|
Christian Conference of Asia
|
About CCA
Program Clusters: Special Programs:
|
WSCF general assembly
CCA General Secretary Dr Ahn Jae Woong delivering the sermon at the opening worship of the WSCF assembly in Chiang Mai 
WSCF senior friends meeting:From right, Ken Guest, (USA) newly elected chair of the WSCF, Ahn Jae Woong (Hong Kong),Marshal Fernando (Sri Lanka), Philip Mathew (Hong Kong), Taku Kumakiri (Japan) and Glenda Rocas (Philippines) 
Senior friends of the WSCF: From left, Yong Ting Jin (Malaysia) Shin Seung Min, Regional Secretary, (WSCF-AP Region), Michael Wallace, (New Zealand) newly elected Co-General Secretary of the WSCF, Georgia Yam (Australia) and Stephen Hsu (Taiwan) Don�t lose the movement character, ecumenical leader tells WSCF CHIANG MAI, Thailand � As a local choir rendered the Thai traditional hymns, some 175 students, youth and senior friends from across the globe walked into a hall here on 7 August to attend a worship marking the formal opening of the general assembly of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF). The 33rd general assembly on the theme �Talitha Cum! Arise to life in abundance!� (Mark 5:41) gathered participants from Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, North America and Asia-Pacific regions of the WSCF, considered to be the first international student organisation that serves as an ecumenical forum of students across boundaries of culture, race and religion. The WSCF, founded in 1895, comprises Student Christian Movements (SCM) and student ministries in different countries across the world. The participants brought symbols of life and peace from their countries, which they dedicated at the altar during the opening worship. A video film depicting the struggles for life and peace of SCMs in the WSCF Asia-Pacific Region was screened before the opening Korean hymn Ososo Ososo . One of the highlights of the worship was a Thai traditional dance of life and peace by Sawitree Shoji from the local Payap University�s Christian Communication Institute. Dr Ahn Jae Woong, general secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia, in his sermon told the members and senior friends of the WSCF not to loose its movement character. �If it loses its movement character, it is difficult to recover its identity as a movement,� he said. Ahn Jae Woong compared the ecumenical movement with the mustard seed (Mathew 13:31-32) which is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up, it is the biggest of all plants. It becomes a tree, so that birds come and make their nests in its branches. �The mustard seed is life in itself. The seed must sprout and grow up to become a tree. Similarly, the SCM should regenerate its life and work for the Federation. The SCM should grow up with vitality and make the ecumenical movement strong and dynamic,� Ahn, a former staff of the WSCF Asia-Pacific Region, told the gathering. According to him, the ecumenical movement was the smallest of all when it began. But, when it grew up as a movement, when it became a global ecumenical movement, when people got involved in the different kinds of activities and programs within, it took an entirely different image, he told them. He said that the WSCF is a creative movement within the ecumenical community and it has provided direction and leadership for the entire ecumenical movement. While disagreeing with those who made cynical and humiliating remarks about the WSCF that it is dead or it is not visible in the ecumenical movement, Ahn said that it was only sleeping just like the snakes do during winter. �It is only a matter of time when it will rise up again,� he added. As a faith-based social movement, he wanted the SCM to get up from its long slumber and work hard to participate in people�s struggle in the present time. During the worship, the participants witnessed the unveiling of a large banner with messages collected from different regions of the WSCF before it was brought here at the assembly. Among the various objectives of the WSCF is to train and nurture members to advance academically. It also aims to provide them with sound theological insights and help them become ecumenically active in the church. Higher education, globalization, HIV/AIDS, women and gender were some of the issues, which received the attention of the weeklong general assembly, the most representative body of the WSCF. The general assembly, organised once in four years, is a time of global fellowship to strengthen the love and faith to bind the WSCF as a prophetic community and to define policies and programs for the next quadrennium. The last assembly was held in Beirut, Lebanon. It was after 27 years that a WSCF assembly was being organised in Asia. Colombo was the venue of an assembly held in 1977. The assembly also provides an opportunity to worship, build friends across boundaries and share stories of hope and faith. The delegates heard reports from Nana Brew, co-secretary of the WSCF and Chris Ledger, honorary treasurer. The senior friends of the WSCF Asia-Pacific Region met on the second day of the assembly for sharing and discussion. They decided to enlarge the regional Financial Supporting Group from five to seven by including Singapore and Malaysia on it. The meeting also urged the regional WSCF to continue to give high priority to the leadership formation programs. posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 |
