Document
Geneva, 5 March 2007
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA), it is with great joy and Christian love that I extend to you greetings from the World Council of Churches. I regret that personally I will not be able to be with you as you assemble at Prapat for this historic event owing to prior commitments in Geneva. My prayers and best wishes accompany you during your deliberations.
I wish to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the witness of the CCA over the past half century. The 50th anniversary celebrations and the consultation that will take place from 4 to 8 March at Prapat, Indonesia, the same place where the CCA was born fifty years ago, is yet another mile stone in the life and witness of the CCA. The anniversary is also an occasion for both the CCA and the WCC to celebrate our common ecumenical commitment in Asia. We recall, with praise to God, that the WCC has extended support to the Asian initiative which eventually led to the formation of the CCA.
The WCC's accompaniment and support to the formation of the EACC/CCA in 1957 opened a new chapter in the WCC's history as it was the first time the WCC would play a significant role in the formation of a regional ecumenical organisation. The Prapat Conference was jointly organised by the World Council of Churches and the International Missionary Council. Ever since then, the WCC has been a strong partner of the CCA, the successor to EACC. I am glad that over the years the partnership between the WCC and the CCA has flourished as both organisations have been engaged in a spirit of mutual and shared commitment in our ecumenical journey.
In congratulating the CCA on its Golden Jubilee, I pray for God's rich blessings upon the CCA and its member constituencies; may God enable you to accomplish the enormous task entrusted to you.
May the abundant gifts and blessings of the Triune God accompany and sustain all participants of the Fiftieth Anniversary Consultation and celebrations.
Yours in His Service,
Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia
General Secretary
