The National Council of Churches in India is saddened to receive the news of the demise of H H Basileos Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East, Malankara Metropolitan, Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church who has entered eternal rest on Monday the 12^th July 2021. May his memory be eternal and blessed.

We remember with gratitude to God the ministries of His Holiness within the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, in the global orthodox communion and in the Indian and global ecumenical settings. We thank God for the spiritual leadership that His Holiness has given to the Church and in particular to the Episcopal synod and the clergy of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

The leadership of the National Council of Churches in India has fond memories of being warmly received by His Holiness during the many visits to the Catholicate Palace  in Kerala. His Holiness’ visits to the St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kalmeshwar, Nagpur, were always occasions for close interactions on issues relating to the Church and ecumenism. His Holiness’ visits to the NCCI headquarters have been joyous occasions of warmth and friendship.

The warmth and friendliness, and the smile on his face that puts one at ease, endeared His Holiness to one and all. Despite the important and venerable position he was bestowed with, His Holiness was accessible on all matters of ecumenical interests and was keen to dialogue on matters that were of concern.

The Most Reverend Dr.  P C Singh, President of the National Council of Churches in India has conveyed his deep sympathies and condolences at the death of His Holiness. He said, “The death of His Holiness Basileos Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East, Malankara Metropolitan, is a great loss to the Malankara Orhodox Syrian Church and to the NCCI family. We pray to God to give peace and solace to the members of the Episcopal synod, the clergy and the members of the church at this time of grief and mourning”.

We pray to God Almighty to bestow the Church with wisdom and guidance at this time of mourning to remember with gratitude the life of blessedness of His Holiness, and rededicate oneself individually and together as the Body of Christ, to a life of faithful obedience and relevant witness to our common Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ.

Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary, NCCI
13^th July 2021

The untimely demise of Rev Dr Santanu Kumar Patro, the Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College has cast a gloom over the minds of several of his associates and friends in the country and in the world. As an administrator and an ecumenical leader, Dr Patro has been a close friend of the NCCI and its network churches and their theological colleges for so many years, walking together on many contemporary issues that the NCCI network has involved, particularly during the last decade.

Born on October 20, 1960 in Berhampur, Odisha, he was ordained as a Presbyter of CNI Cuttack Diocese. Besides the Church of North India, his services included the World Vision India, as a Faculty at Eastern Theological College, Jorhat and Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, Chennai and as Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College from 2013-2021. His area of specialization was in the field of Religion and was a renowned scholar in religious studies, writing many articles and guiding many students. His scholarly articles on various subjects related to mission, ministry, theological education, religious studies, interfaith relations, ecumenism, etc were published in many reputed journals.

He was a visionary who always aimed for achieving great things for God. He worked tirelessly to take theological education to the higher levels which will in turn be a lasting contribution to churches in India and the Global South. His dream to provide quality theological education was seen during his service at the Senate of Serampore College. He had a special concern for the marginalized, through his teaching and service, whereby he was a true friend of the marginalized sections of our society. He envisioned an effective theological education that takes seriously the sufferings of the people as the basis of theologizing. As the Registrar of the Senate, we have seen some path breaking initiatives being taken, along with the NCCI in the areas of HIV and AIDS and thereafter in the area of gender and sexuality. A new syllabus in these sensitive areas of HIV and AIDS and then Human Sexuality was implemented at the Senate through his initiatives.

Being an ecumenist, Dr. Patro upheld the spirit of ecumenism in his writings and was one of his qualities which stood out during his ministry, particularly during his services at the Senate of Serampore College, which is a conglomeration of different colleges belonging to churches of various denominations. He understood the need for ecumenism in theological education and took serious efforts to develop it by embracing leaders of different churches with the utmost respect. In our long standing relationship with Dr Patro, the NCCI member churches and its affiliated theological colleges had a close relationship with him, promoting ecumenical values and challenging them towards key issues. As NCCI, we have indeed lost a true friend in Dr Patro, which we recognize as an irreparable loss for the ecumenical fraternity in India.

At this time of grief and loss, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife and children and share in solidarity in bidding a tearful adieu to Rev Dr Santanu Kumar Patro. May our resurrected Lord give strength to the family and may his life be an inspiration to all of us in the times ahead.

 

Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary, NCCI

 

The National Council for Churches in India was shocked to hear of the news of the sudden and untimely demise of Rev Yesunath D. Kalekar, the Vice Moderator of Hindustani Covenant Church. He represented the HCC faithfully in the Executive committee of  the NCCI. The leadership and the secretariat along with all those in the NCCI who were closely associated with him expresses its deepest condolences to the family, Hindustani Covenant Church and to all those who are in bereavement.

Rev Y Kalekar left for his eternal abode on 18^th March, 2021 at the age of 62 years.  He was a respected person among all those he interacted with, especially due to his humility and openness. He had a compassionate heart which showed through his work in the Covenant Social Service, a community development wing of the Hindustani Covenant Church.

His ecumenical spirit had been vivid through his participation in the affairs of the NCCI. His 35 years of service in the church brought drastic changes in the church and the society at large, especially in the lives of common masses. He will always be remembered for his efforts in instilling the messianic values into young minds.

The vision of Paul as he expressed in 1 Corinthians 15: 42-44, “So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.  It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body; it is raised a spiritual body”, is a source of comfort and hope.

May God’s blessings of peace and comfort be upon his wife Sulochana and sons, Augustine and Arnold. May God strengthen them and grant them peace.

Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary, NCCI

The National Council of Churches in India condones the death of Bishop Emmanuel Panchoo the Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh (ELCMP) who was called to glory on the 24^th of April 2021. As the Bishop of one of the member churches located in Nagpur, Bishop Panchoo was close to the NCCI family. Whenever he was in Nagpur he will participate in all the programs that NCCI conducted.

Known to be a Bishop with a missionary zeal, Bishop Panchoo was a strong believer in the church being called to be evangelistic in outlook and mission. His simplicity as a leader created a huge impact in many who were inspired with his servant leadership.

That, the ELCMP in the time of Bishop Panchoo’s leadership started ordaining women as Pastors is worthy of note. Bishop encouraged many ministries for the poor and the needy. He consciously involved women and young people to participate actively in the ministries of the church.

Despite the different odds that he faced in his personal and ministerial life, Bishop stood firm in the faith of his calling to serve the church. He was a great support to the ecumenical initiatives in the region.

The NCCI family expresses its heartfelt condolence and deep sympathy to the members of the family, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in MP and the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India. May we cherish the memories of our beloved Bishop and walk in the ways of God as he had shown. Let the peace of God gird the Church and all the members of his family.

Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary