WCC news: Applications open for Asian Ecumenical Institute

Applications are open for an Asian Ecumenical Institute organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA).  Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 13 May 2024 The deadline is 10 June. The institute will be held from 21 July to 17 August at the Christian Conference of Asia headquarters in Payap University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.  The Asian Ecumenical Institute, a month-long ecumenical formation training course, focuses on ecumenical formation and leadership development of prospective Asian ecumenical and church leaders.  This year’s institute bears the theme “Creation Care and Justice: Our Faith Commitment and Collective With-ness,” aiming to provide a wider ecumenical perspective based on biblical and theological undergirding in Asian contexts, focusing on the role of the churches and ecumenical movements in creation care, and affirming their commitment and strengthened bond of “with-ness” in God’s transformative work in creation. The theme is anchored on the Christian Conference of Asia 15th General Assembly theme “God, In Your Spirit, Renew and Restore Your Creation.” Admissions to the Asian Ecumenical Institute will be limited to 24 students between the ages of 25 and 35 who have an official letter of recommendation or endorsement from a Christian Conference of Asia member church/council or ecumenical organisation/institution. Selections will be made based on prior ecumenical and ecclesial experience, gender and confessional balances, national and subregional representation, and the ability to communicate in English. More background information about this activity Download the application form Learn more about the Christian Conference of Asia See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC NEWS: WCC, Christian Conference of Asia heads co-sign message on attacks in Myanmar, urge redoubling advocacy and engagement for justice

A joint message signed by World Council of Churches acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca and Christian Conference of Asia general secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara expressed grave concern over recent attacks by the Myanmar military on a theological seminary and churches in Kachin and Kayah States. Students in class in a school in Kalay, a town in Myanmar. This school is located in Tahan, the largely ethnic Chin section of Kalay. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 17 November 2022 The general secretaries observed that the recent attacks on churches and related institutions “are emblematic of the deteriorating humanitarian, human rights and political situation in Myanmar” since the military coup that took place on 1 February 2021. “The lives that many in Myanmar had begun to enjoy following the introduction of democratic reforms have again been destroyed and the country devastated,” reads the message. Armed clashes and attacks are now taking place in many parts of the country, and “since the military coup, the poverty rate in Myanmar has climbed to close to 50%, and people throughout the country have been reduced to extreme levels of vulnerability.” Sauca and Chunakara reiterated deep concern expressed during the past year over the deteriorating human rights situations in different parts of Myanmar. “We reiterate and underscore the concerns previously expressed about the ongoing violence – including sexual and gender-based violence – and brutal attacks by military and security forces,” reads the message. “We renew our calls for the military authorities to hand back the control that they have illegitimately seized, to refrain from excessive use of force against protestors, to respect the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, to release all those who have been arbitrarily arrested, denied due process, and who remain in detention, and to allow unconditional and unhindered humanitarian access to all areas and all people affected by conflict and violence.” Sauca and Chunakara appeal to all members of the international community to increase their active solidarity and humanitarian support for the people of Myanmar, “and to redouble their advocacy and engagement for justice, peace and the restoration of democracy in Myanmar.” They also urge churches and related organizations around the world “to scale up their diaconal support and partnership with the churches of Myanmar” in order to help meet increasing community needs. Statement on attacks by Myanmar military on theological seminary and churches in Kachin and Kayah States WCC member churches in Myanmar See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland

WCC NEWS:Christian Conference of Asia trains Asian youth leaders as Young Ambassadors of Peace

A weeklong training programme, Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia, organised by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), was held from 7-14 August at in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The focus was “Youth as Catalysts for Peace with Justice in Asia.” Christians from Japan and around the world joined together in a joint Anglican-Catholic march to the Catholic Memorial Cathedral for World Peace in Hiroshima, Japan, on August 5, 2015, as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the U.S. dropping an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Among the marchers were church leaders from seven countries that possess or claim to be protected by nuclear weapons. They came to Japan to listen to atomic bomb survivors and push for a world free of nuclear weapons. Photo:Paul Jeffrey   19 August 2022 Twenty-six prospective young peace activists from various faith traditions across Asia who aspire to build just, peaceful, and harmonious communities attended the training. The interactive sessions and thematic presentations were designed to enable the young participants to take the role as positive actors and catalysts of change in peacebuilding processes, while also strengthening their engagement in peacebuilding amidst conflicts, violence, and human rights violations in Asia. The issues and themes covered during the weeklong training included “Religious and Cultural Identities: The Roots of Ethnoreligious Conflicts in Asia,” “Peace and Reconciliation: Religious and Ethnic Intersections,” “Peace and Reconciliation: Communal and Geopolitical Intersections,” and more. A statement prepared by the participants and presented at the valedictory session of the programme affirmed: “We express our commitment to work for building and living in a peaceful, diverse, multilingual, and multi-religious Asia and the world. We resolve to educate ourselves with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to promote peace and be nonviolent in all approaches,  be active actors in peacebuilding in ways that prioritise community needs and perspectives and use ‘do no harm’ principles, to work for peace, justice, and inclusion of the many…” Young Ambassadors of Peace is an annual programme initiated by the Christian Conference of Asia in 2016 to train young peace activists in an interfaith perspective. This year, it was attended by young people belonging to Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu religions. See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland