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VOLUME 34 • NUMBER 2JUNE 1999 A Call for Prayer: Concern for the People of Asia East Timor • Middle East Council of Churches • Bukit Inspirasi IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL Asia Scene A Call for Prayer 3 n an unforeseen and unintended but exhilarating and challenging way, some Local Churches Respond to Suffering of the key events in the program of CCA during this term will take place in of the People of East Timor 5 the last half of this year and in the early part of 2000. In terms of program Korean Consultation on Mission 7 intensity there are not many periods in the history of CCA comparable to Ithe few months leading to the year 2000. Global Currents It starts in August when up to 140 Asian theologians are anticipated to con- Seventh General Assembly of the verge on the Ecumenical Christian Centre in Bangalore, India, for the Second Middle East Council of Churches 8 Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS II). CATS II will meet around the theme WCC Presidents’ Pentecost Message 10 ‘Celebrating Life in Asia’. CCA in Focus The Asia Conference on Church and Society will follow in September. Hosted Bukit Inspirasi (Inspiration Hill) 11 by Australian churches, the conference expects fifty theologians and social sci- World Youth Project and Rural Youth entists to gather in Darwin, NT, Australia, to discuss issues and challenges for Program Committee Meetings 13 the churches towards the twenty-first century around the theme ‘Faith and Life in Asian Students and Youth Gathering Contemporary Asian Realities’. 2000 15 A mission roundtable to probe the frontiers of Christian mission towards the Development and Management Training 16 twenty-first century will meet in Hong Kong in November. Forty top-flight mission Urban Rural Mission Programs 17 practitioners and missiologists from Asia and around the world are being gath- Human Rights Training Program 18 ered to discuss and explore issues and concerns of mission and missiology as Religious Freedom and Human Rights 19 the church enters a new millennium and faces the challenges of an emerging Cambodian Leaders Visit Vietnam 21 new age. Of importance is the anticipated participation of Evangelical, Roman Executive Committee Meeting 23 Catholic and Orthodox theologians in the roundtable. Forthcoming CCA Events 25 In December, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the Asia Ecumenical Committee (AEC) and the Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU), which are the joint bodies Newsbriefs 27 set up by the CCA and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) for In Memoriam: Sun Ai Lee-Park 30 joint work between them, will gather for the third time during the term to con- tinue their discussion issues and the common concerns of CCA and FABC rela- Church Feature: PCK 32 tions. A gathering of youth and students will take place in January 2000 in Taiwan. CCA Youth will sponsor this event, along with a number of ecumenical youth and VOLUME 34 • NUMBER 2 student organisations such as the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF), JUNE 1999 the Asia Alliance of YMCAs and the International Movement of Catholic Students Official publication of the (IMCS). Christian Conference of Asia All of these, along with the ongoing programs of the various units of CCA, will 96, 2nd District, Pak Tin Village, feed into the 11th Assembly of CCA, which is now scheduled to be held 1-6 June Mei Tin Road, Sha Tin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China 2000 in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. The energy-sapping work that lies ahead has been minimised by the infusion Telephone + 852 2691 1068 Fax + 852 2692 4378 of new executive staff into the workforce of CCA. The Executive Committee at its e-mail cca@pacific.net.hk meeting in May this year appointed the Rev. Josef P. Widyatmadja of Indonesia to www.cca.org.hk assume the position of Executive Secretary for Urban Rural Mission (URM) and EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Feliciano V. Cariño Pastor Cora Tabing-Reyes of the Philippines to assume the position of Executive Secretary for Women’s Concerns. The coming of these two very capable colleagues EDITOR Geoff Alves in June 1999 not only filled positions that had been vacant for some time but EDITORIAL BOARD also underscored the sense of confidence that has been achieved over the past Mathews George Chunakara year concerning our strengthening financial condition. Henriette Hutabarat Daniel Thiagarajah Feliciano V. Cariño 2 CCA NEWS • JUNE 1999 ASIA SCENE A Call for Prayer Concern for the People of Asia The following statement was issued by the Officers of the Christian Conference of Asia in May 1999 sia is passing through a delicate and crucial period of its history. Several Asian countries are devastated by economic and political crises and are faced with their worst financial crisis in more than three decades. The roots of Asia’s Amany problems today lie in its shattered economy, which has resulted in food shortages, high inflation, unemploy- ment and social unrest. Political uncertainty is looming in several Asian countries and democratic principles are in sham- bles. Ethnic conflicts and communal violence have spread in several countries. Deep mistrust and frustration exist in society, leading to a situation of ethnic conflicts and communal violence. Whereas indigenous communities and religious groups have been able to live together peacefully for generations in many parts of Asia, the recent tensions amongst different religious and ethnic groups intensify conflict. In countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indone- East Asia also has been on the brink of a nuclear threat. sia, Nepal and Pakistan, religious fundamentalism is grow- The emerging balance of power configurations and strate- ing and a culture of intolerance persists. The minority gic security alliances bring anxiety and uneasiness to the religious communities in these countries are experiencing minds of East Asian people. Small arms and light weapons discrimination and persecution. In Indonesia economic and intensify ethnic and communal conflicts in South East Asia. political crises and religious conflicts still threaten the unity As we recognise the fact that these hostilities and dis- and long-nurtured culture of religious tolerance. The situ- dainful disunities are marring and maiming the fullness of ation in East Timor has been deteriorating rapidly ever since life in Asia, it is with a deep sense of pastoral responsibility the Indonesian government announced independence for that we, the officers of the Christian Conference of Asia, East Timor. The people of East Timor, enduring extreme express our deepest concern for the people all over Asia hardship in a situation of constant intimidation, now face and call on Christians all over the world to uphold the peo- terror and worse—cold-blooded massacres. A large ple of Asia in their prayers. number of East Timorese were forced to abandon their While affirming the fact that the Christians should take homes and belongings and flee from threat and violence. the initiative in breaking the dividing wall of hostility in or- Although the tentative ceasefire signed between the warring der to make peace and reconciliation, we believe that God parties is encouraging, the negotiation between Indonesia calls and compels Christians and churches in Asia to make and Portugal to arrange a vote on autonomy is yet to bear every effort to overcome division and bring about shalom. fruit in order to achieve a peaceful solution. In Sri Lanka, Let us pray that God may help the people to realise that ethnic conflicts and civil war continue with a heavy human despite the fact that certain Asian countries are moving to- toll. In India, political uncertainty threatens democratic wards democratic reforms and political governance, they principles. Malaysia has been witnessing unprecedented must actualise the important task of promoting a culture of political turmoil. Territorial disputes create havoc and nonviolence and reconciliation as they respond to emerg- threaten peace and stability in different countries. A frantic ing situations when they try to build up a new political sys- race towards nuclear conflagration has started in South Asia. tem. CCA NEWS • JUNE 1999 3 ASIA SCENE We appeal to Christians around the world, especially We call upon all Asian Christians to stand together with member churches and councils of CCA, to pray for the ceas- other religious communities in a spirit of servanthood and ing of conflicts and violence that are taking place in differ- offer our prayers and supplications to God seeking to be ent countries, especially in Indonesia and in East Timor. faithful in our calling to be peacemakers and reconcilers We urge them to pray for a peaceful atmosphere in Indone- and bring hope for all. sia and East Timor, especially at this time of a democratic We hope for the day when people of the troubled na- general election that will take place in Indonesia on 7 June tions in Asia can say with John of Patmos, ‘Now the dwell- after thirty-two years, and also the autonomy referendum ing of God is with all, and God will live with them. They will that will be held in East Timor on 8 August. be God’s people, and God will be with them and be their We urge the churches in Asia to uphold victims of ethnic God. God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be conflicts, communal violence and human rights violations no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old in our intercessions. We recall the fundamentals of Biblical order of things has passed away’ (Revelation 21:3–4). truth that human beings who exist in enmity are alienated We call on all people of goodwill to reach out to one from God and from one another and that God wills to over- another across the walls that divide us in Asia.

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