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Christian Conference of Asia
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Welcome Message of the CCA General Secretaryat the opening of the 50th Anniversary International Symposium: Journeying together as communities of peace for allof the Christian Conference of Asia 4-7 March 2007, Parapat, Indonesia Sisters and brothers in Christ, Amazing! We are now in Parapat. This is the birthplace of Christian Conference of Asia, and I want to thank you for making us from various countries, various corners of the world feel right at home. It is indeed a pleasure to assemble here today for the 50th Anniversary International Symposium: Journeying together as communities of peace for all. On behalf of officers, committee members, member churches and councils, I extend my sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to sisters and brothers from the Catholic churches, the Pentecostal and other denominations & the CCA member churches who have joined us here. We wish to recognize and acknowledge the sincere efforts of the members of the local organizing committee and for the efficient and well-ordered arrangements. It was here in Parapat on 17-26 March 1957 that Asian churches leaders, young and old, women and men, clergy and lay decided to establish East Asia Christian Conference for the unity of Asian churches. We are now commemorating the 50th Anniversary of this establishment and are indeed blessed to have your presence with us on this occasion. May the love and blessings of the Lord be upon you all. For the first 50 years, Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) has been buffeted by the tumultuous changes of the new era, doing good work in many instances but falling short in others. Now, this International Symposium: Journey together as communities of peace for all offers us and churches an unparalleled opportunity to reshape the CCA well into the new jubilee, enabling it to make a real and measurable difference to people’s lives. Over the years, the issues of primary concern to the CCA have remained fairly constant: Asian theological education, church and society, Christ and cultures, freedom, democracy, gender equity, people’s struggle and human rights, natural calamities, and many other socio-economic questions. Thus the key agenda items for the First Conference in 1957 “the Common Evangelistic Task of the Churches in East Asia” affirmed the role of churches to become God’s instrument for the better world. It was described by Dr. D.T. Niles, the founding member and first General Secretary, who laid down the ecumenical mission that “the churches in Asia accept that they belong to one another and are willing increasingly to live a shared life”. We today continue living in a divided global society. What are the challenges facing Christianity in the 21st century? Who are the leaders whose voices need to be heard? What churches and individuals—known and unknown, small and large—are models for faithfulness and effectiveness for the upcoming generation? We now face an urgent need to secure the freedom of future generations to sustain their lives in the world. Changing this is a challenge for the Church today. No shift in the way we think and act can be more critical than this: we must put people as God’s people at the centre of everything we do. No responsibility greater than that of enabling women, men and youth to make the world’s peace and livable place for all. In today’s uncertain world, there are no easy answers to these new challenges. They demand innovative approaches, sustained commitment and closest possible cooperation between churches and each and every one of us. We must make God’s mission visible. We must do more than talk about our future. We must start to create it now. Let the jubilee symposium and celebration signal the renewed commitment of each every one of us, by agreeing on our common vision. Let us prove this commitment by acting on it as soon as we return home. And now, with great pleasure, I welcome you all again to the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Christian Conference of Asia. I would like to wish all those involved, and especially delegates, a most fruitful and memorable Symposium and an enjoyable stay in Parapat. May God’s peace be with you. Thank you. posted by cbs on Monday, March 12, 2007 |
