Christian Conference of Asia
A regional ecumenical organisation bringing together Christian churches and national councils across Asia and the Pacific.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) is a regional ecumenical organisation that connects churches, national councils of churches, and Christian councils across Asia and parts of the Pacific. Its constituency includes 15 national councils and more than 100 denominations and member churches, with participating bodies from countries and territories including Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand. The organisation provides a framework in which churches from different Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, evangelical, and other Christian traditions can cooperate on shared theological, social, and public concerns. The CCA traces its origins to a 1957 meeting at Prapat, Indonesia, where representatives of churches and national Christian councils agreed to establish a regional body. The resulting East Asian Christian Conference was inaugurated later that year in Kuala Lumpur under the theme “Witnessing Together.” The organisation adopted its present name, Christian Conference of Asia, at its fifth Assembly in Singapore in 1973. It established regional offices in Singapore in 1974, initially at Toa Payoh Methodist Church, and operated there for more than a decade. A major institutional crisis occurred in 1987, when the Singapore government expelled the organisation and alleged that it had become involved in political activities contrary to an earlier understanding. The CCA disputed the allegations and described the episode as a fundamental misunderstanding of the church’s role in society and of church–state relations. Its assets were frozen and later returned in 1988. Several Singaporean member bodies, including the Methodist Church of Singapore, the Anglican Church of Singapore, and the National Council of Churches of Singapore, subsequently withdrew. Singapore therefore ceased to have official representation in the CCA after the episode. Since 2006, the organisation’s offices have been located at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. From this base, the CCA coordinates regional assemblies, consultations, leadership development, mission cooperation, ecumenical relations, and programmes addressing social justice. Its stated concerns include human rights, peace and reconciliation, poverty alleviation, and dialogue with people of other faiths. The organisation’s work is not a consumer-product business; its principal offerings are relationships, forums, institutional cooperation, theological reflection, and support for churches and councils facing common regional challenges. The CCA also works with other ecumenical networks. In 1994, it cooperated with the Catholic Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences to establish the Asian Movement for Christian Unity. The Evangelical Fellowship of Asia joined that movement in 2007. The CCA marked its sixtieth anniversary with an event in Yangon in October 2017. In 2023, Dr Mathews George Chunakara was identified as its General Secretary, a position he had held since 2015. The organisation remains an active regional platform for Christian cooperation in Asia, with its identity shaped by ecumenism, public engagement, reconciliation, and solidarity among member churches.
History
The Christian Conference of Asia emerged from postwar efforts to strengthen cooperation among Christian churches and councils in Asia. At a meeting held at Prapat, Indonesia, in 1957, representatives decided to create a regional ecumenical organisation. The East Asian Christian Conference was inaugurated later that year at an assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, under the theme “Witnessing Together.” Its founding purpose was to provide a common regional structure through which churches could share in mission, develop leaders, build ecumenical relationships, and respond collectively to social and political issues affecting their communities. During its early decades, the organisation developed a broad constituency spanning national councils and individual denominations. Its membership came to include churches from a wide range of traditions, including Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Orthodox, evangelical, and united churches. This breadth allowed the CCA to function less as a single church body than as a regional forum for cooperation. Its work covered theological exchange and mission, but also public concerns such as human rights, peace, reconciliation, poverty, and relations between religious communities. At the fifth Assembly, held in Singapore in 1973, delegates changed the organisation’s name to Christian Conference of Asia. The CCA then established regional offices in Singapore in 1974 at Toa Payoh Methodist Church. Singapore served as its operating base until a serious conflict with the government in 1987. Singaporean authorities accused the organisation of engaging in political activities and violating a commitment to refrain from such involvement. The CCA contested that interpretation, arguing that the dispute reflected a deeper disagreement about the church’s legitimate role in society and the relationship between church and state. The government expelled the organisation, froze its assets, and subsequently returned them in 1988. Several Singaporean churches and the National Council of Churches of Singapore withdrew, leaving the CCA without official representation from Singapore. The organisation continued its regional work after leaving Singapore. In 1994, it cooperated with the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, a Catholic regional body, to establish the Asian Movement for Christian Unity. This collaboration demonstrated the CCA’s willingness to work across denominational and confessional boundaries. The Evangelical Fellowship of Asia joined the movement in 2007, further broadening the network’s ecumenical reach. Since 2006, the CCA’s offices have been based at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. From there, it has maintained its role as a coordinating and convening body for member churches and national councils. Its programmes and relationships address leadership formation, mission cooperation, ecumenical dialogue, human rights, peacebuilding, reconciliation, poverty alleviation, and interfaith engagement. The organisation celebrated its sixtieth anniversary with an event in Yangon in October 2017. In 2023, Dr Mathews George Chunakara was identified as General Secretary, having served in that role since 2015. The CCA’s continuing significance lies in its regional network and its effort to connect Christian witness with cooperation and social responsibility in Asia.
- 2017
Sixtieth anniversary commemorated
[1]The CCA celebrated its sixtieth anniversary with an event in Yangon.
- 2007
Evangelical Fellowship of Asia joins partner movement
[1]The Evangelical Fellowship of Asia joined the Asian Movement for Christian Unity.
- 2006
Offices move to Chiang Mai
[1]The organisation’s offices were located at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from 2006.
- 1994
Asian Movement for Christian Unity founded
[1]The CCA and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences cooperated to establish the Asian Movement for Christian Unity.
- 1988
Frozen assets returned
[1]Assets frozen during the Singapore dispute were returned, while Singaporean member bodies withdrew from the CCA.
- 1987
Expulsion from Singapore
[1]Singapore expelled the organisation after alleging that it had engaged in political activities and breached an earlier undertaking.
- 1974
Regional offices established in Singapore
[1]The CCA opened regional offices at Toa Payoh Methodist Church and operated from Singapore for the following period.
- 1973
Name changed to Christian Conference of Asia
[1]The fifth Assembly in Singapore adopted the organisation’s current name.
- 1957
Regional conference established
[1]Representatives meeting at Prapat, Indonesia, agreed to constitute a regional Christian organisation, which was inaugurated later that year in Kuala Lumpur as the East Asian Christian Conference.
Products and positioning
A regional Christian network positioned as a convening and coordinating platform for ecumenical cooperation, shared mission, leadership development, and social-justice engagement across Asia and the Pacific.
Marketing campaigns
- 201760th Anniversary Commemoration
Myanmar · Asia
The CCA organised a commemorative event in Yangon to mark six decades of regional ecumenical service and cooperation.
Outcome. The anniversary was publicly commemorated in Yangon; no further outcome is specified in the available reference material.
Brand decisions
1994
Creation of the Asian Movement for Christian UnityM&ABackground
Regional Christian bodies sought a wider structure for cooperation across denominational and confessional lines.
Action taken
The CCA partnered with the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences to establish the Asian Movement for Christian Unity.
Aftermath
The initiative created an additional platform for cooperation among Asian Christian networks; the Evangelical Fellowship of Asia joined it in 2007.
1987
Response to Singapore expulsionStrategyBackground
Singapore authorities alleged that the CCA had engaged in political activities and broken a commitment not to do so.
Action taken
The Singapore government expelled the organisation and froze its assets. The CCA rejected the allegations and defended the church’s role in public life.
Aftermath
The assets were returned in 1988, but Singaporean member churches and the national council withdrew, ending official Singaporean representation.
1973
Adoption of the Christian Conference of Asia nameStrategyBackground
The organisation had operated since 1957 as the East Asian Christian Conference and sought a name reflecting its broader regional identity.
Action taken
Delegates at the fifth Assembly in Singapore changed the name to Christian Conference of Asia.
Aftermath
The new name became the organisation’s continuing identity.
Sources2 sources
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