NCCI Celebrating Disability Advocacy Sunday
Disability Advocacy Sunday (DAS) is observed on a Sunday before Advent Sunday every year since 2011.- is both celebration and challenge.
- is to celebrate lives and witness of the Persons with Disability (PWDs) amongst us.
- aims to facilitate the Churches to open their doors to become inclusive, accessible and hospitable to the PWDs to fully participate in the very Life, Mission and Ministers of the Churches.
- is an opportunity to raise awareness and to find solutions to the physical, architectural, communication and attitude to those with PWDs.
- is paves ways to the PWDs to participate and lead the worship and liturgies and read scriptures and even ministering the Words of God.
- is giving a chance for the Churches to review their mission agenda to address the Disability issue differently, creatively and relevantly.
November 6, 2014 is a bench mark year in the faith journey of the NCCI – Indian Ecumenical Disability Accompaniment (IDEA).
Challenge:
No society and Church could declare that, there are no PWDs in us and among us! If any Church is found without a PWD, the DAS is a good time to examine why that is the Church open and actively seeking to make itself to open to all?
India is one of the largest countries that have more PWDs. In our society in the midst of all efforts in making society inclusive and accessible still, the PWDs live in closed and confined spaces.
Many PWDs have less access to education or low education and employment, transportation and life in public.
This context would help us to set our mission agenda for the PWDs inwardly and outwardly.
The NCCI Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation (CJPC) organized its annualInternational Prayer Day for Peace Celebrations on the 21st September, 2015 in Ranchi, Jharkhand, joining the SCM Jharkhand Bihar Region, CNI Chota Nagpur Diocese, GEL Church and Christian Service Agency on the theme ‘Peace and Dignity on Earth’. There were 150 participants from the different colleges, Churches and Civil Society Movements.
The Engage Disability Regional Hub meeting was held at the CNI Grace Cathedral in Raipur on the 12th Oct 2015. The Chhattisgarh Christian Council organized this meeting with NCCI – IDEA and Christian Service Agency. There were over 100 participants from several churches and institutions in Chhattisgarh State including several PWDs with their families from different backgrounds.
The World Council of Churches calls the global churches and faith communities to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace on the 21 September which is also the United Nations-sponsored International Day of Peace. The Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation of the National Council of Churches in India joining its members in observing the same by organizing special programmes, worships, candle light vigils and prayers and on 21 September every year to observe the International Prayer Day for Peace.
August 25, 2008 was an unforgettable day which caused a deep scar on the Indian Democracy. This was the day, when a group of right wing Hindu fundamentalists brutally attacked and tormented several hundred Dalits and Adivasis in Kandhmal (Odisha). This pre-planned and organised ‘communal attack’ against minorities was the biggest in the history of India. It is against the spirit of the Indian Constitution drafted by Dr. B R Ambedkar and against the spirit of Unity and Harmony in India.
2015 is the Birth Centenary year of the late Dr. M. M. Thomas a globally renowned Church Man, Ecumenist, Christian Theologian, Socialist and Humanist. To offer an ecumenical tribute to this great person, the National Council of Churches in India, along with CASA and in partnership with CISRS, ECC and SCMI organized a Dr. M M Thomas Birth Centenary Public Lecture on 24th August 2015 at ECC Bangalore, on the theme ‘Democracy and Inclusive Governance’.
The NCCI-Commission on Youth organized a 20 minutes radio programme with a panel discussion on the theme “Youth Civic Engagement” at All India Radio, Nagpur as an observance of International Youth Day on 12th August 2015. Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, NCCI gave the keynote address on Youth. Various perspectives from educational institution, social activist and secular on Youth Civic Engagement in present society and its negligence were addressed in the panel which was moderated by Ms. Panita Sandela, Intern. ELC in MP Nagpur Youth presented a special number and greetings were given by Rev. Sweety Helen, Executive Secretary, Commission on Youth-NCCI.
In observing the Independence Day, the NCCI-Commission on Youth organized a friendly sports meet for the North-East youth at the NCCI campus at 3:00 pm. Rev. Sweety Helen, Executive Secretary, Commission on Youth rendered the welcome address and Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary, NCCI offered the prayer to inaugurate the friendly sports meet. About 30 youth attended and participated the Sports meet. Volleyball and Badminton were played. Mr. Zuchon Ovung, Pastor, North East Christian Fellowship Nagpur offered the closing prayer and the sports meet was concluded.
The NCCI-Commission on Youth successfully organized the Youth for Social Justice Camp at Visthar, Bangalore from 3rd – 7thAugust in partnership with NCCI-Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation, International Justice Mission and Visthar. The five days camp was allocated with different social problems – Trafficking, Sexual Minorities, Child Rights and Disability.