Rev. Dr Rienzie Perera, former CCA Associate General Secretary, 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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03 August 2026

Chiang Mai, Thailand: The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) mourns the demise of Rev. Dr Rienzie Eldred Christopher Perera, former CCA Associate General Secretary for Finance and Relationships (2006–2011), who passed away in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Monday, 3 August 2026. He was 76 years old.

A distinguished Anglican priest, theologian, educator, and ecumenical leader from Sri Lanka, Rev. Dr Perera's ministry spanned more than five decades, during which he contributed significantly to the ecumenical movement at the national, regional, and global levels.

One of Rev. Dr Perera’s early encounters with the Christian Conference of Asia was at the 1977 CCA Assembly in Penang, Malaysia, where he represented the youth participants and was elected to the CCA General Committee.

Throughout his ministry, Rev. Dr Perera made notable contributions to the ecumenical movement, theological education, and Christian witness in Asia. He brought extensive experience and visionary leadership to the CCA and remained committed to advancing unity among churches and promoting justice, peace, and human dignity.

Expressing condolences on behalf of the Christian Conference of Asia, CCA General Secretary Rev. Jung Eun Grace Moon said, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rev. Dr Rienzie Perera, a faithful servant of God and a devoted leader of CCA. He served the Christian Conference of Asia with dedication and a faithful commitment to the ecumenical calling of the Church. His leadership, vision, and pastoral heart touched many lives across Asia, and his legacy will remain with us."

"We give thanks to God for his life and service, and we pray for comfort, strength, and peace for his family, colleagues, and all who mourn this loss,” added Rev. Moon.

Rev. Dr Perera served as General Secretary of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka from 1993 to 1998. In 2013, he became the fourth Archdeacon of Galle in the Church of Ceylon.

He was also the director of the Asian Theological Academy and taught at the Theological College of Lanka in Pilimatalawa, Kandy.

A prominent Asian theologian who articulated Christology from an Asian perspective, Rev. Dr Perera earned a PhD from Union Theological Seminary in New York. He authored numerous articles, Bible studies, and theological reflections focusing on Asian contextual theology, interreligious dialogue, development education, human rights, and social justice.

The mortal remains of Rev. Dr Rienzie Perera will be brought to the Unity Chapel of the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, Colombo, on Thursday, 6 August 2026. The funeral service will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour on Friday, 7 August 2026, from 2:30 p.m.