake Atitlán, Sololá, Guatemala. He was in Guatemala City for two weeks to attend the Lutheran World Federation Meeting.

Bishop Paul was the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia, and the CCA General Committee from 2000-2004.

We give thanks to God for the life and witness of Bishop Paul, and we send our special prayers and condolences to the family, friends, and church of Bishop Paul in Malaysia and elsewhere.

CCA in Action (November/December) 

24-28 November: An International Ecumenical Workshop on Rights of Migrant Workers in Asia, Pakistan (JID), contact person: Rev. Freddy de Alwis, freddy@cca.org.hk

24-29 November: Church and Seminaries Consultation for South East Asia, Philippines (FMU), contact person: Dr. Hope Antone, hope@cca.org.hk

3-7 December: Pastoral team visit to India, contact person: Mr. Charlie Ocampo, charlie@cca.org.hk

Prawate Khid-arn
General Secretary

No. 48/27 November 2008