NCCI celebrates the life of Rev. D.S. Jeevan Babu

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uIn Christ today, we shall proceed

to bring Peace and Joy

with arms of faith, and dreams of hope

Go forward sharing Love…

–          Jeevan Babu

 

Rev. D. S. Jeevan Babu, God’s faithful servant who day in and day out fulfilled his ministry in quiet fidelity and love, was called ‘home’ this morning.
Rev. Jeevan Babu gave an inspiring witness of his love for God and self-sacrificing service in his priestly ministry.  We thank God for his exemplary life and witness.  He faithfully fulfilled his ministry up until the last few months of his life, when ill-health finally overcame him.

‘Jeevan’, as he was popularly called, served the National Council of Churches in India from February 1994 to October 1998 as the Secretary of the Unit on Mission & Evangelism.  As an Ecumenist, he was involved with the study of Gospel & Cultures and took various initiatives to strengthen the faith of the recently converted Christians of various tribal people groups in India, especially of the Lambadi tribe living in Andhra Pradesh and in the borders of Maharashtra.

He subsequently served as the Communication Director of the Karnataka Central Diocese, Church of South India.  Through his writings he sensitized people about the love of life and God’s plans through our lives.  He published around 3 dozen books on creation, life and God’s love for us, humans.

The funeral will take place on 2nd June 2016 at the St. Mark’s Cathedral, Bangalore.  Mr. Kiran Jeevan his son can be contacted on 09739057989 for more information
.

The NCCI family expresses its solidarity with his wife Kasthuri, son Kiran and daughter Keerthi and all the dear ones.

Roger Gaikwad

General Secretary, NCCI

New General Secretary for All India Sunday School Association

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DSC04220Rev. Dr. Hmingthansanga a  minister of the Presbyterian Church of India, Mizoram Synod was installed as the new General Secretary of the All India Sunday School Association. He succeeds Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph, who will however continue to serve as AISSA Promoter during this calendar year.
As approved by the General Body of the National Council of Churches in India in its last quadrennial, the office of AISSA has been moved from Hyderabad and relocated in the NCCI Campus in Nagpur.

Rt. Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh, (President NCCI), Rt. Rev. Naresh Samuel Ambala, (President AISSA), Rt. Rev. Paul Dupare (Bishop, Nagpur Diocese, CNI), Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph (outgoing General Secretary AISSA), Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad (General Secretary NCCI), Mrs. Rachna Singh (Member NCCI Executive Committee) and church leaders from Nagpur city along with secretaries and staff of NCCI participated in the installation service.
Rt. Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh inaugurated the new office of AISSA in the NCCI Secretariat after the installation service.

DSC04234Rev. Dr. Hmingthansanga has moved to Nagpur along with his wife and two children. His father-in-law, Elder Thansiama who is the member of the Mizoram Synod Executive Committee also attended the installation service.

The Mizoram Synod has seconded Rev. Dr. Hmingthansanga in the service of AISSA. It will take care of his salary and other allowances during his service in AISSA. The church has shown us a model of ecumenical partnership.

Statement condemning Brutal Murder of Adivasi Priest in Jharkhand

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National Council of Churches in India, Commissions on Dalits and Tribals/ Adivasis are deeply shocked at the heinous crime of brutal murder of an Adivasi Priest, Rev. Abraham Biswas Surin from Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur (Jharkhand). His body was found lying in a drain under the Railway over bridge of Rourkela Railway Station by the CRPF in the morning hours of 6th May 2016. His body bore multiple injury marks including a deep gash on the throat. The GRP is investigating the matter. The killer/killers are not yet traced and identified.

Rev. Abraham Biswas Surin, S/O Late Mr. Mansidh Surin was born on 12.08.1955. He had his theological degree B.Th in Gossner Theological College, Ranchi and was ordained as a priest on 21.05.1978. He served as a priest in various congregations, parishes of GELC before being assigned the job of Manager KNH Hostesls.

The attacks of the Christian adivasis, many of whom have been Christians for generations, is increasing because of the divisive politics in the area being played out by the right-wing forces. The murder of Rev. Surin, a Lutheran minister in India’s tribal dominated Jharkhand state shows that Christians are now becoming a target for attacks. Unless this attack and others are fully investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice, Adivasi Christians will only become more vulnerable and the community will come under further attack. A mass protest procession in Khunti town in Jharkhand has been organised on 11thMay 2016 demanding expeditious investigation and bringing the culprits to book.

We condemn the atrocities against the tribals/adivasis and urge the state Government to render justice to the victim’s family and demand the Central Government to ensure safety and security to Christians and take all measures to stop all discriminatory practices against Adivasis.

Pradip Bansrior

Executive Secretary

Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns

National Council of Churches in India

 Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad

General Secretary

National Council of Churches in India

Statement condemning the Torture, Rape and Murder of a Dalit Woman Law Student in Kerala.

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Jisha, a 30 year old Dalit Law student, was allegedly raped and found murdered on 28th April 2016 at her home in Perumbavoor of Ernakulam district in Kerela. According to the reports Jisha was tortured with a sharp weapon and her body bore more than 30 stab wounds, including a 13 cm one around her chest that reached  her liver, pointing to the brutal torture. She was also believed to have been brutally kicked in the stomach as her intestines were out. She was suffocated to death and also was beaten with a hard object on the back of her head.

In present day India Dalit women are placed at the absolute bottom of the social hierarchy as they face systemic and structural discrimination threefold: as Dalits, as poor, and as women. The victim’s family faced social alienation because they were poor and Dalit. They were not even allowed to draw water from their neighbours’ wells. The harsh reality of the suppression, struggle and torture Dalit women face every day of their miserable lives are a direct result of the severe exploitation and suppression by the upper classes.

National Council of Churches in India calls upon Churches and all religious institutions to condemn the atrocities against Dalits and to impress upon the government of the State demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits and rendering justice to the Jisha’s family.

 

Pradip Bansrior

Executive Secretary

Dalit and Tribal/ Adivasi Concerns

National Council of Churches in India

 Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad

General Secretary

National Council of Churches in India

Indian Churches’ Commitment to All Generations: Social Security and the Common Good

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IMG_7066Press Note

April 28, 2016, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.

The NCCI – Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation organised a National Consultation on Indian Churches’ Response to Social Security’ from 28 – 30 September 2015 by gaining inspiration from the Church of Sweden and with their accompaniment. The participants of the consultation suggested the formulation of  Social Security Policy Guidelines for the NCCI Member Churches to set a model for the Indian Churches, Church-based Institutions and Ecumenical Organisations.Considering the importance and the need, the said Commission of NCCI developed Social Security Policy Guidelines for the NCCI Member Churches. These guidelines were approved by the Working Committee (vide resolution # WC 2015:40) and adopted by the General Body for implementation (General Body Res. No. 07/GB/201).

The guidelines were printed for circulation, and were adopted and released at the XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly on  28th April 2016 by the Rev. Dr. Mar Atsongchanger, President of NCCI. The first copies were received by Ms. Karin Bodin, Programme Officer and Ms. Hanna Eklund, Programme Officer for India (Designate) of the Church of Sweden and all the Office Bearers of NCCI. Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad introduced the process and the importance of the Policy Guidelines while Rev. Christopher Rajkumar facilitated the release event.

The General Secretary has appealed to all the NCCI Constituent bodies to receive the same in their respective councils and appropriate bodies for approval, adoption and implementation. Rev. Christopher Rajkumar, Executive Secretary of the Commission said, “the Commission would involve in working with NCCI members for official adoption and implementation and also joining working with other Civil Society Organisations and initiatives to work with the Governments and appropriate bodies to process the people-friendly Social Protection Policies and Programmes”.

 

NCCI Communications

Direct link to document: download the policy guidelines document

A Christian Social Activist titled as’Jewel of India’ and ‘Mahila Rattan’

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Dr. SasiprbhaDr. Sasiprabha Stanley a renowned Christian activist bagged two ‘National Titles’ recently in the fields of social work.

The International Institute of Education and Management titled her as ‘Jewel of India’ and the Indian Solidarity Council  has titled her as ‘Mahila Rattan’ (Diamond Woman) recognising her 35 years of grass-roots holistic development engagements against Poverty,  Malnutrition, and Child Labour, and contribution to Adivasi and Dalit Women, Gender Justice, Girl Child Protection, Rural Child Development, Youth, Child Focused Community Development initiatives, Land, Water, Forest, and Eco-justice initiatives. She has also worked with Church and NGOs for empowerment and development of the marginalised communities.

Dr. Sasiprabha  was on several Government committ Read more

NCCI XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly: Message of the Assembly

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quadrennial assembly logo black (Small) (Custom)Message of NCCI XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly

We, the delegates from 30 Member Churches, 17 Regional Christian Councils, 17 All India Christian Organizations, 7 Related Agencies and 3 autonomous bodies gathered for the XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India that met in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh India. It was hosted by Jabalpur Diocese of Church of North India from 27-30 April 2016, deliberating on the theme “Towards Just and Inclusive Communities”.

The cry for Justice and Inclusivity arises from the context of socio-political, economic, cultural and other challenges in the country. Lack of social protection undermines the spirit of inclusive society. A vast majority of people in our society have no ability to raise voices to express their opinion on how the societies they live in, should run.  One gets the impression that the present Government of India has the agenda of making the whole country a Hindu nation in which the adherents of minority religions are marginalized. It is a great threat to the democratic values of our country. Unfortunately, this traditionally peace-loving country is plagued by communal problems. Even food culture has been violated in the name of religion. Exclusive marginalisation continues on an increasing scale; various sectors in the society keep on being victimized because of such marginalization. It is a negative impact which hinders growth. In the cries and struggles of the marginalized for justice, there is hope for the realization of inclusive communities within the Church and society.

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NCCI Secretariat gets a new vehicle

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DSC03824National Council of Churches in India secretariat needed a two wheeler for official uses.

We are grateful to South Andhra Lutheran Church for supporting the work of NCCI, their most recent expression being funds to enable this purchase.

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad (General Secretary, NCCI) and staff team prayed over it and we hope that it will be used for the glory of God and the furtherance of the work of NCCI at the secretariat.

The XXVIII Quadrennial Assembly of NCCI declared the names of office bearers for the new quadrennium 2016 – 2020

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PRESIDENT

IMG_7361Rt. Rev. Dr. P. C. Singh

Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese, Church of North India since 2004; Deputy Moderator of Church of North India since 2014.
About him:

Under his able leadership as Bishop of Jabalpur Diocese, CNI, many magnificent projects have been successfully completed including several new institutions. His generosity and geniality are most encouraging. His vision and leadership is a widely acknowledged as exemplary and inspiring.

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Rev. Dr. Luther Paul passes away

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bishopRev. Dr. Luther Paul  passed away at around 8.30 P.M. on Friday, the 15th April, 2016 at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad.  Rev. Dr. Paul, 59, an ordained minister of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church served for about 20 years in various parishes of the AELC prior to being seconded to serve the ACTC as a member of the faculty and later as Principal of the Andhra Christian Theological College, prior to joining the A. P. Council of Churches as its Executive Secretary in April 2014.  Within the 4 years tenure as Principal of ACTC, he was instrumental in building a huge chapel with a cellar for programme facilities; a women centre, workers housing, hostels and library renovations etc. and thus created revenue generating assets for the college.  As Executive Secretary of the APCC, he was also responsible for Hudhud disaster mitigation, renovating 139 Households in Eduruvaripalem near Vishakapatnam in cooperation with the CASA.

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