The ecumenical movement in Asia is now experiencing general decline in many ways. The decline may be due to factors such as leadership crisis, the proliferation of ecumenical organizations at national and regional levels, increasing denominationalism, lack of ecumenical formation in the younger generation in churches, lack of vision and theological thinking lacking coherence and coordination in our ecumenical work.

With increasing challenges CCA has to demonstrate its leadership in the context of wider ecumenism in Asia. Asian Churches really need the sincere effort toward ecumenical dialogue with all in the ecumenical fraternity especially among all Christian denominations and communities. Ecumenical dialogue should be a permanent and constant effort to overcome these difficulties. Asian experience shows that ecumenism in Asia needs a redefinition and contextualization of issues and trends. The current situation demands to renew our vision for nurturing ecumenism and assume new roles in facilitating and accompanying churches in Asia in order to be responsive to God’s call and to be prophetic witnesses in fragmented societies and communities in Asia. CCA’s aim is to realize this need and to respond systematically through wider ecumenical involvement especially through its members at the grassroots level itself. The need to revitalize the ecumenical vision of Asian churches should be the priority of all those who are concerned with the common witness and future of the ecumenical movement in Asia. Ecumenical bodies should demonstrate a genuine openness and willingness and develop meaningful relations with the churches outside the ecumenical table and bring them to the mainstream of the Asian ecumenical movement.

Against this background CCA will be focusing on giving a new impetus for reviving ecumenism at grassroots level through various programs organized at national and local levels through the active participation and coordination of CCA member churches and ecumenical councils. Activities in this area will include dissemination of ecumenical documents and materials to the local churches; ecumenical solidarity visitations to the member churches and ecumenical councils and provision of ecumenical scholarship to nurture the next generation of ecumenical leaders in Asia.