Press Release

August 13, 2002

CCA celebrates 45 years

After 45 years of Asian ecumenism, what is new?

The Christian Conference of Asia reflected on this question during the recently held International Symposium on New Ecumenism held in celebration of its 45^th anniversary on August 6-8, 2002 in Hong Kong.

In his sermon during the anniversary service on Aug. 7, CCA General Secretary Ahn Jae Woong explained the need for "New Ecumenism" as a way of reclaiming the radical meaning of the essence of ecumenism.

"By radical meaning I mean a much wider meaning than our too often narrow one -- which is about people, especially the Christians, and, sometimes, the Protestant Christians only." He called for expanding "our outlook from being inward-looking within our own Christian family to being outward-looking to others who are our neighbours and part of God's own family."

"The true meaning of fullness of life has to do with living meaningfully and harmoniously together with all our neighbours, sharing resources together, caring for each other, working together for the common good and for the common security. Facilitating this meaningful sharing of life in its fullness is a vital task of the ecumenical movement," he said.

The anniversary celebration was planned to be a time to reflect on the past, the present and the future of the regional ecumenical movement in Asia.

Three keynote addresses were presented at the symposium bringing the perspectives of an American theologian, a layman and former general secretary of the CCA (then East Asia Christian Conference), and a laywoman and a current CCA president. Two Asian panels brought together voices from Asia with various perspectives -- theology, local congregations, higher education, Roman Catholic, civil society, youth, and women.

Dr. Harvey Cox from Harvard Divinity School asserted that the original purpose of the ecumenical movement has remained: "To enable the whole church to bring the whole Gospel to the whole world." But the understanding of each has broadened. In view of the increasing religious plurality, he said there is a need for Christians in the West to hear the "wisdom and counsel of our brothers and sisters in Asia."

Dr. U Kyaw Than, former general secretary of the East Asia Christian Conference recalled that the quest for Christian unity in Asia always transcended denominationalism. It was influenced by the churches' discovery of selfhood and the Asian peoples' realization of national selfhood. The growing independence movement also meant a time of collective discovery of Asia, not only in a geographical sense but also in social, economic and political senses. Yet, early on, concern for religious plurality was clear as shown by a 1959 statement: "It is evident that religious liberty involves acceptance of the plurality of religions in most nations, and Christians should not in the name of religious freedom claim any right or privilege which they are not willing to grant to others."

Speaking on the ecumenical movement of the future, Dr. Wong Wai Ching, professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong and a CCA president, addressed the irony of the dream to be one and the reality of increasing diversity. The globalized world is never one for it consists of many localities and different self-defined communities. The task is to cultivate ways to live together as communities of difference, she pointed out. Issuing the need for negotiating unity in a plural world, she offered, among other things, the image of Jesus as a wanderer -- ready to "venture outside of our comfortably stable and fixed territory and meet the others in their 'homes.'

Two panels by Asian speakers brought together different perspectives on ecumenism.

Taking the perspective of the local congregations, Rev. Eric So, general secretary of the Hong Kong Christian Council, spoke of the need to overcome denominationalism and the self-centered outlook of churches through the reminder that every local congregation is not the church but a member of the Body of Christ, which is called to take part in mutual care, mutual help, and mutual cooperation.

Sr. Virginia Fabella, a Maryknoll sister from the Philippines, shared some ecumenical attempts of the Roman Catholic Church, including Pope John Paul II's 1995 encyclical and some post-Vatican II developments which allude to wider ecumenism or stewardship of all creation; or macro ecumenism or vocation towards unity between Christian denominations and all religions. However, Sr. Virginia pointed out, no matter how ecumenism is called (wider, macro, new), there can be no true unity unless women are taken seriously.

Dr. David Suh, executive director of the Asian Christian Higher Education Institute, called for expanding interreligious dialogue and understanding by creating Asian solidarity movement with major Asian religious communities to fight "terrorist wars against terror" and to work toward peace with justice. He also called for improving relationships with intellectual communities in Asia through contextualization of theological education and training of younger leaders through a roving institute for Asian ecumenical leaders.

Sharing some theological perspectives on ecumenism, Dr. K M George, principal of the Orthodox Theological Seminary in India, cited the need to tone down the universalistic notions of theology and mission undergirding the work of the churches and the ecumenical movement. There is also the need to carry out the ecumenical agenda more in local and regional levels, and minimally in global level.

Using the experience of the National Christian Council in Japan, Rev. Kenichi Otsu, NCCJ General Secretary, shared the perspective of civil society by pointing to the need for ecumenism to be contextual, issue-oriented, based on the need for unity and equality even in diversity. This is something that the church, often a small minority in many Asian societies, can do effectively together with civil society groups.

The voice of youth and students was brought by Wong Yock Leng, women's coordinator of the World Student Christian Federation Asia Pacific Region, who spoke of current efforts of youth and student groups in Asia towards working together on various issues, including the formation of a new structure called EASY Net (Ecumenical Asia-Pacific Student and Youth Network). She said that there is more strength and courage when working together, more resources can be shared, and we can live out the spirit and essence of Christianity.

Dr. Rose Wu, director of the Hong Kong Christian Institute, brought the perspective of women by reminding churches that only when a space of negotiation and dialogue is created to enable the voice of the different Other to be heard can the old and oppressive relationships be transformed into more equal and just relationships.

The international symposium began with worship during which Bishop Joseph Mar Irenaeus, Suffragan Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church and a CCA president, shared a homily. The second and the third days opened with Bible study in the context of worship, led respectively by Rev. David Gill, pastor of Kowloon Union Church, and Ms. Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz-Duremdes, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

Small group discussions were built around the keynote addresses, panels and Bible studies to give participants time to share and contribute to the formulation of new thinking, new perspectives, new directions and new commitments in the ecumenical movement.

The symposium was also a time to celebrate the songs and music of Asia by using and giving copies of the CCA hymnal, Sound the Bamboo, to all participants.

by Hope S. Antone