CCA workshop facilitators remind pastoral ministry candidates to be leaders with integrity and guardians of good governance
Colombo, Sri Lanka: The South Asia Regional Workshop on “Good Governance, Integrity Leadership, and Stewardship in Parish Ministry”, organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), underscored the importance of integrating good governance practices into pastoral ministry. Facilitators offered theological insights to equip prospective ministers of various churches to serve as leaders with integrity and as guardians of stewardship within their future ministries.
The four-day workshop, held from 30 August to 3 September 2025 at the Ecumenical Institute for Study and Dialogue (EISD) in Colombo, brought together 22 final-year theological students from seminaries and theological colleges in South Asia. The workshop provided a platform for engaging discussions, interactive learning, and peer networking among young theological minds preparing for pastoral and ecclesial leadership.
Among the workshop facilitators, Rev. S. J. Kathiresapillai of the Methodist Church in Sri Lanka, in a biblical theological reflection, urged participants “not to yield to the powers of this world, for we serve the most powerful divine God; as His stewards, we are called to shepherd His flock during our time of service on Earth.”
Rev. Fr. Andrew Devadasan of the Church of Ceylon, in his session on Integrity in Church Finance: Accountability and Transparency, underscored the vital connection between spiritual leadership and the financial responsibilities entrusted to a parish priest or presbyter.
Rev. Nadarajah Arulnathan, Principal of the Theological College of Lanka, facilitated two sessions: Pastoral Leadership and Conflict Resolution in Church Administration and Strategic Planning and Managing Church Resources with Integrity. He emphasised that “pastoral leadership must always be exercised with wisdom, patience, and accountability.”
He reminded the pastoral candidates that conflicts within congregations should not be seen as failures of pastors, but as opportunities to initiate and facilitate processes of reconciliation, healing, and renewed commitment to witness. On managing church resources, he stressed that doing so with integrity “is not simply an administrative matter, but part of our discipleship and obedience to God, and our faithful response to God’s trust.”
Rev. Malitha Andrady, a young Baptist theologian, reflected on Pastoral Shepherding and Witness in the Digital Space. He raised critical ethical and theological questions about the rise of Artificial Intelligence and robotic technologies, cautioning that while such developments may eventually transform ministry practices, they can never replace the spiritual and relational dimensions of human pastoral presence.
In a session on “Pastoral Ministry in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities”, Rev. Ramesh Schaffter, a non-stipendiary minister of the Church of Ceylon, reflected on both the challenges and the unique opportunities available to today’s pastors, urging that they be addressed with creativity and faithfulness.
Drawing on his long years of leadership in the church and in ecumenical organisations, he highlighted the importance of wider ecumenical cooperation to ensure that the Church remains relevant to the lived realities of its communities.
Rev. Ebenezer Joseph emphasised that good governance in churches is not merely an internal administrative matter, but also a vital expression of the Church’s public witness and prophetic voice.
John Paul Devakumar, CCA’s Programme Staff and coordinator of the workshop, stated at the closing that participants’ responses indicated the sessions had provided them with new theological insights to serve as God’s stewards in church, society and the wider community.
The workshop concluded with a renewed commitment among participants to embody integrity, accountability, and faithful stewardship in their future ministries.
