Former CCA President Manju Baroi passes away

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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20 May 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Manju Baroi, a former President of the Christian Conference of Asia (2005-2010) and a member of the Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha, passed away in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Monday, 18 May 2026.

Ms Baroi was actively involved in the ecumenical movement in various capacities in Bangladesh and the Asia region. She served as Moderator of the Women’s Commission of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh (NCCB), a member of the Asian Church Women’s Conference (ACWC) Committee, and a member of the CCA Women’s Programme Committee.

Ms Baroi was also the Principal of the YWCA Higher Secondary Girls School in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Paying tribute to Manju Baroi’s life and legacy, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara said, “Ms Manju Baroi’s life reflected humility, compassion, and faithful service. Through her gentle spirit, wisdom, and commitment to the ecumenical movement, she instilled hope in countless young women in Bangladesh and taught them the value of living with dignity.”

Recalling his association with Manju Baroi and her late husband, Thomas Baroi, over several decades, Dr Chunakara stated that the couple led a life of graciously rendering service to people facing difficult situations. “Manju Baroi’s leadership within the Christian Conference of Asia and her commitment to women’s empowerment and Christian unity will always be remembered with gratitude and respect by generations,” he added.

The CCA General Secretary extended heartfelt condolences and offered prayers to the bereaved family members and friends of Manju Baroi.