Doing Theologies in the Context of Wider Ecumenism in Asia

The Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS) initiated by CCA in 1997 has been able to create certain ripples over the years in stimulating innovative theological thinking among younger Asian theologians as well as trying to seek and create a theological community that would bring together various theological movements and associations of theological education, as well as individual theologians.  Over the years through this significant work through CATS, the CCA has been able to promote and enhance a cooperative process of theological studies and reflection among committed Asian theologians who are prepared to deal with critical Asian issues as part of the Asian theological agenda. While each CATS has helped to vitalize, facilitate and foster a cross-fertilization of theological insights and studies among Asian theologians from various Asian contexts, it has also served and assisted Asian Christian communities and people in witnessing the Gospel among intellectual and religious communities through academic studies and existential reflection of theological issues in the Asian context. Further, it has been assisting in deepening the theological foundations of the ecumenical movement in Asia and in developing a new Asian ecumenical vision.

CATS has been recognized as an instrument facilitated and coordinated by CCA helping to assist in locating present and future ecumenically committed leaders for Asian Churches and in providing ways and means to equip and nurture them. It was also instrumental in providing avenues for participating in the ongoing studies and discussions of the wider international ecumenical theological community and make a distinctive Asian contribution to them. With a keen need to articulate Asian theologies more clearly and sharply, to cultivate new methodologies of doing theology in the Asian context, and to polish the academic and professional training for developing Asian theological scholarship, the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has initiated a prominent role in developing and promoting the Asian theological agenda in the Asian ecumenical movement through the Congress of Asian Theologians.

Following CATS I held in Suwon, Korea in 1997, CATS II was held in Bangalore, India in 1999; CATS III in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2001, CATS IV in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2003 and CATS V in Hong Kong in 2006. CATS VI was held in Iloilo City, Philippines in February 2009. CATS VII in Seoul, Korea in June 2012. The next, CATS VIII, will be held under the theme of “Doing Asian Theologies in the Context of God’s Oikos”.

CATS VIII: Doing Theologies in the Context of Wider Ecumenism in Asia

Asia with its ancient cultures, heritage, diversity and richness, seems to have lost its soul, as modernization and technological development reject traditional values. Poverty, human rights violations, terrorism, religious fundamentalism, discrimination against minorities with women and children as primary victims; authoritarian regimes and domination of nations over others;  environmental challenges; information and technological change and transformation in almost all aspects of societal life in Asia, continue to polarize and divide Asian people and countries. Churches and ecumenical movements are challenged by these events that traumatize people causing severe mental and physical stress, leading to a gradual alienation from spirituality. These situations in Asia warrant ecumenical responses and churches’ participation in responding to such crucial issues as part of the prophetic witness and mission. It is indeed a fact that, the ecumenical movement in Asia is in a state of general decline in many ways due to factors such as leadership crisis, increasing denominationalism, lack of ecumenical formation in the younger generation in churches, lack of vision and theological thinking.

It is in this background that the churches are encouraged to look for new paradigms and models of wider ecumenical engagements through 3 CATS programs, over the next five years, that aims to

• provide ecumenical space for Asian theologians to meet in fellowship, to deliberate on the theological vision, mission and priorities that CCA should be engaged in the next five-year period;
• promote a cooperative process of study, analysis and reflection among committed Asia theologians in order to deal with critical Asian issues;
• foster collaboration in articulating and promoting relevant Asian contextual theologizing among theologians, theological movements and institutions of theological education; and
• provide a platform for professional update, sharing of experience, reflection on current issues, and networking among seasoned and younger Asian theologians.