Asian churches called to nurture people-centred grassroots ecumenism and move beyond denominational interests

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).

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01 June 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Delivering the thematic address on “Changing Ecclesial Landscapes and Challenges to the Asian Ecumenical Movement” on the first day of the International Consultation on Ecumenism in Asia: Emerging Ecclesial and Ecumenical Landscapes, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara stressed that Asian churches must strengthen ecclesial unity amid diversity by moving beyond denominational interests and nurturing a people-centred, grassroots ecumenism.

More than 70 church and ecumenical leaders from across Asia, Europe and North America, are attending the international consultation at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Dr Mathews George Chunakara examined how the shift of Christianity’s “centre of gravity” from Europe and North America to the Global South has made Asia a major hub of Christian mission. This transformation has been marked by the rapid expansion of evangelical, Pentecostal, charismatic, independent, and non-denominational churches, as well as para-church groups and movements.

He noted that new forms of Christian community are flourishing alongside traditional churches, reflecting profound changes in Asia’s ecclesial landscape shaped by migration, urbanisation, demographic shifts, and evolving patterns of religious affiliation. However, this growth has not translated into greater Christian unity. Instead, increasing denominationalism, promoted by agendas of some mission agencies, has resurfaced in Asia, creating parallel ecumenical structures and institutional networks that serve particular interests and weaken the ecumenical movement.

The CCA General Secretary identified the erosion of ecclesial unity and ecumenical commitment as a central challenge.

Dr Chunakara described the emergence of “ecumenical archipelagos” in Asia, where competing networks and structures, often supported by non-Asian mission agencies, operate independently of existing ecumenical frameworks. Rather than strengthening cooperation, these developments risk fragmenting the ecumenical movement and undermining its coherence, coordination, and collective witness.

Within this context, Dr Chunakara stressed that ecumenism must be understood as more than institutional dialogue or occasional cooperation among church leaders. It encompasses reconciliation, justice, peacebuilding, prophetic witness, service, and common mission. He emphasised that ecumenism requires both a theological commitment to the visible unity of the Church and practical collaboration to address the challenges facing society and creation.

He also pointed to a crisis of conciliarity and ecumenical commitment within the churches. “Many churches increasingly prioritise institutional interests, denominational identities, and organisational visibility over broader Christian fellowship. This trend is compounded by a lack of ecumenical vision among some church leaders, declining interest in ecumenical formation among younger generations, and insufficient commitment to strengthening relationships across local, national, regional, and global levels”, said the CCA General Secretary.

“The greatest challenge facing Asian Christianity today is not numerical growth but maintaining unity amid diversity. At a time when churches are increasingly diverse yet often divided, it is imperative to strengthen our common witness through cooperation, solidarity, and shared action. The path forward lies in cultivating a grassroots ecumenism that transcends denominational boundaries and enables all God’s people to participate in the vision of Christian unity, reconciliation, and common mission”, stated Dr Chunakara. 

Rev. Dr Henriette Huttabarat-Lebang, President of the World Council of Churches, moderated the session.

The international consultation is being organised as a prelude to CCA's Platinum Jubilee in 2027. The consultation will continue until 3 June 2026.