Ecumenical Dhorom Sabha 2016 Report

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Ecumenical Dhorom Sabha (EDS) was organized by the Santalia Council of Churches (SCC) from October 14 – 16, 2016 at Jidato Mission Compound, Pakur, Santal Parganas, Jharkhand. The theme of the programme was based on Mathew 19:19 Love your neighbor as yourself. The Methodist Church in India (Pakur & Birbhum District) was the official host of this mega event which witnessed a gathering of about 2000 delegates from the three member Churches – Methodist Church in India (MCI), Church of North India (CNI) & Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC) from Assam, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

The programme officially began in the morning of  October 14  with a procession led by a musical band playing hyms, from the Jidato Methodist Church to the venue covering the main road and the market area. This was a great show of unity for Christians when we are going through a time of turmoil because  right wing forces are constantly blaming us for conversions. The EDS 2016 was declared open by our Chief Guest Rev. Caesar David from the NCCI through a Ribbon cutting ceremony, after which Flags of all the three Churches were hoisted along with that of the SCC in the venue.

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DIGITAL REPORTING TOOL FOR DALIT EMPOWERMENT Launched.

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Mainstream media is often found to under-represent the interests of people in the margins of society such as the dalits in India who are outcaste. In this context, the lack of channels and inability to communicate their own concerns and bring to the fore their experiences of discrimination, has led to ignorance, unaddressed issues of inequality, inaccessibility to basic services, neglect, denial of rights and exclusion from the processes of decision-making and policy-making. The emerging consciousness about importance of Information and Communications Technology in the exploration of alternative media to create communication spaces can lead to the creation of pathways to digital frontiers that provide solutions towards affirmation of communication rights and implementation of inclusion concepts.

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Presbyterian Church of India appreciate COP21 Paris Agreement

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The 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”

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download the letter

Conflict to Communion: Historical Signatures at Lutheran Cathedral, Sweden on Oct 31, 2016

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National Council of Churches in India welcomes the Joint Unity Declaration by the Catholics and Lutherans

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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.

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Press 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

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

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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

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New Delhi:

The 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

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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

Lutherans and Catholics chart path to unity

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Pope 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

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NCCI – 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

WCC - EAA Food for Life Campaign

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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