CCA invites applications for virtual workshop on capacity building of youth leadership in ecumenical diakonia

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.

26 June 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) is inviting applications for the virtual workshop on “Capacity Building of Youth Leadership in Ecumenical Diakonia”, to be held from 5 to 7 August 2026.

Organised under CCA’s Ecumenical Diakonia Network in Asia (EDNA) initiative, this workshop is the first in a series of training and capacity-building programmes aimed at equipping young church leaders and youth engaged in, or aspiring to engage in, diaconal ministries and community engagement across Asia.

Amid growing challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation, social inequalities, forced migration, humanitarian crises, and political instability, churches are called to nurture a new generation of leaders equipped with theological insight, practical skills, and a commitment to ecumenical cooperation to serve vulnerable communities.

The three-day workshop will introduce participants to the biblical, theological, and ecumenical foundations of diakonia, while placing particular emphasis on eco-diakonia, environmental stewardship, climate justice, and community resilience as vital expressions of Christian witness in contemporary Asia.

Through presentations, case studies, theological reflections, and interactive discussions, participants will explore how churches can engage in transformative diaconal ministry that responds to ecological, social, and humanitarian challenges.

The workshop will also provide opportunities for networking and mutual learning among youth leaders from CCA member churches, member councils, and ecumenical organisations in the region.

Applications are invited from young leaders aged 21 to 35 who are recommended and endorsed by a CCA member church, member council, or partner ecumenical organisation.

Selection will be based on the applicant’s involvement in church and community ministries, commitment to ecumenical engagement and diaconal service, and consideration of gender balance and regional representation.

Applications should be submitted online via Google Forms: Application Form Virtual Workshop on Capacity Building of Youth Leadership in Ecumenical Diakonia

The deadline for submitting completed applications is 12 July 2026.

For further information, please refer to the Background Information and the Workshop Schedule

For queries, please contact: [email protected]