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Christian Conference of Asia
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29 September 2012
Letter of Solidarity
To:
CCA Member Churches and Council in Pakistan
Church of Pakistan Presbyterian Church of Pakistan National Council of Churches in Pakistan
Dear Friends,
It is with great shock and distress that we
read about the mounting religious tensions and conflicts in Pakistan. With more
and more incidents directed against churches and Christians, it is, to say the
least, very traumatic and life-threatening to the Christian community living
there. We, the CCA family assure you of our solidarity and constant support in
prayer and spirit, in these troubled times.
It is ironic that on the International Day of
Peace, when the world paused to think of peace and hope for a cessation of war and
conflict, protests against the film Innocence
of Muslims turned into large
scale arson across major cities of Pakistan and across Asia, reportedly resulting
in death and considerable loss to both
public and private property. We mourned with you and shared your grief at the incident in Mardan, a city near Peshawar, when a 75 year old church was burnt and properties attached to it
which includes a school, were damaged.
While condemning the insensitive and
derogatory film, we appeal for peace and understanding, and strongly call for
the realization of the truth that this film does not in any way reflect the
collective opinion of Christians all over the world.
It is of importance that we strongly affirm
and communicate that Christianity is a religion of peace and it is our collective
endeavor, as followers of Jesus Christ, to promote peace, justice and fellowship;
encourage respect for religions, languages and culture among people; and
believe that all people are born free.
Amidst the shocking incidents of violence
that is perpetrated on innocent Christians, let us stand in
solidarity with the victims around the world and in particular with
the Christians in Pakistan. Let us in one voice appeal to the Pakistani
Government to protect the religious institutions and religious minorities, as
the safety and welfare of citizens is undeniably a state responsibility.
Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children!
Matthew 5:9
In prayers
Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang
General Secretary
posted by communications on Saturday, September 29, 2012 25 September 2012 Demise of His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian OAM Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Australia and New Zealand
It is with great sadness that we
learned about the untimely demise of His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian OAM,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and New Zealand at
the age of 66, on September 22, in Sydney.
Archbishop Baliozian was held in high esteem both in Australia and around the world for his wisdom and commitment to Christian unity, inter-religious dialogue and peace building. He will always be remembered for his qualities as a spiritual leader, as the dean of the Armenian Patriarchate Seminary, his oratorical skills and his contributions to ecumenism.
In recognition of his "devout
service and contribution to the country and society, especially to the Armenian
community,” the Australian Government awarded him the Medal of the Order of
Australia in 1995 and again the Centenary Medal in 2001.
In a condolence letter to the leaders and members of the Armenian Church, Dr. Henriette H. Lebang, CCA General Secretary said "In his demise, the CCA, the
ecumenical world at the global, regional and national levels, the Orthodox
churches and his own church members have lost a great leader and a visionary."
On behalf of the CCA
family, she conveyed heart-felt sorrow and grief at this great loss, and wrote "Our thoughts and prayers are with you. May there be
comfort and consolation and the hope that we can move on to build a new
tomorrow, in the light of God's wisdom, wherever we are."
May his soul rest in peace.
posted by communications on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 21 September 2012 International Day of Peace Peace Initiatives Global Call for Ceasefire and Non-Violence 
Every single minute of the day, news papers and newscasts round the world report violence, war and conflict. What is shocking is such violence has a heavy toll on human life, property and the environment. In most cases these damages are permanent and irreversible. Violence, bloodshed, murder and mayhem has become the order of the day for quite a few decades. War and crime is no more news, Peace is.
People who trigger violence and bloodshed are equally to blame as are the perpetrators of crime. There is no excuse or justification for both. If people are to take up arms and fight, determined to take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, then as Mahatma Gandhi said, we will all end up being blind. Jesus Christ gave the greatest call for Disarmament when he said "Put your sword back in its place for all who draw the sword will die by the sword," and this is the message that the Church has to convey, that no good comes from violence, for death begets death. Let the church be a haven of peace and Christians be channels of peace.
Peace Initiatives:
The CCA, with member churches and councils, engage in promoting justice and peace through its programs, guided by its vision, mission and goals and the mandates of the General Assembly.
Response to the controversial video
In response to the violence that erupted after the crudely made 13-minute English-language film that was shot in California and circulated on the Internet under several titles including “Innocence of Muslims”, Rev Hermen Shastri, General Secretary of Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM), and member of the CCA General Committee, denounced the video which he described as the “work of irresponsible individuals” that should not “be taken seriously.” He emphasized that the Council of Churches 'denounces anyone who seeks to derogate the religions of others and most especially when they do it with the intent of causing spiritual hurt to believers of the religion.” While cautioning against responding through violent demonstrations because it is to play into the hands of those seeking to upset the good relations between religions, he called for responsible reporting by the media.
Rev. Reuben Qamar, Deputy Executive Secretary, Presbyterian Church of Pakistan on behalf of the Presbyterian church, condemned the Video. He also made it clear that the Church which is the symbol of Love in this world, has nothing to do with this unethical film. This act of a small group to provoke rage should not be related with the entire Christianity. He also brought the attention of the world towards the terrible and weak position of Christians in Muslim countries and how such acts can be exploited by fundamentalists and cause violence against Christians.
Rev. David Das, General Secretary, Council of Churches in Bangladesh, affirmed the same sentiments and reiterated the vulnerability of Christians who are a minority in Muslim countries.
CCA also expressed solidarity with Christians in Pakistan and for the little girl Rimsha who was accused of burning the Q'ran. An active signature campaign and a strong call for a review of the Blasphemy Law was given through the member churches and councils, Ecumenical partners and in collaboration with Human rights organizations. It is heartening to note that the little girl has been released on bail.
CCA along with the WCC has also expressed concern and drawn attention to the plight of stateless people, the helplessness of migrant workers, the problems of Roingyas, and the freedom of the people of Myanmar.
Let us hope that the arms race to "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears (Joel 3:10) is over and a thing of the past, and that we are moving to peace, through this global awakening to the need, significance and importance of just peace. We look forward to the days when people will "Beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3
May the International Day of Peace result in a cessation of violence, a ceasefire and permanent peace. May there be a Farewell to Arms.....  Heiwa Peace in Japanese AMAN امن PEACE in Urdu posted by communications on Friday, September 21, 2012 97th General Assembly in Somang Church, Seoul September 17th to 21st, 2012
The Presbyterian Church of Korea is currently holding its 97th General Assembly in Somang Church, Seoul, from September 17th to 21st, 2012 with the theme: “Christians, the Friends of the Least,” which is inspired by Mathews 25:40 and Leviticus 19:18. It includes the sub-themes: Friends for the Poor, Friends of Next Generation, Friends of the Disabled, Friends of Multicultural families and Friends of North Koreans. This Assembly, which is being attended by 1500 pastors and elders representing 64 presbyteries, and 108 international guests representing churches and ecumenical partners of PCK from many Asian countries and around the world, as well as leadership and staff of the General Assembly, is a special one as the church is commemorating the Centennial Anniversary of the General Assembly of PCK that was established on September 1st, 1912 under the name of the Chosun Presbyterian Church.
In
her congratulatory greetings on behalf of the CCA and representatives of the
partner churches and ecumenical organizations of PCK on the occasion of the Centennial
Memorial Service, CCA General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, expressed that the PCK has chosen a challenging theme for the Assembly in
the midst of escalating hostility among various groups in Asia and the further
marginalization of the least in the communities around the globe. This theme, she said, clearly underlines the
commitment of the PCK to strongly promote an inclusive community in which all
are included. She also commended the PCK Program on the “Decade of Life Saving
Management” (2002-2012) which has underscored that the mission of God embraces
the urgent need to address the problem related to the integrity of creation, as
highlighted in Psalm 24:1 that “The earth
is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” She said that the churches in Asia and
around the world are continuously praying 'for the onward journey of PCK as a
faithful church of Jesus Christ, and wish the churches in Korea all success in
preparing to host the Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Busan in
2013'.
The
international guests had the privilege to visit and get to know the various
ministries of the PCK in theological education and universities (Presbyterian
College and Theological Seminary, Seoul Jangshin University and Songsil
University), in the ministries of the local congregations in addressing the
issues of overseas migrant workers in Korea and their families (Nasom Church
and Yeong-deung-po Industrial Mission Center), and differently-abled people
(Changdong Yumkwang Church). The peak of
this exposure program is the visit to the De-Militarization Zone (DMZ) in
Panmunjeom, the place where the Armistice Agreement was concluded on 27 July
1953. This place is a sad place, a
witness of the continuing division of the people of Korea. The group held a special worship for
reunification of Korean peninsula at the Church located at the Joint Security
Area (JSA) on September 20. As the
global communities celebrate annually the international day of peace on
September 21, this is a special moment when the representatives of the churches
from Asia and around the world express
their solidarity with people and churches in Korea in praying for the
reunification of the people and families which have been separated for more
than 50 years.
The
PCK Assembly elected the new members of Executive Board of PCK for 2012-2013. We congratulate the new office bearers and Rev.
Dr. Lee Hong Jung who has been appointed as the new General Secretary of PCK
for a period of 4 years. Rev. Lee was a
former Executive Secretary of Justice, International Affairs and Development of
Service of CCA, President of the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary
in the Philippines and a Lecturer in Missiology at the Univeristy of Hanil
Jangshin in Korea.
posted by communications on Friday, September 21, 2012
20 September 2012
Eve of the International Day of Peace 2012
Thinking Peace ......
Let us not use bombs and guns to overcome the world. Let us use love and compassion. Peace begins with a smile. Let us radiate the peace of God and so light His light and extinguish in the world and in the hearts of all men, all hatred and love for power.
Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other - that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbor, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?
Peace and war begin at home. If we truly want peace in the world, let us begin by loving one another in our own families. If we want to spread joy, we need for every family to have joy.
Mother Teresa, Nobel Peace Prize 1979
posted by communications on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Nurturing a New Generation of Asian Women
Theologians
Trinity Theological
College, Singapore
3-6 September, 2012
A workshop on Nurturing a New Generation of Asian Women
Theologians brought together
nine Asian Women
Theologians from China, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore to
discuss and reflect on the theme “The
Role of Women in the Asian Church: Perspectives from a new generation of Asian Women
Theologians”. This was held at the Trinity Theological College, Singapore
(TTC), from 3-6 September, 2012, and was organized by the Centre for the Study
of Christianity in Asia (CSCA), TTC. Two senior
pastors were invited as ‘senior mentors’ to share their perspectives on the
theme, namely Rev. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, General Secretary of CCA and Rev.
Cao, Shengjie a retired President of China Christian Council – who sent her
paper but unfortunately could not be present due to her health condition.
Rev.
Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, as a senior mentor, called for pastors in
churches to accompany people in the congregations to read the Bible from the perspective
of the marginalized, to incorporate gender justice from a biblical viewpoint in
the educational materials used for local congregations; and to integrate Gender
justice in the curriculum of Theological education as a compulsory subject, in
order to promote the partnership of men and women in building the household of
God, so that all can live together in a peaceful and just world.
This workshop
aims to gather six to nine younger women theologians and seminary teachers in
Asia, to get them to know one another and to explore ways in which they
can encourage each another to reflect, teach, write and serve together in Asia on
a long term basis. Priority is given to those who have recently returned to
their posts from faculty development programs. Each participant, presents a
paper addressing the issues relevant to her own local context and challenges (whether
religious, social, or political) faced in her own particular field of
expertise. Some papers take the form of a case study. Papers from the workshop are
later edited and released as a CSCA publication.
posted by communications on Friday, September 07, 2012
“Called to
Prophesy, Reconcile, and Heal:
Creating
Sanctuaries of Life for All”
Statement of the
Asian Church Leaders Theological Consultation
Hsinchu, Taiwan, 22 – 26 August, 2012
Christian Conference of Asia
Preamble
We, a group of 60 Asian Church
leaders, representing member churches and councils of the Christian Conference of Asia and
other ecumenical and fraternal organizations from 20 countries in Asia,
gathered together at Presbyterian Bible College in Hsinchu, Taiwan from August
22-26, 2012, for an Asian Church Leaders Theological Consultation on ‘Called to
Prophesy, Reconcile and Heal’ the theme of the 13th General Assembly of the
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) in 2010. This theological consultation was
held in conjunction with the 55th anniversary and the General Committee meeting
of the CCA, to explore the emerging trends in Asia today and the consequent
challenges for the Mission of the Churches in the region. It was also an
opportunity to reflect on the theme of the 10th Assembly of the World Council
of Churches (WCC), at Busan, Korea in 2013, ‘God of Life: Lead us to Justice
and Peace,’ and to identify the distinct contributions of the churches in Asia.
The Asian context of religious pluralism helped the ecumenical movement to
re-imagine the mission and witness of the Church at the first assembly of the
WCC held in Asia (New Delhi, 1961). The Canberra Assembly (1991) further
facilitated the ecumenical movement to widen its understanding of mission in
the context of indigenous traditions, and public witness in the face of war and
imperial aggression. As we welcome the global ecumenical movement once again to
our continent after two decades, we urge the Church to listen to the groaning
of creation reverberating from our continent to discern the God of life and our
ministries of justice and peace.
Prophecy
Call to prophesy is a faith journey
embodying righteous indignation in the face of structural sin and injustice
which invites us to analyze and evaluate our social structures in the light of
God’s justice, and to proclaim God’s judgment on unjust practices and systems
discerning God’s will. Our prophetic critique of the prevailing order stems
from our faith in the possibility of a beyond of the present promised by God
and inaugurated in the life and praxis of Jesus, the Christ. Call to prophesy
in Asia today is an invitation to critique the dominant consciousness, and to
build alternative communities of resistance envisioned by the vision of the
Reign of God. In a continent of hunger, exclusion, and destruction, prophetic
vocation begins with a deeper engagement with the groaning of the victims.
The
continent of Asia is the land of more than 60% of the world’s hungry people,
and climate injustice further worsens the situation through growing food
insecurity and water shortage. Asia is in the process of becoming the world’s
largest refugee camp as a consequence of climate injustice, war and violence,
and neo-liberal development projects. Indigenous communities—the original
inhabitants of the land have become landless people on their land. Migrant
workers, internally displaced people, and stateless people expose the futility
of the dominant rhetoric of human rights. Violence has become a perennial
reality in the lives of ethnic and religious minorities including Christians.
In the name of national interest, progress, integration, and growth, voices of
dissent are suppressed, and illegal arrest, detention, and torture have become legitimate
practices of law and order. Ideologies and practices of social exclusion such
as casteism, and patriarchy, with religious legitimization, unleash a regime of
hegemony and violence in the lives of women and children, Dalits, indigenous
communities, and LGBT friends. The tragic experience of Fukushima has not
deterred our nations from their obsession with nuclear weapons and reactors.
Occupation of communities and war on them, continue unchecked with the blessing
of religions and super powers, resulting in genocide and ecocide. Colonization of
our commons such as water, forest, and land and the subsistence communities is
justified in the
name of Gross Development Project and shared good.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation, informed by the
prophetic critique of the victims, is the resilience not to reconcile with the
prevailing order. Any attempt to coerce or persuade the victims to accept
unjust conciliatory proposals in the name of religious, ethnic, and national
interests, is not Christian reconciliation, it is SIN. Guilt, repentance,
remembrance, apology, forgiveness, restitution, and reparation are central to
Christian reconciliation. Call to reconciliation is hence a call to be eternally
vigilant about unjust reconciliations. In Asia today, we witness partial
blossoming of reconciliation when communities at the margins and their social
movements, supported by civil society organizations and churches and other
faith based groups, engage in historic struggles to bring about reconciliation
between communities and the wider community of creation. Manifestations of
reconciliation that we witness hopefully in Asia today are:
We recognize the partial yet
committed attempts of the Asian Christian communities to become the Gospel of
reconciliation in our context through their public witness and presence in the public
sphere.
Healing
Healing, embedded in God’s love for
the fullness of creation, is the journey toward the restoration of the entire
creation as a manifestation of God’s love for life in its abundance. The realities
of Asia today unveil the ongoing death-oriented practices that deny God’s
promise for life. The sanctions imposed on countries such as Iran, as political
weapons, often deny the rights of people to their basic needs of food, medical
care and shelter. The ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor
challenges our faith claim of God’s generosity amidst scarcity in world resources.
Religious plurality presents new challenges to our construction of Christian
identity in the context of the rising of religious fanaticism and the denial of
religious freedom. The aftermath of violence that overlaps with the endless
groaning of creation, mirror the paradoxical challenge to our missional
vocation to be a community of wounded healers. Witnessing to the wounds within
us summons us to engage prophetically with other healing practices in the journey
of healing the wounds of others. The continuing ecological and human destructions,
unhealed memories of survivors of violence, and the composition of lyrics,
rhythm, voices of lamentation, and our celebration of sacraments, intertwined
with authentic efforts for healing across boundaries of differences, reflect
the life-long journey of embodying shalom in our broken humanity and broken
world of today. We affirm that our ministry of prophesying, reconciling, and
healing is imperative in creating sanctuaries of life for all as manifestation
of God’s hospitality which is God’s heart that is open for all to reside in the
promise of life.
Hsinchu, Taiwan
25 August 2012
posted by communications on Saturday, September 01, 2012 |
