Press Release from North-West India Council of Churches (NWICC)

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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

Indian Theological Educators and Church Leaders Delegation to China. A Report

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 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

NCCI SMS NEWS ALERT SYSTEM LAUNCHED

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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

NCCI Commission on Youth E-bulletin

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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

Donating Blood to Remember Jesus on Good Friday

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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

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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

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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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For Dalits, Tribals and Adivasis, Easter is an opportunity to revive their hope in a new heaven and new earth….

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For Dalits, Tribals and Adivasis in India:

Easter is…

An opportunity to revive their hope in a new heaven and new earth….
A time to see the curtain of division and discrimination tore apart….
An attempt of re-formation of human relations as Mother Mary and John had at the cross….
A reminder of the need of endurance and persistence to counter casteism….
An indicator that the possible and certain persecutions they have to undergo….
And a pointer to the fact that if they do not shout aloud, the stones will shout….

Let us have an Easter of resistance to casteism!

Let us celebrate Easter in solidarity with Dalit, Tribals and Adivasis!

Rev. Sunil Raj Philip,
Executive Secretary, Commission on Dalits,
Executive Secretary- in- charge, Commission on Tribals & Adivasis,
National Council of Churches in India.
revsunilrajphilip@gmail.com
Cell: +91 8275045182Painting by REV JOHN PRADEEP, who is currently serving as pastor in Telengana, after finishing his theological studies in the United Theological College in Bangalore.

His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch passed away

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his is the official letter from the locum tenens of the patriarchal see of the Assyrian Church of the East regarding the demise of the late His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch, who fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, March 26, 2015.


OFFICE OF THE LOCUM TENENS OF THE PATRIARCHAL SEE

In the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit; One God forever, Amen.
On Thursday morning at 10:04 am, March 26 2015, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos-Patriarch of the apostolic see of Seluecia-Ctesiphon and supreme head of the Assyrian Church of the East fell asleep in the hope of the Resurrection and the promise of eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Apostolic Assyrian Catholic Church of the East prays for the eternal repose of the Patriarch that led her for almost 39 years as a good shepherd and heavenly example of the Christian virtues of humility and Christ-like compassion. Among the Holy Synod he was truly the Peter of our time, the Paul of our era, and the Timothy of our age, the chosen of the Apostles.
Born Khananya d’Bet Mardinkha in Darbandokeh, Harir, Iraq on September 15, 1935, he was formed and educated by the venerated Mar Yosip Khnanisho, the Metropolitan of Shamizden and Patriarchal Vicar. Ordained to the deaconate by Mar Yosip Khnanisho in 1947, His Holiness served as priest since July 15, 1957, later being consecrated bishop in Iran on February 12, 1962 by the late His Holiness Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII, Catholicos- Patriarch. He served as bishop for 14 years, until his election as Catholicos-Patriarch October 17, 1976. As head of the Holy Synod of the Church of the East, His Holiness lead a multi-ethnic Church of Assyrian as well as Indian dioceses as one united Church of the peoples of the East. As the leader and first voice of the Assyrian People, he led and blessed this nation by preserving the fountain of our heritage in the most trying of times.
The viewing of the body of the late Patriarch will take place on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at St. Andrew’s church in Glenview, Illinois, beginning at 9:00 am. The funeral liturgy and rite of burial for the Chief Shepherd of the Church of the East will take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 10:00 at the cathedral church of St. George the Great Martyr in Chicago, Illinois (USA).
We fraternally ask your solicitude and prayers during these last weeks of Holy and Great Lent in remembering the head of the heads of Christ’s Church in the East, and praying for the repose in Christ’s promise for His Holiness Maran Mar Dinkha IV. We further request your prayers for the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East as we gather to assume the awesome task of prayer, fasting, and deliberation so that the Holy Spirit may raise up a worthy successor to the throne of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Selucia-Ctesphion and Patriarch of All the East.

By Grace,

SD/-

Mar Aprem
Metropolitan of India
Locum Tenens of the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East.

Given this 26th day of March, 2015 at Chicago, Illinois (USA).

Locum Tenens Official Notice of Demise

Source: Letter from Bishop Mar Awa Royel, Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East.

‘FOLLOW JESUS’ – ‘DONATE BLOOD’ – ‘GIVE LIFE’

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COMMISSION ON JUSTICE, PEACE AND CREATION

NAGPUR YOUTH FOR CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT IN ACTION  – NYCCiA

Blood Donation 1    The NCCI –  Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation’s programme ‘Youth for Justice’  turned  as Nagpur Youth For Christian Commitment In Action  – NYCCiA.

    The NYCCiA is an Ecumenical Expression of  all the Nagpur Young Christians who have  decided to ‘do gospel’ rather just preaching of the same alone.

As to make the Christian worship a relevant and meaningful, this year NYCCiA has decided  to observe the ‘Good Friday’ a meaningful and relevant considering the following:

  • “The foundation of Christian faith:  the ‘Blood of Jesus’ gives life to each and every       creature“.
  • “God in Jesus offered His own life (Blood) is our Christian faith affirmation of love”.

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