“To lead, you may need to suffer,” says Metropolitan Yakob Mar Elias to young seminarians at CCA workshop

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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29 May 2025

Chennai, India: Emphasising the ethos and values of servanthood leadership in pastoral ministry, His Grace Yakob Mar Elias, Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, addressed young seminarians in South India with the reminder: “To lead, you may need to suffer.” 

Delving deep into the theological foundation of Christian leadership, the thematic address was delivered by Metropolitan Mar Elias of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Drawing from various biblical passages, he reminded the participants that “leadership is not about privilege or position, but about servanthood, grace, sacrifice, and participation in Christ’s suffering in being God’s stewards in pastoral ministry.”

As part of its ongoing series of national workshops held across Asian countries, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), in collaboration with the Inter Church Service Association (ICSA), is currently conducting a three-day national-level workshop on “Good Governance, Stewardship, and Integrity Leadership in Parish Ministry” from 28 to 30 May 2025 at the ICSA Paripurna Centre in Chennai, India.

The workshop has brought together 20 final-year theological students from institutions affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College (University), representing various churches across southern India.

The CCA General Secretary, Dr Mathews George Chunakara, in his opening address, outlined the objectives of the workshop and CCA’s aim to equip emerging leaders in parish ministry with theological, ethical, and practical tools helpful for good governance, stewardship, and integrity leadership in pastoral ministry.

Metropolitan Mar Elias spoke on the concept of theosis (divine participation), stressing that pastoral ministry is not achieved by merit but by grace. Citing biblical figures such as David, Paul, and Christ himself, he elaborated on leadership qualities rooted in repentance, kenosis (self-emptying), and a willingness to carry the cross in daily ministry. He also reflected on the tension between “greed and need,” and the urgent necessity for biblical economics in the Church that prioritises harmony over the accumulation of money.

Further sessions included a presentation by Dr Moses P. Manohar on the need for integrity and ethical leadership within Indian churches.

Bishop Sharma Nithyanandam of the Church of South India (CSI) shared five pivotal foundations of biblical governance: Justice, Integrity, Upbuilding, Vision, and Creativity, framing stewardship not merely in administrative terms, but as a divine vocation of service. “Power is safe only in the hands of those who are humble and those who have integrity while leading the Church,” said the Bishop of the CSI Vellore Diocese to the prospective pastors and priests. 

Dr Mathews George Chunakara, who explored various leadership models in ecclesial traditions, underscored the urgency of recovering the servant-leadership model rooted in Christ’s example.

"While the Church has flourished into an illustrious and influential institution today, it is also facing a predicament of confusion and crisis. In this context, Jesus’ teaching on servanthood leadership serves as a guiding principle for present-day leaders in the Church," added the CCA General Secretary.

The workshop continues over the next two days with sessions on conflict resolution in church administration, integrity leadership and pastoral witness, and contextual discussions on church management.

For more photos of Day 1 of the National Workshop, please click here (photo gallery)