Heads of NCCI Member Churches hold URGENT CONSULTATION ahead of important meeting with Union Government

Heads of Member Churches of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) met in Bengaluru on Tuesday 4th August 2026 ahead of an important meeting with the Government of India. His Grace Geevarghese Mar Yulios, President of the National Council of Churches in India presided over the meeting, supported by the NCCI Office bearers.

Leaders representing 19 million christians adhering to 32 historical and traditional christian lineage of the Protestant and Orthodox christian heritages discussed the implications of the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 that is before the Parliament for discussion and decision. That the Amendment is seemingly violative of the Rights of Minorities enshrined in the Constitution of India; and that the Bill is seeking to amend a law that is already problematic with regard to what is laid down and interpreted as ‘violation’ both in letter and spirit, as well as how it is interpreted and implemented arbitrarily, was noted. The leaders took serious note of the narrative that the registrations under FCRA are cancelled on account of foreign money being used for ‘conversion’ and activities affecting national security, and that Christians are agents of foreign countries to destabilise the nation,

The possibility of misuse by the Executive to divest properties inherited and owned by christian institutions with history and emotion, lack of administrative and judicial processes for review of acts of omission and commission, the idea of deemed cessation, the functions of the vesting authority vis-a-vis the vested properties, were highlighted as those which are problematic with the proposed amendment. That the proposed amendment is silent on whether it will come into effect retrospectively was also noted. Leaders emphasised that the work of Jesus the Christ will be continued as the Churches Mission of Compassion to the majority in the country whether ‘money received through global sharing’ is accessible or not. They also affirmed that the mission of the Church in achieving positive indicators on health, nutrition, education, poverty alleviation and eradication of hunger will continue unabated until the Country achieves its SDG targets and ALL people are well on their way to achieving the Country’s Gross National Happiness.

Matters relating to the undesirability of the Uniform Civil Code, the structural Violations relating to the practice of the Freedom of Religion and Belief including the longstanding appeal to make the 1950 Presidential order religion-neutral, Attacks on Christians and Churches, the issues of ones faith and belief contradicting the mandatory singing of the full version of the National Song albeit in certain occasions, concerns relating to the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan 2025, affirmation of the immediate implementation of the Women Reservation Bill, the call of Youth of this country for transparent and accountable public governance and the unnecessary call in some quarters for a National Welfare Board for Christians, were also discussed. Suitable directions were suggested and the Secretariat was mandated for necessary and timely follow up

Supreme Heads, their representatives, and Leaders of the Church of North India, the Church of South India, the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Methodist Church in India, the Salvation Army, the Hindustani Covenant Church, the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East, the Arcot Lutheran Church, the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church, the South Andhra Lutheran Church, the Mennonite Church in India, the Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church, the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church, the National Organisation of the New Apostolic Church, the Believers Eastern Church, and the Evangelical Church in India, among others, participated in the Conclave.

The Presbyterian Church in India, the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India, and the Baptist Church in Mizoram was represented through the presence of the North East India Christian Council. Leaders of NCCI Member Organisations located in Bengaluru were also present along with leaders from the Karnataka Council of Churches, the regional body of the NCCI. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) were represented in the meeting through its Deputy Secretary General and President respectively. The Bangalore Regional Conference of the Methodist Church in India hosted the meeting. Staff the NCCI National Office and Secretariat ably supported the meeting.

Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary NCCI