Prof. P Jonathan Jegadish Gandhi
28 September 1941 – 7 October 2016
National Council of Churches in India mourns the demise of Prof. Dr. Jegadish Gandhi, a committed Church Person, Ecumenist, Development Economist and Columnist. Prof. Gandhi, who was hospitalised at CMC Vellore because of a massive cardiac arrest on 4th October, passed away on 7th Oct 2016.
Prof. Gandhi hailed from a rural place, Kamudhi in Ramnad District in Tamilnadu. He had his education at CSI Swartz School in Ramnad. In fact he and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the late former President of India, were school contemporaries in Ramnad. Prof. Gandhi pursued his Graduation and Post Graduation from the prestigious Thiyagaraja College of Art and Science, Tepakkulam, Madurai and moved to Vellore to teach at Voorhese College. He joined as a lecturer in the Economics Department, became a Senior Professor and eventually HOD. His expertise was in ‘Developmental Economy’. He authored numerous books and articles on Economics, Development, and social issues, and later on ecology and theology. He even wrote regularly in news papers as a columnist. Prof. Gandhi served as a member of the Planning Committee of the Government of Tamilnadu and held several honorary positions at State and Central Levels. He was also the President of the Association of Economists. Dr. Gandhi travelled widely as an Indian ‘alternate’ economist. He also organised several national and international conferences in India and in abroad.
The Vellore Institute of Developmental Study was his post retirement initiative; he served as its founder Director till his last breath. He made this institution global by relating, affiliating and accrediting with several international organisations and movements. He received several awards including the lifetime achievement award from Association of Economists.
Prof. Gandhi was committed to his Christian calling to promote Justice, Love and Peace. He contributed a significant contribution to the local CSI congregation as well as to Vellore diocese. As an ecumenist, he actively participated in the work of Ecumenical Christian Centre and Association of Christian Institutions of Social Concern in Asia (ACISCA), of which he was serving as General Secretary. In April 2016, he represented the ACISCA at the XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly of the NCCI. He served as a resource person at, and cosponsor of several NCCI’s programmes and also contributed articles to the NCC Review.
The funeral is scheduled for 9th Oct 2016 (Monday) in Vellore. Through this homage the Council offers its consolation to and prayers for Mrs. Sugirtham Gandhi, their three daughters and families. His family could be contacted at +91 9894051256.
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad,
General Secretary,
On behalf of the National Council of Churches in India
Ecumenical news
Presbyterian Church of India appreciate COP21 Paris Agreement
General news, News from Constituent MembersThe email below was received from Rev. Rolianthanga Lalsim of the Presbyterian Church of India, which is a constituent member of NCCI:
Dr. Roger, members of the media fraternity,
It is my pleasure to send as attachment copy of our fax letter to Honourable Prime Minister, expressing appreciation on India having ratified the COP21 Paris Agreement and which become enforceable from tomorrow, 04/11/2016.
It is hoped that you will share the same through your channel of communication.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rev. Rolianthanga Lalsim,
Adm. Secretary I/c Peace and Justice,
Presbyterian Church of India”
download the letter
Conflict to Communion: Historical Signatures at Lutheran Cathedral, Sweden on Oct 31, 2016
News from NCCI, Other concernsNational Council of Churches in India welcomes the Joint Unity Declaration by the Catholics and Lutherans
October 31, 1517 became a kairos day in history as Martin Luther nailed 95 theses on the doors of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Germany. After 499 years on the same day, another landmark history was created in the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund in Sweden when Pope Francis and Bishop Dr. Munib Younan (President – Lutheran World Federation) jointly signed a statement in which Catholics and Lutherans pledged to pursue their dialogue in order to remove the remaining obstacles that hinder them from reaching full unity. They also stressed their commitment to common witness on behalf of the poor, the needy and victims of injustice. This commemoration brings hope for greater unity.
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Press Release – Tamilnadu Churches Commemorating the 500 Years of Reformation.
News from Constituent Members, News from NCCIPress Release.
Tamilnadu Churches Commemorating the 500 Years of Reformation.
The recently held Executive Committee of the Tamilnadu Christian Council in Chennai chaired by Rt. Rev. Dr. M Joseph, President of TNCC has decided to commemorate the 500 Years of Reformation on the theme: “Reformation of the Church for the Renewal Communities”.
This commemoration would be at the inauguration of the next General Assembly of Tamilnadu Christian Council, which is scheduled to be held at Thirukovilur in Tamilnadu from 3 to 4 November 2016 and hosted by the Arcot Lutheran Church.
The agenda of this commemoration includes biblical-theological reflections, ministerial espouses, seminars, conversations and sessions to plan the joint ecumenical actions. The outcome of this commemoration would set an ecumenical-missional agenda for the Churches in Tamilnadu for the near future.
There would be around 100 Church Leaders, Theologians, Mission Workers, Women, Men Youth and Activists expected to participate.
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Report: Tamilnadu Christian Council Executive Committee – September 20, 2016
News from Constituent MembersReport of the Tamilnadu Christian Council Executive Committee held on September 20, 2016 at TNCC Office, Guindy, Chennai.
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.
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Parliament did nothing to curb religion’s misuse in polls: SC
General newsThe Supreme Court on Thursday said Parliament has done nothing in the last two decades to stop misuse of religion for electoral gains.
The apex court’s seven-judge Constitution Bench asked why it (court) should not step in to make seeking of votes by raking up religion a corrupt electoral practise under the Representation of People Act.
Observing that Parliament did noting since 1996 when a five-judge bench made a reference to a seven-judge bench on the impact of using Hindutva in elections vis-a-vis Section 132 (3) of the Act, Chief Justice T.S. Thakur asked if it (Parliament) was waiting for the apex court to pronounce a verdict as in case of curbing sexual harassment at work places through what are known as Vishaka guidelines.
“Parliament has done nothing in the last 20 years while the reference was pending. Maybe it is waiting for us to pronounce judgment like in the sexual harassment case,” said Chief Justice Takhur, who is heading the bench.
Besides the Chief Justice, Justice Madan B. Lokur, Justice S.A. Bobde, Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, and Justice L. Nageswara Rao are on the Constitution Bench. Read more
Planning Meeting for ‘500 Years of Reformation Anniversary’ – NCCI, CNI Synod and EKD
News from Constituent Members, News from NCCI, Other concernsThe 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.
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
Lutherans and Catholics chart path to unity
General newsPope Francis receives a gift from children during a visit to Christuskirche, a parish of the German Evangelical Lutheran church, in Rome on Nov. 15, 2015. (CNS/Catholic Press/ Massimiliano Migliorato)
Thomas Ryan | Oct. 19, 2016
As we approach the year of events leading up to the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation on Oct. 31, 2017, a resurfacing question will be: Do we celebrate? Repent? Commemorate? Perhaps all three?
This is the first time the centenary observance of the Reformation will occur in an ecumenical era. Since the Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification by the Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation in 1999, we’ve reached a new stage. We’ve made more progress in the last 50 years toward healing the wounds of our divisions than we have in the last five centuries.
Top Lutheran theologians participated as observers at the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). The international dialogue between the Vatican Secretariat for Ecumenism and the Lutheran World Federation started in 1967. After five sessions, they came out with the Malta Report in 1972 in which it was clear they decided to take on in the ensuing years a whole range of issues: Scripture and tradition; admission to the Eucharist; justification by faith; church law; ordination.
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CHURCHES’ WEEK OF ACTION FOR FOOD
General newsNCCI – Commission on Unity and Mission
(incorporating Justice, Peace and Creation)
Churches’ Week of Action on Food
“Climate is Changing: Food and Agriculture must too”
14 – 20 October 2016
October 16th is World Food Day. The theme for this year is “Climate Change: Climate is Changing”. It has been chosen to highlight the role of civil societies and faith communities in improving food security and contributing to the eradication of hunger by addressing climate change with the Gospel Values of Justice, Love and Peace.
The objective of annual World Food Day observances is to raise awareness about the global reality of hunger and to seriously commit people to explore ways of ending hunger. A global survey report states that one person out of every seven people in the world experiences starvation every day. This is not because of either poverty or population explosion or scarcity of food, but because of unjust structures, and unjust systems of production, procurement and distribution of food. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) critically cautions that poverty is quite acute in India and that in the long term starvation would lead to the deaths of five members including two children under the age of six in every family. Therefore it is a very great challenge for all forms of government programmes aiming to ensure food security for the poor and children.
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National Council of Churches in India mourns the demise of Prof. Dr. Jegadish Gandhi
General newsProf. P Jonathan Jegadish Gandhi
28 September 1941 – 7 October 2016
National Council of Churches in India mourns the demise of Prof. Dr. Jegadish Gandhi, a committed Church Person, Ecumenist, Development Economist and Columnist. Prof. Gandhi, who was hospitalised at CMC Vellore because of a massive cardiac arrest on 4th October, passed away on 7th Oct 2016.
Prof. Gandhi hailed from a rural place, Kamudhi in Ramnad District in Tamilnadu. He had his education at CSI Swartz School in Ramnad. In fact he and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the late former President of India, were school contemporaries in Ramnad. Prof. Gandhi pursued his Graduation and Post Graduation from the prestigious Thiyagaraja College of Art and Science, Tepakkulam, Madurai and moved to Vellore to teach at Voorhese College. He joined as a lecturer in the Economics Department, became a Senior Professor and eventually HOD. His expertise was in ‘Developmental Economy’. He authored numerous books and articles on Economics, Development, and social issues, and later on ecology and theology. He even wrote regularly in news papers as a columnist. Prof. Gandhi served as a member of the Planning Committee of the Government of Tamilnadu and held several honorary positions at State and Central Levels. He was also the President of the Association of Economists. Dr. Gandhi travelled widely as an Indian ‘alternate’ economist. He also organised several national and international conferences in India and in abroad.
The Vellore Institute of Developmental Study was his post retirement initiative; he served as its founder Director till his last breath. He made this institution global by relating, affiliating and accrediting with several international organisations and movements. He received several awards including the lifetime achievement award from Association of Economists.
Prof. Gandhi was committed to his Christian calling to promote Justice, Love and Peace. He contributed a significant contribution to the local CSI congregation as well as to Vellore diocese. As an ecumenist, he actively participated in the work of Ecumenical Christian Centre and Association of Christian Institutions of Social Concern in Asia (ACISCA), of which he was serving as General Secretary. In April 2016, he represented the ACISCA at the XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly of the NCCI. He served as a resource person at, and cosponsor of several NCCI’s programmes and also contributed articles to the NCC Review.
The funeral is scheduled for 9th Oct 2016 (Monday) in Vellore. Through this homage the Council offers its consolation to and prayers for Mrs. Sugirtham Gandhi, their three daughters and families. His family could be contacted at +91 9894051256.
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad,
General Secretary,
On behalf of the National Council of Churches in India
Children’s Peace Festival to Commemorate 60 Anniversary of Fellowship of Least Coin Movement on International Day of Prayer for Peace
News from NCCIBal Shanti Utsav
Samachar Newsletter Bal Shanti Utsav – click for more information
Children’s Peace Festival – Bal Shanti Utsav was organized by The All India Council of Christian Women – Women and Gender justice wing of National Council of Churches in India on occasion of 60th Anniversary of Fellowship of Least Coin Movement on International Day of Prayer for Peace organized on 21st September 2016. This festival was organized in partnership with Methodist Church in Nagpur.98 children from Dalit from vulnerable background participated in this ‘Children’s Peace Festival’
According to Rev Dr Roger Gaikwad – General Secretary of National Council of Churches in India ” Children are practitioners of peace however their contributions of making peace are not always recognized by society. It is very essential to acknowledge children’s contribution in making peace and nurture spirituality of justice and peace among children. The Bal Shanti Utsav is one such endeavor of AICCW/ NCCI geared towards ecumenical and spiritual formation of children to build just and inclusive communities.”
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