Against a backdrop of diversities and differences in the world’s biggest multi-cultural continent, members of the Christian Conference of Asia are “called to prophesy, reconcile and heal” during its 13th General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur.
“Deep-seated differences over political and economic systems, ethnicity, gender, religion/beliefs and cultural traditions have prevented (Asian) countries from seeking and working towards a
shared destiny,” said outgoing CCA general secretary Prawate Khid-arn.
CCA is a regional ecumenical body of close to a hundred member churches and 16 National Councils, the largest ecumenical organization representing different Christian denominations.
Like other upbeat ecumenical leaders in the region, Prawate hopes and prays that this Assembly’s theme will help the over 380 delegates and guests to address the various issues of Asian peoples
“crying out for justice, peace and a sustainable society.”
The Malaysian national capital was chosen as the Assembly’s venue for good reasons. “Malaysia is a microcosm of Asia,” said the Rev.
Dr. Thomas Philips and Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri of the Council of Churches in Malaysia in a statement.
Although men still dominate the meeting, women are a growing voice in this ecumenical exercise. The voting delegates’ gender ratio,
for example, is 63 percent men as against 37 percent women.
The youth are also an emerging force. Under the voting delegate category representation, 21 percent represents both male and female youth; 21 percent, women; nine percent, lay; and the
clergy, 47 percent.
With the theme, the delegates will plan the direction and programme priorities of CCA in “accompanying the churches in responding to
situations of injustice and conflicts that affect millions of people in many parts of Asia,” also said CCA in a statement.
Maurice Malanes - Berita Terkini CCA 2010 Day 1
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