Delegates at the ACT Alliance general assembly have elected governing board member Dr Sushant Agrawal leader of the highest body of the network.
World Council of Churches
Theological Consultation on ‘Economy of Life’
27 – 30 October 2014, CSI Guest House, Chennai, India
The Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), joining the Board of Diaconal Ministries of the Church of South India (CSI) Synod hosted the World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Theological Consultation on ‘Economy of Life’ from 27 – 30 October 2014 at CSI Guest House in Chennai, India.
40 participants representing different geo-political landscapes and peoples’ groups, global and contextual theological and ecumenical fraternities, civil society movements, christian churches and local congregations, interfaith communities and ecumenical movements from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and North America actively participated in the consultation.
The TAMILNADU CHRISTIAN COUNCIL joining the Churches in Madurai, Tamilnadu in Hosting the Tamilnadu Regional Centenary Celebration on the 20th September 2014. The Church of South India Madurai Ramnad Diocese gave an exemplary leadership to the celebrations in joining hands with the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, Methodist Church in India, Salvation Army, Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Roman Catholic Churches and over 100 Pentecostal and Front Line Churches and over 40 Christian Mission Organizations, Theological Seminaries and Training Institutes and including the YWCA and Bible Society.
Kottayam: As part of Centenary celebration programs of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) in various regions around the country, Kerala Council of Churches (KCC) hosted a three-day long (September 26th to 28th, 2014) program in Kottayam and Tiruvalla.
The Kerala bound celebration was inaugurated by Prof P J Kuriam, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, on the 26th of September at the CSI Retreat Centre in Kottayam. Rt Rev Thomas K Oommen, the Deputy Moderator of the Church of South India, chaired the meeting in which Rt. Rev. Taranath S. Sagar (NCCI President) delivered the Centenary Message. The former president of NCCI H.G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos (Mumbai), Archbishop Kuriakose Mar Severius (Knanaya), H. G. Dr. Kuriakose Mar Theophilus (Jacobite), H. G. Awgin Mar Kuriakose, Mr. M. M. Philip (WCC Central Committee Member), Ms Pearly Jose (NCCI Vice President) gave their felicitations. Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad conveyed the greetings of NCCI and handed over mementos to the Church of South India and KCC. The delegation from NCCI and the Executive Committee members of KCC were present in the event. Fr. Dr. M. P. George sung the Prayer Song in Sanskrit and the choirs of Sruti, FFRRC and CSI Youth presented melodious songs. Rev. Joby Joy extended the vote of thanks.
After assessing the flood situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared the situation a “national‐level disaster” and announced a special assistance of INR 1,000 crore (US$ 170, 940, 171) for the flood‐hit state besides INR 2 00000 (US $ 3419) compensation from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the kin of the dead and INR 50,000 (US $ 855) for those seriously injured.
CASA has released INR 21, 75, 500 (US$37,188) towards organizing distribution of dry ration kit and NFIs to 1170 families in Kulgam and Sri Nagar districts in Kashmir. CASA along with its local partner organizations and Mountain Forum Himalayas have been one of the first respondents to the disaster in Kashmir.
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REPORT OF REGIONAL NCCI CENTENARY CELEBRATION PROGRAMME
(Hyderabad Region)
September 12 – 14, 2014
The NCCI centenary celebration in Hyderabad region started with a grand Centenary Inaugural programme organized by Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC) in its campus. The celebration began with an indigenous dance welcoming the dignitaries to the venue: the ACTC chapel.
The service in the chapel began at 9:30 am on September 12, 2014. Rev. Dr. Matthews Emmanuel Thathapudi, Principal of ACTC invited several Read more
APPEAL FOR PRAYER AND CHANNELIZING SUPPORT
Extracts from
Kashmir Floods Situation Updates
Up to 13 September 2014
By Arjimand Hussain, Rawalpora, Srinagar
Prepared with Additional Inputs and Edited by Mazher Hussain, COVA, Hyderabad
Most News Headlines on Kashmir floods continue to fall short of capturing the intensity of this calamity. I have put together some points which our friends in media and humanitarian agencies could use in their communications to capture the enormity of the crisis:
Critical Immediate Aid Requirements
– Critical aid requirements include: boats, drinking water, medicines, water purifying tablets, food, warm clothes, Beddings and Quilts (Razai), baby food, milk, liquid hand sanitisers, women’s hygiene kits, children’s hygiene kits.
The Disaster and Its Impact Read more
NCCI learns with shock and sorrow the passing away of Mr. Purna Chandra Jena, popularly known as PC Jena on 31st August 2014. He was around 68 and was suffering from acute asthma.
Three of our Executive Secretaries have finished their term of office with the National Council of Churches in India. We are grateful to God for the fine leadership we have had in them. As our friends take their skills and wisdom to other ministries, we wish them God’s richest blessings for an increasingly fruitful ministry.
REV. ASIR EBENEZER
Joined NCCI June 1, 2004 and served till May 31, 2014 in various capacities: Executive Secretary for Urban-Rural Mission (URM) and later of the NCCI Commission on Policy and National Governance, Officiating General Secretary for a year (2010), and Finance Secretary. He has contributed to NCCI at many levels including programs, finance, communications, strategic planning process and policies. His work at NCCI has been so extensive that any attempts to define it would fall short of according sufficient acknowledgement. He has taken office with the Church of South India (CSI) Synod located in Chennai. Read more
Dear friends,
On account of the stormy weather including incessant rains over the last week in Nagpur, some trees near Azariah House in the NCCI Campus have fallen causing extensive damage to the structure of Azariah House.(See pictures below)
As we may know that the house is named after the well-known Indian Church leader and ecumenist Bishop Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah (1874 – 1945), and has been used variously as conference hall, guest house, meeting place, etc.
We are celebrating the centenary of NCCI this year. In fact, the concluding celebration is planned to be held in Nagpur during November 6 – 10, 2014. The Azariah House facilities need to be in usable condition as early as possible.
We urgently appeal to you to grant financial support for repairing Azariah House and the compound wall which has collapsed in many places. The repair work is estimated at INR Ten Lakhs (Rs. 10,00,000/-) which is about USD 17000/-.
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