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Letter of CCA
Christian Conference of Asia informs on current affairs

14 July 2005

Dear All,

CCA family has expressed heartfelt condolences to the people of the United Kingdom, especially to the families who have lost their loved ones in the terrorist attacks in London on 7 July 2005. We have strongly condemned those who are behind these attacks, which have taken many innocent lives. These kinds of attacks have destabilized peace in human society. We pray that God gives the Church and people strength and wisdom to become His instrument for building communities of peace, unity and harmony in this divided world. Last week, from 6-13 July, I was on personal leave in Bangkok to attend the graduation ceremony of my daughter. Before leaving for Bangkok on 5 July, we welcomed Mr. Peter Overton and his wife, Nancy at CCA Centre in Hong Kong. Mr. Overton is an Executive Director of Overseas Mission Board Inc., Australian Churches of Christ (OMB-ACC). They were on their way to visit people and projects supported by the OMB in the tsunami affected areas in Sri Lanka. The visit was a time of sharing of concerns and strengthening of mutual understanding and cooperation in God's mission between the OMB and CCA in the years to come. The ACC is a member of the CCA. While I was in Bangkok, I attended the Steering Committee Meeting of AINA (Asian Interfaith Network on AIDS) which met at Bangkok Christian Guest House to discuss AINA's activities and coordination structure. It was decided that AINA coordinating office (with Coordinator and office staff) will be located in Chiang Mai from next year. For your information, AINA is a network of interfaith communities -- Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Hindu, concerning HIV and AIDS in Asia. The idea to set up AINA first emerged at an AIDS Conference organised by CCA in 2001 in Chiang Mai. The recommendation was brought again during an interfaith conference in 2003 in Bangkok. Later, after the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok in 2004, a strategic workshop was held in July 2004 in Bangkok and a small committee was set up to consolidate needs, and drafted more sustainable way of cooperation.

During the workshop held in Chiang Mai on 2-7 May 2005, AINA Steering Committee was set up to strengthen the role and function of faith-based communities at global, regional, national and local levels. The members of the Steering Committee include Buddhist, Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, and Hindu delegates and representatives from the PWHA and CCA. We realize that this initiative will provide opportunity for religious participation with wider communities to sustain human dignity, human rights and human unity in the midst of HIV and AIDS crisis.

I was able to meet Mr. Ray Hassan of Christian Aid during my stay in Bangkok.. He was on his way back to London. We were able to share general concerns and discussed about strengthening future cooperation between CCA and Christian Aid.

From Bangkok, I went to Chiang Mai to meet with the CCA -- Thailand based Relocation Committee -- Dr. Boonthong Poochareon, Rev. Dr. Sint Kimhachandra, Rev. Dr. Pradit Tagerngrangsarit, Dr. Rux Prompalit, Rev. Dr. Chuleepran Srisoonthorn, Mr. Chutipong and Mr. Songkiat Tung-yen. The discussion focused on the issues of land and property of a new CCA Centre. Various models have been discussed. However, the most crucial at this stage is the registration of CCA in Thailand. We hope that the registration will be completed before the end of this year.

Back to the ongoing activities of CCA:

There were quite a few activities in the life of CCA last week. Rev. Dr. Lee Hong Jung, joint Executive Secretary for Justice, International Affairs, Development and Service (JID) led the follow-up team to visit people in the tsunami affected areas in India and Sri Lanka. The purpose of the visit was to give support to the churches carrying mission and follow up a long-term solution to this natural disaster.

Dr. Hope Antone, a joint Executive Secretary for Faith, Mission and Unity (FMU) went to the Philippines for a theological workshop and to give lectures to theological students at Siliman University. The teaching is part of building mutual cooperation between the University and CCA.

Mr. Philip Mathew, Consultant for Communications was in Chiang Mai to finalise the video of the 12th CCA General Assembly. The 33-minute VCD covers various activities of the assembly. Limited copies of it will be available on request at the CCA Office in Hong Kong.

Prawate Khid-arn General Secretary

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