Training in Theological Affirmation on Good Governance and Transperency

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

No preference updated.

23 February 2024

Dili, Timor Leste: national-level training programme on ‘Christian Theology on Good Governance and Transparency’ participants 2024

Dili, Timor Leste: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), along with its member church in Timor Leste, the Igreja Protestante iha Timor Lorosa’e (IPTL), jointly organised a national-level training programme on ‘Christian Theology on Good Governance and Transparency’.

The training programme, which was attended by over 40 pastors, evangelists, lay leaders, and youth leaders hailing from five districts, was held from 19 to 23 February 2024 at the IPTL Synod Headquarters in the capital city of Dili. 

Employing modules developed by the CCA on good governance and stewardship, the programme was contextualised for the specific needs of the CCA’s member church in Timor Leste, the IPTL.

Rev. Levi Vasconcelos Pinto, CCA Executive Committee member and Secretary of the IPTL’s Theological Learning Centre, said, “Good governance is central for the church, and good stewardship is the responsibility given by God to humankind. It is hoped that this training programme and formation will enable the congregation leaders of the IPTL to play greater roles in their local communities.”

“Co-organising this programme with the CCA demonstrates the IPTL’s commitment to being more accountable, transparent, and effective in carrying out our mission in sustainable and productive ways,” added Rev. Pinto. 
Key sessions facilitated by the CCA included ‘Biblical Foundations of Good Governance and Stewardship’, ‘Church as Christian Organisation and Analysis of Resources’, ‘Models of Christian Leadership, Ensuring Accountability and Monitoring Mechanisms’, and ‘Resources and Assets Management’. 

Other themes discussed included ‘Church and Good Governance in the Synodal System’, ‘Leadership and Policy in Service’, ‘Theological and Philosophical Bases and Applications in Church Systems’, ‘Managing Church Finances’, and ‘Church Resource Management and Diakonia’. 

Sharing feedback on the programme, Rev. Pinto from the IPTL stated, “The biblical foundations of good governance have inspired us to reimagine our calling, pay serious attention to our experiences, and appreciate the resources we have. Although we may face problems relating to the management of assets and resources, we have learnt that being stewards is not the job of pastors alone but is the responsibility of the whole community.”

For more photos (Photo Gallery), please click here: Dili, Timor Leste: national-level training programme on ‘Christian Theology on Good Governance and Transparency’ 2024