Interfaith Round Table on Disability
National Council of Churches in India
Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment
Interfaith Round Table on Disability
August 7 – 9, 2017, Pallottine Animation Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra
Press Note
The NCCI – Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment (IDEA) is organizing an ‘Interfaith Round Table on Disability from 7 – 9 August 2017 at Pallottine Animation Centre, Nagpur. It is jointly organised by the World Council of Churches – Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, Spalding Trust, World Vision India and Christian Service Agency. The theme for the Round Table is “Faith Journey Together Towards ‘Inclusive Communities’”
It is a first event of its kind. There would be around 60 participants including clerics, theologians and academicians from major faiths including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Indigenous Traditions, Jainism, and Sikhism from all over India.
This Round Table aims to…
- invite different faith communities, to engage in conversing on ‘disability’ from their own faith and theological perspectives and experiences;
- suggest and facilitate ‘faith-alliance building’ among the faith communities at leadership and religious adherents’ levels to serve PWDs and strengthen advocacy and policy development initiatives.
Features of this Round Table are …
- Listening to Scriptures: “ What do our ‘Holy Books’ say about Disability?”
- Exploring our Religious Traditions: “How do our faith traditions treat PWDs?
- Examining whether our ‘holy shrines’ are accessible and inclusive.
- Getting to know the policies and programmes of Governments that ensure inclusion and how faith communities could join together to make those policies accessible to the PWDs and Public.
- Formulating Common and Collective Faith Based Action Plans.
The inauguration of the Round Table is scheduled on 7th August 2017 at 10:30 am. Honorable Prof. Dr. Siddharthavinayaka P. Kane, the Vice Chancellor of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, and the Most Rev. Dr. Michael G. Jackson, the Arch Bishop of Dublin, Church of Ireland, have consented to be guests of honor at this inauguration. The Rt. Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh – President of NCCI, Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad – General Secretary of NCCI, Rt. Rev. Paul Dupare – Bishop of Nagpur Diocese, CNI, Mr. Thomas Cherian – World Vision of India, Ms. Rachna Singh, Member, Executive Committee – NCCI and Rev. Dr. Joshva Raja – Church of England have also consented to jointly inaugurate the round table along with Ven. Bhante Dhammashree Sarathi, Mr. Santosh H. Chahande, Mr. Ankit Bhuptani, Janab. Ahammad Kutty, Prof. Dr. Amrit Kaur Basera , Swami Kedar Joshi Ji and Shri. Hamant Lodha and other faith representatives. As a mark of celebrating unity, these interfaith leaders will join the other participants in planting a tree symbolically at 10.30 am in the Pallottine Campus. The Round Table will conclude on 9th Aug 2017.
The participants will collectively engage in ‘dialogical conversations’ through input sessions, panel discussions, talk-shows, group discussions, practical talks, story-telling and interfaith worship.
For more details please see the Concept Note (.pdf | 371 kb).
Yours,
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
President – IDEA &
General Secretary NCCI |
Rev. R. Christopher Rajkumar
Director – IDEA &
Executive Secretary
NCCI – Unity & Mission |
Mrs. Cynthia Shinde
Co-ordinator – IDEA
<idea@ncci1914.com> |
Ecumenical news
Independence Day 2017 – Open letter to The Prime Minister of India
/25 Comments/in General news, News from NCCI, Other concerns, Statements /by Caesar DavidTo,
Shri Narendra Modi,
The Prime Minister of India.
Dear Prime Minister,
Greetings!
On Good Friday 14th April 2017 (The Day commemorating the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, instigated by the communal minded right wing religious and political leaders of the time), I had written an open letter to you expressing my concern as an Indian citizen about the state of affairs in the country. Perhaps you were too busy to respond to that letter or you thought it unnecessary to respond to an ordinary Indian citizen’s mann ki baat (which I could not transmit on national communication systems).
This time I write to you as an Indian spiritual seeker of God’s reign of justice, love and peace in our beloved country India. As all Indians go on to celebrate Independence day on 15th August 2017, and as we keep on hearing statements which stereotype Christians as being aliens or as being people whose patriotism is questioned, I would like to draw your attention to a very strong statement (with my added emphasis) made on “Church and State in Post-War India” by the National Council of Churches in India (an ecumenical body of Indian Protestant and Orthodox Tradition churches representing around 14 million Christians today) in its Council meeting in 1944[1]:
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Jharkhand Church and Civil Society Leaders condemn Advertisement of Government
/24 Comments/in General news /by Roger Gaikwad12th August 2017, Saturday
Press Statement
Issued by Jharkhand Solidarity Forum, Religious Organisations and Civil Society Organisations
We the members of Jharkhand Solidarity Forum, Religious Organisations, and Civil Society Organisations, protest and condemn the advertisement issued by the Information and Public Relations department of the Jharkhand government, published on 11th August 2017, on the front pages of Prabhat Khabar, Hindustan, Dainik Bhaskar and other newspapers.
This advertisement is an attempt to disrupt and damage the religious harmony and brotherhood between various communities and the Adivasi community by accusing the Christian community of conversions and using the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, without understanding the context.
Mahatma Gandhi, the father of our nation, believed in all religions and was strictly against dividing people on the basis of religion. Using his name to divide people is an insult of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Along with this, it is also a conspiracy by the state government to divide the people on the basis of religion. Together, we warn the state government that we will not let any such attempt by the state, to be successful.
We are against forcible conversions and we believe that the state government should not indulge in the politics of dividing people using forcible conversions as an excuse. We believe that religion is a matter of a person’s individual faith and belief and that the state should not unnecessarily intervene into that domain. Secondly, we also believe that all citizens have the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion according to their conscience as provided by the constitution.
This is a first incident of its kind where a state government is dividing people on the basis of religion especially Christians and minorities. Whereas it is the duty of the state to unite people, this government is misusing government machinery and public money to divide people. We strongly protest and condemn this step taken by the government, which is a hindrance in obtaining a peaceful and democratic society.
Released in Public Interest by Jharkhand Solidarity Forum, Religious Organisations and other Civil Society Organisations.
Consultation cum Workshop on ‘Food and Migration’
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI /by Christopher RajkumarWorld Council of Churches – Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
National Council of Churches in India – Unity and Mission
Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) and
Christian Service Agency
Consultation on “Food and Migration”
and
Workshop to Develop Worship Resources for Churches’ Week of Action on Food
The week between 10 – 17 October is an important week for the all the Global Ecumenical Movements, Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) since they collectively involve and participate in a campaign for Food-Justice. The World Council of Churches – Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has declared this week as “Churches’ Week of Action on Food”. It is a global campaign tool to advocate Food-justice ‘OF’ all – Food Justice ‘FOR all. This is part of the WCC -EAA’s global Campaign on ‘Food for Life’.
This is an invitation to several thousand congregations around the globe to observe this week meaningfully. Hence, this week includes the ‘International Day for Disaster Reduction’ (13 October), ‘International Day for Rural Women (15 October), World Food Day (16 October) and International Day for Eradication of Poverty (17 October). In fact the UN’s FAO Committee on Food Security meets between 11 -16 October every year in its head quarters in Rome, Italy. The WCC – EAA invites churches to observe the Sunday falling during this week as ‘Food for Life Sunday’.
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Black Day Observance in Delhi
/25 Comments/in General news, News from NCCI /by Samuel JayakumarDalit Christians and Dalit Muslims observe
10th August as a BLACK DAY
In Delhi, Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims observed Black Day on August 10th 2017 at Jantar Mantar. We expressed our dissatisfaction over the discriminatory paragraph 3 of the Presidential Order of 1950 and demanded SC status for Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims. It was organised by National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) Delhi Office and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Office for SC/BC. Around 100 members participated in the protest. We also submitted a memorandum to the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
Samuel Jaykumar,
Executive Secretary, NCCI
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Observance of “Black Day” at NCCI Campus, Nagpur
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI /by Dalit & Tribal/ Adivasi ConcernsThe National Council of Church
es in India with the initiative of the Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns observed ‘Black Day’ on 10th August 2017, protesting against the continual negligence of the government to the cry for the rights of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in the country. On this day in solidarity with the people who are oppressed, 27 members gathered together on the lawn of NCCI wearing black badges and displaying posters. A black flag was hoisted by Rev. Caesar J. David – Executive Secretary of Communications. It was not only an emblem of mourning for the injustice inflicted upon Dalit Christians and Muslims, but also an urgent appeal to the authority to repeal the unconstitutional law that violates and suppresses the rights of many citizens.
Mr. Pradip Bansrior – Executive Secretary of the Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns shared a reflection on the significance of the protest against the infamous Presidential Order that was signed on 10th August 1950 by the then President of India which said, “No person who professes a religion other than Hinduism shall be deemed to be a member of the scheduled caste,” which was later amended to include Sikhs (1956) and Buddhists (1990) in the Scheduled Caste net. But this law continues to rule out Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians from the Scheduled Castes List until date. Mr Pradip Bansrior also suggested how concerned people should respond in times like this: to be critical about not only the powers that be, but also about the way one lives, being a responsible citizen and a steward of God. The observance concluded with a prayer by Ms. Ushakiran Herold, remembering the plight and affliction of the people who are oppressed, and beseeching God to intervene and to bring justice for the oppressed.
Mathingmi Hongchui
Intern – Dalit and Tribal/Adivasi Concerns
National Council of Churches in India
NCCI letter to Prime Minister of India
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI, Statements /by Caesar DavidAugust 3, 2017
To,
Shri Narendra Modi,
Honourable Prime Minster of India.
Dear Prime Minister,
Greetings to you from the National Council of Churches in India!
Your good self and indeed all the citizens of the country are well aware of the phenomenon of minority targeted violence in the country. In the long list of such occurrences, we mention just a few recent incidents:
We are deeply disturbed about the various expressions of vigilantism in different parts of our Country. We strongly condemn incidents of lynching and mob violence, particularly against Muslims and Dalits. In fact minority communities are experiencing horrendous forms of Symbolic, Structural and Physical violence. Such occurrences not only corrode the secular ethos of our Country but also tarnish the name of India in the international sphere. On the one hand while we are boasting about our technological and economic development, our record in human relational secular development is not so laudable.
What makes us feel so exasperated is that the State and Central Governments are not taking severe action against the different expressions of vigilantism. Mere words of condemnation are not enough. We are horrified that various states are bringing severe anti cow slaughter acts where as there is so much reluctance to bring in anti lynching / mob violence acts and to implement them. Unfortunately, because of the link of vigilantes with political parties and cultural originations, state mechanisms are afraid to take action against them. Some of our national leaders keeping asserting that “law and order” is a state subject; nevertheless the Centre needs to pressurize the states to act. Since governance of the country in our times revolves around you, we strongly urge you to bring in a new act to address the present situation or execute severe action against perpetrators of violence using the existing laws.
At the same time the churches are deeply pained about the killing of 7 Amarnath Yatra Pilgims by terrorists. We urge you to provide more security to the pilgrims and bring the culprits to the law.
Therefore we call upon you to take effective positive steps for the inclusive multi-dimensional development of all the communities in our beloved country, India.
We also assure you the Christian community continues to pray for the country and to contribute to its all round development.
Yours sincerely,
SD/-
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad,
General Secretary, NCCI.
Letter to Prime Minister of India | August 3, 2017 | Page 1 of 2
Letter to Prime Minister of India | August 3, 2017 | Page 2 of 2
NCCI Letter to President of India
/24 Comments/in News from NCCI, Statements /by Caesar DavidAugust3, 2017
To,
Shri Ram Nath Kovind,
Honourable President of India.
Your Excellency,
Greetings to you from the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI)!
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) represents 14 million Protestant and Orthodox Christians in the country. On behalf of the Council, we congratulate you for being elected as the 14th President of India. We pray that the God will grant you wisdom and health to lead our great country, India.
As a guardian of the Constitution, we expect and request you to safeguard the democratic secular republic character and ethos of the Constitution of India. We are glad that you have affirmed the diversity of our country in your inaugural address. At the same time, we urge you to ensure justice to, and the dignity and development of, marginalized communities in our country. As the President of India we also are hopeful that you will ensure that constitutional rights of minority communities are upheld and protected.
May your term as President of India be blessed by God so that your office could be a blessing to all citizens of the country!
Yours sincerely,
SD/-
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
General Secretary, National Council of Churches in India.
Letter to President of India | August 3, 2017
Interfaith Round Table on Disability
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI /by Christopher RajkumarInterfaith Round Table on Disability
National Council of Churches in India
Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment
Interfaith Round Table on Disability
August 7 – 9, 2017, Pallottine Animation Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra
Press Note
The NCCI – Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment (IDEA) is organizing an ‘Interfaith Round Table on Disability from 7 – 9 August 2017 at Pallottine Animation Centre, Nagpur. It is jointly organised by the World Council of Churches – Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network, Spalding Trust, World Vision India and Christian Service Agency. The theme for the Round Table is “Faith Journey Together Towards ‘Inclusive Communities’”
It is a first event of its kind. There would be around 60 participants including clerics, theologians and academicians from major faiths including Baha’i, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Indigenous Traditions, Jainism, and Sikhism from all over India.
This Round Table aims to…
Features of this Round Table are …
The inauguration of the Round Table is scheduled on 7th August 2017 at 10:30 am. Honorable Prof. Dr. Siddharthavinayaka P. Kane, the Vice Chancellor of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur, and the Most Rev. Dr. Michael G. Jackson, the Arch Bishop of Dublin, Church of Ireland, have consented to be guests of honor at this inauguration. The Rt. Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh – President of NCCI, Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad – General Secretary of NCCI, Rt. Rev. Paul Dupare – Bishop of Nagpur Diocese, CNI, Mr. Thomas Cherian – World Vision of India, Ms. Rachna Singh, Member, Executive Committee – NCCI and Rev. Dr. Joshva Raja – Church of England have also consented to jointly inaugurate the round table along with Ven. Bhante Dhammashree Sarathi, Mr. Santosh H. Chahande, Mr. Ankit Bhuptani, Janab. Ahammad Kutty, Prof. Dr. Amrit Kaur Basera , Swami Kedar Joshi Ji and Shri. Hamant Lodha and other faith representatives. As a mark of celebrating unity, these interfaith leaders will join the other participants in planting a tree symbolically at 10.30 am in the Pallottine Campus. The Round Table will conclude on 9th Aug 2017.
The participants will collectively engage in ‘dialogical conversations’ through input sessions, panel discussions, talk-shows, group discussions, practical talks, story-telling and interfaith worship.
For more details please see the Concept Note (.pdf | 371 kb).
Yours,
President – IDEA &
General Secretary NCCI
Director – IDEA &
Executive Secretary
NCCI – Unity & Mission
Co-ordinator – IDEA
<idea@ncci1914.com>
NCCI invites Churches to Engage in Advocacy on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on 30th July
/24 Comments/in General news /by Moumita BiswasSlavery exits in your front yard . Human Trafficking is Modern Day Slavery .
How equipped are your churches , congregations , pastors, and missionaries to end Human Trafficking ?
A pastor from one of the member churches of NCCI in Delhi shared that his congregation members comprises mainly migrant workers from Jharkhand and other tribal belts in India . He mentioned many of the young girls in his congregation who migrate to be domestic workers are at high risk of being trafficked.
Revd. Jyoti Samuel Singh an ordained woman minister from Church of North India, former Executive Committee member of NCCI, while promoting the “365 Days Zero Tolerance to Gender Based Violence: Make it Happen Now!” Campaign of NCCI shared a similar concern regarding the vulnerability of women and children who are members of our congregations and communities. “ We have to take action and do something to end this modern day slavery and we have to do it now.” asserts Revd Samuel.
Facts about Human Trafficking in India
(cf. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2941836/Red-alert-oxytocin-injections-given-child-prostitutes-speed-puberty.html; Mohana Basu, “Juvenile Trafficking: Glimpses of Kolkata”, International Research Journal of Interdisciplinary & Multidisciplinary Studies (IRJIMS),Volume-II, Issue-XI, December 2016, Page No. 103-110; accessed on 29th July 2017)
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NCCI Congratulates Church of South India for its Endeavors to Formulate Gender Justice Policy to Build Just Inclusive Communities
/25 Comments/in General news, News from NCCI /by Moumita BiswasConsultative Group of Church of South India Gender Justice Policy
The Consultative Group for Church of South India (CSI) Gender Justice Policy met at CSI Centre under the leadership of Rev. Dr. D.Rathnakara Sadananda, General Secretary, CSI and Rev. Asir Ebenezer, Director, CSI-SEVA on 26th July 2017 to deliberate on the formulation of a Gender Policy for CSI. 11 core group members attended this important meeting. NCCI accompanied CSI in this process through the representation of Ms Moumita Biswas – Executive Secretary of Women’s Concerns Ministry, being part of the Consultative Group .
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