Preparations underway for the Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly

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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02 April 2026

AEYA-2018 (Manado, Indonesia) Opening Rally/file photo

Chiang Mai, Thailand: Preparations are in full swing for the Christian Conference of Asia’s (CCA) Fifth Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly, which is set to be held from 17 to 21 April 2026 at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The theme of AEYA-2026 is “Break Every Yoke”.

This landmark gathering will bring together about 200 youth leaders representing CCA member churches, national councils of churches, and ecumenical youth organisations from across Asia and beyond.

As the fifth major ecumenical youth assembly in CCA’s 70-year journey, AEYA–2026 continues a rich legacy of nurturing ecumenical vision, theological reflection, and transformative leadership among young Christians in Asia.

The Assembly seeks to provide a dynamic platform for young people to reflect on how they may faithfully respond to God’s mission amidst the complex social, political, economic, cultural, and ecological realities shaping contemporary Asia.

Outlining the objectives of the Asian youth summit, CCA General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara highlighted that, through the overarching theme “Break Every Yoke” (Isaiah 58:6), AEYA–2026 will explore the various forms of “yokes” that burden young people today, including economic hardship, unemployment, forced migration, climate crisis, political instability, mental health struggles, social media pressures, and systemic injustice. 

“AEYA-2026 will be an opportunity for young Asian ecumenists to look deeper into the biblical call to justice, liberation, and restoration as central to Christian discipleship and public witness. It will also provide opportunities for networking, mutual learning, and articulating a shared vision for justice, peace, and unity in Asia”, added the CCA General Secretary.

The five-day programme will feature a rich combination of thematic addresses, panel discussions, Bible studies, and youth-led dialogues, alongside contextual and creative expressions of faith. Participants will also engage in common worship, spiritual reflection, and intercultural fellowship, including participation in local church services across Chiang Mai and a cultural evening celebrating the diversity of Asian traditions.