Report of the Tamilnadu Christian Council Executive Committee held on  September 20, 2016 at TNCC Office, Guindy, Chennai.

tncc-ex-com-2016-1

The Executive Committee of the Tamilnadu Christian Council was held on the 20th September 2016 at TNCC Office, Guindy, Chennai.

Rt. Rev. Dr. M. Joseph, the President of TNCC and the CSI Bishop of the Diocese of Madurai – Ramnad presided over the meeting. There were Twenty TNCC – Member representatives and Church leaders officially participated and I (Rev. Christopher Rajkumar) represented the National Council of Churches in India as a General Secretary nominee.

The Meeting  was opened with word of prayer by the Rev. Dr. (Mrs.) Nalini Immanuel of the CSI Trichy – Tanjore Diocese. Dr. Esther Kathiroli, the Secretary / Director of TNCC welcomed the Members and Bishop Joseph greeted the members and led a devotion. Rev. Christopher Rajkumar shared the greetings of the National Council of Churches in India and its Officers including the General Secretary and Secretariat.

The proposed agenda contained the constitutional requirements such as receiving the activity and financial reports and approval of budget along with seeking of an approval to convene the next TNCC – General Assembly in November 2016. It was also reported that, the Arcot Lutheran Church has come forward in hosting the same at Thirukovilur in Tamilnadu from 4 to 5 November 2016.

Read more

dsc02752

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), Church of North India (CNI) Synod and Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD)  called  the 1st planning meeting for ‘500 years of Reformation Anniversary’ in Delhi on 21st October 2016 at CNI Bhavan.

dsc02746The Most Rev. P.K. Samantaroy, Moderator, CNI presided over the meeting. Rev. Dr. Paul Swarup, CNI reflected on the history of Reformation, Martin Luther’s role and its relevance in today’s world. Rev. Markus Lesinski, EKD, deliberated over 12 points on the impacts and challenges of the Global Reformation Celebration. Over 22 people from various churches and Christian organizations  attended the meeting.

In order to discuss further plans for the celebrations, the next meeting will be held  on 21st November 2016 .

Samuel Jayakumar
Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness, NCCI

21st September 2016 – International Prayer Day for Peace

(An invitation to “Do” and “Practice” Peace)

“Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”(United Nations)

ipdp-imageEach year, the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21st September. The General Assembly of the United Nations has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals to inculcate the culture of Peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The World Council of Churches calls Churches and all the faith and peace loving communities to observe the International Day of Prayer for Peace. Observances of the peace prayer day began in 2004 during a meeting between the then WCC General Secretary Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace.

Read more

IMG-20160309-WA0005Chhattisgarh Christian Council (CCC), regional Christian Council of the National Council of Churches in India,  strongly Condemns the Vandalisation of Church and assault on Believers Chhattisgarh Church and subsequent assault on the church members in Kachana near Raipur city. The attack happened around 11 am on March 6, 2016 allegedly by members of Bajrang Dal. The Pastor Ankush Bareyekar approached the Vidhan Sabha thana where the police after a long delay registered the FIR.

Read more

Theme: Receive Children, Receive Me

Country Focus : Cuba
cover-pg-wdp2016
World Day of Prayer (WDP) is a global, ecumenical movement of Christian women joined together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March. The Motto of WDP is “Informed Prayer & Prayerful Action” signifies that prayer and action are inseparable. It is a movement initiated and carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions. WDP brings together women of various races, cultures, and traditions in closer fellowship, understanding, and action throughout the year. Each year a different theme is chosen and the resource material and liturgy is prepared by WDP Committee of a particular country. Therefore, WDP gives scope to women all over the world to pray for that particular country. Christian women through this prayer movement raise funds to support projects and programs and initiatives of women for justice and peace through WDP International Committee.

Read more

A Nationaphotol Consultation on Ecumenical Advocacy to End Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery was organized  by All India Council of  Christian Women ( AICCW)  in Partnership with  Lutheran World Service India Trust on   10th January 2016 in Kolkata. 25 leaders from different faith based organizations and Churches working to end Human Trafficking or justice and peace issues participated in this consultation . Strengthening networking, ecumenical advocacy, capacity building, ending impunity, supporting survivors and their children, alleviating poverty, and intercepting/ending Human Trafficking and Sexual Slavery are  priority foci of   AlCCW.

A part of this consultation involved dialogue with women, men and youth local leaders from adopted communities of Lutheran World Service India Trust who are mainly migrant, domestic workers and daily wage laborers. “Our aim was not only just to strategize to end human trafficking but also to hear the voices of people on the periphery who are more vulnerable and  at risk. It was important for us to hear from them their stories  challenges and vulnerability and how they combat and intercept human trafficking. Our aim was to link Leaders from faith based organizations and church leaders and women’s fellowships to support, rehabilitate and heal survivors also” states Ms Moumita Biswas, Executive Secretary of AICCW.

Read more

Bp Zacharias Mar TheophilusRt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus, Suffragan Metropolitan of the Kerala-based Mar Thoma Syrian Church, passed away on 27th December 2015 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
Born on August 29, 1938, as Oommen Koruthu, he was ordained as deacon on May 7, 1966; as a priest on July 9 that year, and consecrated as Bishop in May 1980. He was installed as Suffragan Metropolitan on July 3, 2004.

Read more

Bas WielengaRev. Dr. Bastiaan Wielenga,  a German missionary who opted for Indian citizenship, and a globally renowned Indian Liberation theologian of our times passed away on 23rd Dec 2015.  Among several commitments, he served the Ecumenical Christian Centre,  the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, and Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, where he played a major role in founding the’ Centre for Social Analysis’, and from where he retired as a Professor of Biblical Studies.

Dr. Bastiaan Wielenga’s contributions towards articulation of contextual theologies, particularly Theology of the Poor and Indian Liberation Theology, through the Centre for Social Analysis and  Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in particular and the Senate of Serampore College at large, are indeed remarkable.

Read more

ccd0The celebration of ‘Christmas joy through carols’ was arranged by National Council of Churches in India and North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) on 5th December 2015 at Free Church (CNI), Sansad Marg . Mr. Justice Vikramajit Sen, Supreme Court of India, was the Chief Guest of the event. He emphasized that as a Christian Community we should contribute to Nation Building.

The service started with a prayer by Rev. Suresh Kumar, Presbyter-in–Charge, Free Church, followed by the welcome address by Bishop Collin C. Theodore, Secretary NWICC. The felicitation was done by Bishop Subodh C. Mondal, the President of NWICC. The gathering was delighted by carols and scripture reading. Around 10 choirs from different churches (Protestant, Catholic, orthodox and Northeast) sang carols in different languages.
Read more

This is an e-mail received by the office of the General Secretary of National Council of Churches in India from Arcot Lutheran Church (ALC) updating us of the situation in Chennai and the continuing need for support in relief and rehabilitation efforts undertaken by NCCI’s constitutional members.

Greetings to you from the Arcot Lutheran church.

Thanks for your kind mail dated Dec 8, 2015 and we are very happily noted the contents with a deep sense of thankfulness.

We take this opportunity to express our deep sense of gratitude for taking time to inform all the NCCI member churches about the devastation happened in Tamilnadu especially in the Arcot Lutheran Church areas of three districts namely Cuddalore, Villupuram and Tiruvannamalai.
Read more