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Preface
The CCA-WSCF Joint Programme '95 marked a renewed covenant for
partnership in ecumenical student ministry in the Asia-Pacific with both the
Christian Conference of
To Build and To Plant – this is our
vision. We would like to build student/youth movements that are free from the
various kinds of captivities that are existent in our societies. We seek to
build a society where justice, peace, love, harmony and equality prevails. Our
vision is to uphold and care for God's creation, to nurture one another, to
strengthen our relationship with God, and to practice a faith that is rooted in
the teachings of the scriptures...Our vision is to plant responsible and
committed student/youth movements who will be bearers of the gospel and agents
of change, whose efforts will result in the total well-being of all and
fullness of life of all humanity....
The joint statement was made during the recently concluded CCA-WSCF
Joint Programme '95 held in Bangkok YMCA,
A joint tradition of both the CCA and WSCF A-P, the Joint Programme
marks the continuing covenant between the two for
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partnership in promoting ecumenical student
ministry in Asia-Pacific and a re-affirmation of the churches' understanding of
the SCM as the arm of the ecumenical movement on campuses. It was also part of
the region's celebration of the WSCF's centennial
anniversary this 1995.
The theme, To Build and To Plant, recalled the prophecy of Jeremiah
describing God's action through the words of the prophet. While it emphasized
the positive elements in the calling, there was a constant awareness of the
need to root out and to pull down and to destroy and to throw down all that is
wrong, along with the building and the planting. More emphasis was made on the
positive aspects of the task knowing that so much tearing down has already
happened and that foundations have already been laid by previous generations of
SCMs.
Specifically, the programme focused on the following objectives: (1) To analyze the change of student
situations on campuses, especially with regards to the ideological and
intellectual climate among students and academics; (2) To understand the
present needs, concerns and problems of students in the context of rapid
socio-economic-political changes in Asia-Pacific societies; (3) To envision new
ways or aims of student ministry in the light of these changes; and (4) To
strategize the mission of the church in the universities in view of a more
substantial and effective ministry among students.
The programme consisted of worship and celebration, keynote addresses,
Bible studies, panel presentations on topics taken from the above objectives, small
group discussions and reflections, and creative workshops – shadow play, dance
and music, and drama.
In these proceedings, readers will find a brief summary of ideas and
thoughts presented by senior friends and students in the abovementioned
sessions of the programme. However, the full texts of some selected
presentations will be published as WSCF Book Series later.
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The joint statement, which synthesized all the inputs and discussions,
consists of an analysis of the present situations of education, students,
academic staff, and SCMs in the Asia-Pacific Region; a re-affirmation of the
common vision of CCA and WSCF; and recommendations for future actions by the
education and academic communities, the SCMs, the churches and the ecumenical
movement, and for future CCA-WSCF Joint Programme.
We hope that publishing the proceedings of this very important gathering
will help you with your own reflections, plans and actions for a truly
ecumenical student ministry in Asia-Pacific – one that is rooted in the Bible,
grounded in our national contexts, responsive to the needs of our studentry, and faithful to the mandates of the Gospel.
With this publication we also wish to seal our grateful thanks to all
who have been involved in one way or another with the whole CCA-WSCF Joint
Programme '95: all those involved in the planning and implementing the
programme; all the contributors to our study dossiers; all the resource persons
at the programme from among the senior friends and SCMs; the funding partners
without whose support the programme would not have been possible; and the
Bangkok YMCA whose hospitality and good service helped create a truly
celebrative atmosphere for the CWP '95 and the WSCF
centennial anniversary. Indeed, a very BIG THANK YOU to all!