Nepal earthquake situation needs your prayers and help

nepal-earthquakeThe Earthquake situation in Nepal and parts of India has claimed more than 3700 lives at the latest count, and several thousands of casualties are continuing to be dealt with. The figures could rise higher depending on the condition of vulnerable mountain villages that rescue workers are still struggling to reach two days after the disaster. The aftershocks occurring after the earthquake, of which there have been more than 20, continue to inflict damage on buildings already weakened by previous activity and endanger the lives of many more.

The quake, worst in last 81 years, is proving to be a huge challenge to rescue and relief operations. However, help has come from all sides and emergency operations are underway. Even Christian organizations like Lutheran World Relief, Christian Aid, Dan Church Aid, and Mennonite Central Committee are actively engaged in relief work
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100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Asian Churches in Solidarity.

April 24, 2015

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. At this moment in history, when the world pauses to remember the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, we as Asian Churches share with concern and prayers the pain and sorrow of our brothers and sisters of the Armenian Apostolic Church, as they remember with pain the ‘injustices forced on their ancestors.’

As sent by Ms. Susan Jacob from CCA Communications, please see the letter of solidarity sent to HH Aram I, Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, by Rev. Dr. Henritte Hutabarat Lebang and a letter to the CCA members, in this regard.

lettercca

 24 April 2015

To

Heads of CCA MemberChurches and Councils Members of the GeneralCommittee and PACs

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Armenian churches will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide on 24th April 2015. It is with solidarity that we stand with them in sorrow and comfort, in hope and faith, courage and strength, at this moment in history. The Armenian Apostolic Church in Iran has been a member of the Christian Conference of Asia for the past 5 years.

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North West India Council of Churches elects its new leadership

DSC_0184 (Small)To promote grass-roots ecumenism, the Regional Christian Councils need to be strengthened locally. A vibrant Christian Council is the need of the hour for Church unity in India.  North West India Council of Churches (NWICC), in the last six months had various meeting to revitalize the regional council.  The adhoc -committee called for the ordinary Council meeting, which was held on 15th April, 2015 at Mar Thoma Centre, New Delhi.
The Council was well represented by the member Churches, Christian Institutions and ecumenical bodies. The devotion was led by Bishop Collin Theodore on “Mystery of Resurrection” and stressed that Resurrection should be experienced every day by believing in the ‘Risen God’.
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Press Release from North-West India Council of Churches (NWICC)

PRESS RELEASE
The Council of the North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) met on 15th April, 2015 at  Mar Thoma Centre in Delhi.  The main agenda of the meeting was revitalizing the North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) and its activities. Bishops, Head of Churches, Official Representatives of Church bodies, Organizations of NWICC  gathered in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and together we reflected on how to become effective witnesses of God’s grace and love in our situation and to serve humanity (as servants of God).
  • We endorse that all humans are created in the Image of God and Churches and all their agencies are called to be responsible to work with specific mandate for the betterment of humanity as well as God’s creations.
  • We express concern over growing inequality created by humans on the basis of caste, creed, colour, food, language, gender and religion and recent controversies based on faith, practices and habits of individuals and communities.  We also express concern over the continuous attacks against minorities particularly on churches and the Christians.
  • We believe that cultural homogeneity is impossibility in a pluralistic society like ours, and therefore, we affirm to work with all for the betterment of human situation where every individual can live with dignity and honour.
  • We rededicate ourselves to work for the transition from exclusive to inclusive society. We affirm dignity of life and denounce all forces that work to create division in human society and exploit human and natural resources for selfish purposes.
  • We express solidarity with the farmers, landless, tribals, dalits, maha-dalits, adivasis  and women and children and condemn all types of violent activities against the weaker sections of the society.
  • We are proud of our Democracy, Constitution and Independent Judiciary and urge every citizen, Government, Political Party and Civil Society to uphold them so that the secular character of our nation is sustained.
Bishop Subodh C Mondal
President, NWICC
Bishop Collin Theodore
Secretary, NWICC
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Indian Theological Educators and Church Leaders Delegation to China. A Report

 The Church and Christian Theological Education in Contemporary China:

An Edifying Visit of Delegation of Indian Theological Educators and Church Leaders

Indian delegation Holy Trinty Church ShanghiIn 1987 a Chinese delegation led by Bishop K.H. Ting visited churches and Christian organizations in India. Twenty-five years later, another Chinese delegation consisting of 6 members led by Rev. Dr. Chen Yilu, visited India from August 17 to 27, 2013. This visit was facilitated by the Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (FTESEA) having Rev. Dr. H.S. Wilson as its Executive Director. The delegation visited Kolkata, Serampore, Delhi, Agra, and Bangalore. The members of the delegation considered it to be a very meaningful trip as they got to visit theological colleges, churches and church organizations, thereby gaining an insight about India, in particular about the life and ministries of the Church in India, along with some of its cultural expressions. A bond of friendship was thus established between the Chinese friends and Indian church leaders and theologians. This paved the way for a reciprocal visit of Indian theological educators (represented by the Board of Senate of Serampore College) and church leaders (represented by the National Council of Churches in India) to China from November 13 to 22, 2014.This programme was again facilitated by FTESEA through Rev. Dr. H. S. Wilson…With CCCTSPM colleagues

Please click here to download the full report of this visit

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NCCI SMS NEWS ALERT SYSTEM LAUNCHED

SMSLAUNCHThat the mobile phone as a modern communication tool has overtaken other gadgets is a fact that had been expected for a while now. In terms of numbers, ease of access, reach and speed, the mobile applications we have now, and the humble, unassuming, but powerful SMS (Short Message Service) are second to none. With the communication paradigms changing from a one-way flow to an interactive one, from people actively seeking out data on websites to receiving data in the convenience of their own virtual spaces (the space of a 5-inch screen, if you like), and the occasional updates to instant ones, mobile technology has emerged as, arguably, the Swiss army knife (multiple functions aspect) of communications.
NCCI Commission on Communications and Relations has, for some time now, promoted the use of available communication tools towards greater efficiency and impact. To further enhance NCCI Communications NCCI SMS NEWS ALERTSYSTEM was launched on April 13, 2015 by the General Secretary of NCCI, Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad in Nagpur. It is hoped that this program component will serve to effectively use the benefits of mobile connectivity and telecommunication technology towards greater speed and efficiency in our work. Rev. Dr. Roger expressed his wish for this service to not only enhance communication as a systems process but also lead to better connection with people.

_________________________________________

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad

General Secretary, NCCI

Rev. Dr. Samuel Meshack

Chairperson, Program Commission on Communications and Relations, NCCI

Rev. Caesar J. David

Executive Secretary, Commission on Communications and Relations, NCCI

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NCCI Commission on Youth E-bulletin

CoY Newsletter p1“UTH  TURN…CONNECT CREATE CHANGE” an e-bulletin from the Commission on Youth.

Let’s connect-create-change… It’s “Uth Turn” (youth turn) our turn, you, me, all of us connecting, walking hand in hand, creating a bond strong,  changing into an instrument of love. Let us spread God’s word, His love, bringing relief and peace, building a nation of love, of humanity and peace.

CoY Newsletter

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Donating Blood to Remember Jesus on Good Friday

DSC04382Many Churches and Christian Institutions in observed Blood Donation Camps to mark the Good Friday meaningful on the call extended by the Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation – NCCI. As reported over 10 camps held in many places in Maharashtra, Manipur, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Chattisghargh.

Good Friday is an important day for every Christian who believes that, Jesus who died on the Cross and shed blood to give life for all.

In Nagpur, the Christian Youth have worked with the Nagpur Medical College in donating their blood requesting them to be shared with the poor and needy who cannot afford to buy blood for their treatment.  Dr. Nitin and his team from Nagpur Medical College  assisted in the camp.

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WCC Celebrates the life and witness of Rev. Dr. Philip Potter

World Council of Churches – News

31 March 2015

philip potterA special tribute was paid by the World Council of Churches (WCC) to the Rev. Dr Philip Potter, the third general secretary of the WCC, who served in that office from 1972 to 1984. A global ecumenical leader known for accompanying churches around the world in their struggles for unity, justice and peace, Potter died on 31 March at the age of 93 in Lübeck, Germany.

Born in Roseau, Dominica, in the West Indies on 19 August 1921, Potter began his ecumenical involvement as part of the student Christian movement in the Caribbean. He was a youth representative to the first two assemblies of the WCC at Amsterdam (1948) and Evanston (1954).

He was the first person from the newly independent countries in the world to be elected as general secretary of the WCC. Among the most memorable achievements of Potter’s tenure were the theological consensus document on Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry and the continuation of a courageous campaign against apartheid in southern Africa and against other forms of racism throughout the world.
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Reflection for Good Friday and Easter by NCCI General Secretary

easterThe Gospel according to John presents to us several images about the death of Jesus. One of them is the expression, “being lifted up.” In John 3:14-15 Jesus says, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” In fact Jesus repeats this thought two more times in the gospel according to John: “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing of my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me.”(John 8: 28); “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself.”(John 12:32).

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