Asian Context

Dramatic changes have been taking place in Asia’s social, economic, political, development arena. Asian countries are confronting emerging issues, which affect the lives of millions of people. Ethnic conflicts and communal violence raise their ugly heads; militarisation is increasing in several Asian countries; human rights of people have been systematically violated; religious fundamentalism threatens the basic fabric of secular democracy; peace and security is in danger due to the increasing arms race and arms trade.

Peace and security in Asia is threatened by increasing conflicts and intra-state and inter-state conflicts. The situation in the Korean Peninsula, the revised U.S-Japan Security guidelines, the tension between China and Taiwan, the dispute over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, the Visiting Forces Agreement of the U.S and the Republic of the Philippines and its impact; the Indo-Pakistan conflicts over Kashmir, are serious international issues. Peace and Reconciliation efforts in East Timor, Indonesia, Cambodia, Philippines and in the Chittagong Hills of Bangladesh are of great concern. Ethnic conflicts and civil war in Sri Lanka and Philippines, Indonesia, political unrest and human rights violations in Nepal, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, rising religious fundamentalism in India and Nepal (Hindus), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, (Muslims), Sri Lanka and Myanmar (Budhists), miniaturization of politics and society in Pakistan, intensification of militarisation and human rights violations in the Philippines and the impact of the Asian economic crisis have also been recent trends and are of great concern.

The increasing number of number of refugees and internally displaced people, and the human rights of millions of migrant workers from different Asian countries scattered in the so called developed countries in Asia and Middle East have also been troubling issues in recent times.

The negative impact of globalization and economic liberalization add more miseries to the people. The development model premised on a liberalized, deregulated, privatized and market oriented economy where economic growth is viewed as the ultimate goal. The principal mechanisms and strategies for application of this model are imposed by international financial and trade agencies.

Poverty, unemployment and social disintegration are increasing, as are illiteracy and malnutrition. A vast number of children are deprived of a real childhood and are denied opportunities to develop their full human potential because they are subjected to child labor. Gender justice continues to be threatened.

In the social and cultural sphere, we witness the destruction of communities and the indigenous values preserved within the collective wisdom of the people. Sex tourism is being promoted in developing countries. Trafficking of women and children is increasing. HIV/AIDS is fast spreading in several Asian countries and becoming a threat to the life of the people. Both rural and urban people, and especially farmers and agricultural laborers, are vulnerable to the assault on natural environment and the destruction of fragile eco-system.

Asia today is confronting various socio-economic and political issues, which are a serious concern for the Asian ecumenical movement.

Our Vision and Thrust

The emerging trends in Asia remind the Asian ecumenical movement of the need to address the issues related to international affairs, human rights and peace and conflict resolutions in Asia from the ecumenical platform.

The 11^th General Assembly held in Tomohon, Indonesia in June 2000 had as its theme "Time for fullness of life for all." The vision of the programs on Justice, International Affairs, Development & Service (JID) is one that looks towards an Asian society in which the fullness of God’s creation is experienced by all. Thus it is a vision of Asian society that is just, peaceful, civil, interdependent, and one that cares for all of God’s creation. It is a peace based on responding to people’s security as against national security. It is a peace resulting from reconciled peoples, reconciled communities and reconciled nations.

The implementation of this vision therefore will point towards those ways of being Christian, which are both prophetic and allow the fullness of God’s spirit to be experienced. The programs therefore will be important not only in terms of their content but also in the ways in which they are carried out. The quality of content and of process will be regarded as essential.

Drawing from the past experience in ecumenical response in Asian contexts, the CCA Joint Program Committees Meeting, which met in Bangkok 2001, recommended seven major concerns to be carried by the CCA-JID for the next five years, 2001-2005:

• Human Rights
• Peace and Conflict Resolution
• Church and State Relation, Arms Race and Militarization
• Indochina and the Mekong Sub-region Concern
• Globalisation and Sustainable Development
• Migrant Workers, Refugees and Internally Displaced People
• Ecology and Environmental Concerns
• Health, Healing and Wholeness (HIV/AIDS)

The Committee also emphasized the significance of the CCA-UN/ESCAP Joint Program, existed for over two decades.

Our Strategies

The strategy is that the committee set the policy and the executive staff implement it within the framework of the circumstances pertaining during the period to 2005, always in the local context of serving the member churches and those among whom they minister. Their voice must be that of service, but it also must be prophetic.

We are also aware that CCA as an instrument of the churches in Asia must understand its function "to help churches in the region and equip them for mission at the national and local levels and also to help them face the challenges of their societies."

Participation and contribution of member churches

The following issues are regarded as essential for the mutual ownership of the CCA:

1. The committee is of the opinion that executive staff should be encouraged to interact proactively with national churches and council of churches in the selection of participants in consultations, seminars and training courses.
   
2. The issue of ownership of the CCA is regarded as critical at this time. The expression of this in terms of contributions needs to be enhanced by a variety of approaches, and these could include:

• Special responsibility by specific countries for specific programs, for example, through adoption or sponsorship
• Greater contact between executive staff and member churches
• Content and presentation of programs to be related to the central needs of churches
• Members of the committee enhancing their member churches’ ownership of CCA
• Identification of contributing congregations
• Offerings from Asia Sunday throughout the CCA to be contributed to CCA
• Involvement of congregations in the programs and activities of CCA
• Fostering ownership of the CCA by encouraging all parishioners to give U.S.10 cents per annum to the cause to overcome violence.
• Setting up "Friends of CCA" at a local level

Bishop Elmer Matos Bolocon (Philippines)
Ms. Lee Hyun Sook (Korea)
Mr. Farrukh Marvin Pervez (Pakistan)
Ms. Mariene Naomi Belinda Sigar (Indonesia)
Rev. Toshimasa Yamamoto (Japan)
Mr. Albert Lin (Taiwan)
Mr. Sok Soyandy (Cambodia)
Rev. Dr. Pa Sang (Myanmar)
Mr. Robert Robin Marandi (Bangladesh)
Mr. Saykham Singithiphon (Lao DPR)
Rt. Rev. Dr. Subramaniam Jebanesan (Sri Lanka)
Ms. Rachel Maris Woodhouse (Aotearoa-New Zealand)
Mr. Samuel Marcal (East Timor)