Introduction

The World Student Christian Federation Asia-Pacific Region is glad to publish this 20th book in our Book Series entitled The Ecumenical Student Ministry in Asia-Pacific. This book consists of selected papers presented in the CCA-WSCF Joint Programme 1995 held in Bangkok from 1^st to 8^th April 1995 and two other specially solicited papers.

The publication of this book is remarkable in many ways. It attests to the covenant made by the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and the World Student Christian Federation Asia-Pacific (WSCF A-P) Region begun in the 1960s to work together and promote student ministry in the region. Since then the CWP (CCA-WSCF Joint Program or CWP) has organized many consultations on the role of these two ecumenical bodies in student ministry, thus providing a wider platform for students, theologians, academics and clergy.

This covenant was reaffirmed in 1982 with an understanding that WSCF plan and implement a sustained program for the life and witness of the Christian community in the Asian academic world... while the churches, through the CCA recognize and support the WSCF as the ecumenical body through which their concern/or the work with students and universities in the region were to be expressed. Several joint consultations have been held during the last twelve years to affirm our commitment to this covenant.

Over these three decades, these consultations have provided many opportunities to the various generations of SCMs to engage in intellectual and theological discussions on various issues and to communicate their hopes and aspirations to the church through senior friends who are actively involved in doing the mission of God. These consultations have also made significant contributions towards making a critical review of our vision and mission in the context of changing situations in the university, church and society.

The CWP '95 was the largest gathering so far with participants coming from those involved in student ministry: students, senior friends, academics, chaplains and ecumenical church leaders. It also marked a turning point in the history of the Federation because it was part of the Asia-Pacific Region's celebration of the WSCF's centennial anniversary this year. The CWP '95 played a significant role in enabling the young to express their hopes and frustrations to the church and for both the SCMs and the church to make deliberate efforts towards envisioning anew our hopes and aspirations for justice, peace and integrity of creation.

Of the total of 18 papers in the book, 16 were selected from the CWP '95 presentations. One comes from Yong Ting Jin as her reflection on her tenure in office as a regional secretary. It was written early this year in response to the Regional Office's request for reflections from all former regional secretaries. The other one comes from Hong Kong SCM, mainly solicited because of their revival strategies in the wake of the challenge of 1997 when Hong Kong will be returned to China. Overall, the papers analyze various aspects of student ministry in Asia-Pacific in general and reflect the roles of SCMs in the various national contexts of Asia-Pacific movements in particular.

These 18 papers are arranged into six sub-sections: Biblical Perspectives for Ecumenical Student Ministry which were the four Bible studies led by Monica Melanchthon and Archie C.Lee; Context of the Student Ministry with papers presented by Feliciano V. Carino and Australian SCM; Focus of Student Ministry with papers by Singapore SCM and Jega Ponnambalam of the Asian Students Association: Strategies for Ecumenical Student Ministry with papers from Aotearoa – New Zealand SCM, Sri Lankan SCM, Hong Kong SCM and Kwon Jin Kwan of Korea; Ecumenical Student Ministry: Partnership of SCM and Churches with papers from Taiwan SCM, Christine Ledger and Clyde Robinson Jr.; and Review of Student Ministry in WSCF and the Asia – Pacific with papers from Yong Ting Jin and the CWP ’95 keynote addresses of Amanda Tibbey and Kyaw Than.

Hope S. Antone did a marvelous work in compiling, editing and bringing all these important papers into our 20th book, hopefully to serve as a resource material for ecumenical student ministry. The WSCF Asia-Pacific Region is ever grateful to her for her work of compiling and editing several books in the last few years. I also appreciate Bong Angeles for her contribution in the documentation of these papers during the CWP '95. I hope this 20th book series of Asia-Pacific Region will be a useful stimulant to all member movements and churches as you formulate your own new strategies for the ecumenical student ministry right where you are.

Rev. Daniel Peter

Regional Secretary

October 1995