Church of England says yes to women bishops

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The Church of England ended one of its longest and most divisive disputes Monday with an overwhelming vote in favor of allowing women to become bishops.

The church’s national assembly, known as the General Synod, voted for the historic measure, reaching the required two-thirds majority in each of its three different houses. In total, 351 members of the three houses approved of the move. Only 72 voted against and 10 abstained.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the long-awaited change marks the completion of a process that started more than 20 years ago with the ordination of women as priests. He called for tolerance and love for those traditionalists who disagree with the decision.

“As delighted as I am for the outcome of this vote I am also mindful of whose within the church for whom the result will be difficult and a cause of sorrow,” he said in a statement.

British Prime Minister David Cameron called it a “great day for the Church and for equality.”

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Change of leadership in the Salvation Army – India

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We have the following updates from the Salvation Army India –

The Salvation Army India National Secretariat, Kolkata received its new Leaders Lieutenant Colonels Daniel Raju Dasari and Baby Sarojini Dasari.

The colonels took the charge of the The Salvation Army National Office on 1st of June 2014. Lieut-Colonel Daniel Raju Dasari is the new National Secretary effective from on 1st June 2014.

Lieut-Colonels Davidson Varghese and Mariamma Varghese who previously served in India National Secretariat have moved from Kolkata to Aizawl, Lieut-Colonel Davidson Varghese is the Chief Secretary and Lieut-Colonel Mariamma Varghese is the Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries of India Eastern Territory, Mizoram.

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Govt Attorney prepares to file the reply on the Dalit Christian reservation issue in the Supreme Court of India.

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SC status issue of Dalit Christians’ case came for hearing in the Supreme Court of India on 8th July 2014. The Government attorney asked for two weeks time for the new Central Government to file the reply. The case may be listed after two weeks.
 Mr. Prashant Bhushan (Centre for Public Interest Litigation) put forward the pertinent point that that Sikhism and Buddhism do not recognise caste system but they were given SC status. Christianity also does not recognise caste system but since the Dalit Christians are living in the larger society where the caste system is practiced they should be given SC status. Advocates Mr. Franklin Caesar Thomas, Ms. Tehmina, Ms. Loregin, Mr. Aristotle, Sr. Sneha were present in the court on our behalf.

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SC Status issue of Dalit Christians’ case listed in the Supreme Court for 8th July 2014

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Dear co- workers for the justice to the Dalits in Christianity and Islam,
It is very encouraging to know that the Writ Petition 180/2004 is listed in Court No. 2 as item no.20 in the final list for 08.07.14 in the Supreme Court of India.
 This Writ Petition has challenged the Constitution Scheduled Caste Order 1950 Para 3 which denies SC status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin. The National Council of Churches in India and CBCI Office for SC/BC have impleaded in this case.
When majority of the political parties miserably either failed to extend their support for this just cause, or became a hindrance between the justice and the Dalits of Christian and Muslim origin, we look forward for justice from Supreme Court.

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NCCI ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS UPGRADE PROGRAM

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Nagpur | July 7, 2014

The National Council of Churches in India has a fully functional and updated website at www.nccindia.in. However, having a website is no longer enough, as we need to be engaging wherever its target online users happen to be which includes facebook, blogs and other online social networking hubs. The need was felt to avail of the various functionalities of online social networking tools for the purpose of:

  1. Wider Networking and providing information;
  2. Organizational visibility and providing a common platform for dialogue and discussion;
  3. Information exchange including opinion gathering and improved decision-making;
  4. Creating more communication spaces;
  5. Expanding to mobile (becoming more prevalent) applications for news and networking;
  6. Quicker dissemination of information and quicker feedback;
  7. Suitability and adaptability to the quick changes in our situation;
  8. Etc.

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Download our new Android App

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Check out our new Android App NCCI NEWS.

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Strongly Condemn Gruesome Acts of Violence on Minors in Badaun

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A Protest Organised by the undersigned at Jantar Mantar
Thursday 5th June (World Environment Day) 10:00 am – 11:30 am
It is such a paradox, that on World Environment Day, where the Tree symbolizing as Hope for Life, has been used to hang and take away the lives of two young innocent girls at Badaun. Even as there is uproar over this crime, another girl is allegedly hung to the tree after being raped in Sitapur and a woman judge raped in Aligarh.
Time and again, women and girls are the prime targets of violence and the most recent brutal gang rapes in the small village of Badaun District of UP confirm this.
Where does one go for justice?
How can the perpetrators be brought to trial? What is the society’s response? Where is the government’s accountability? These are only few of the unending questions that are troubling us, and as citizens of this country, we demand that there needs to be a stop to ALL such horrendous acts of violence. This is unacceptable in the eyes of any civilized society.

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WORKING TOGETHER (RECONCILIATION)

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2 Cor. 5:16-21
June 8, 2014 is a significant day as per the almanac of Churches. We are going to celebrate Pentecost Day, reminding ourselves of the movement of God’s Spirit among peoples and nations, working out the purposes of the reign of God.
June 8, 2014 is also going to be significant historically because on this day the world is going to witness one vital expression of working together for reconciliation. It is on this day that the Palestinian president Abu Mazen and Israeli president Shimon Peres will meet together for prayer along with Pope Francis.
Allow me to quote extracts (in italics) from a text published in the Vatican Insider of 2nd June 2014 and draw insights from what Paul says in his letters, particularly in 2 Cor.5:16-21, and in related biblical texts. These insights have important implications for all ecumenical movements in the world.
The purpose of this meeting is not to attempt mediation or discuss new road maps: Francis wants to keep the encounter strictly religious.  “The purpose of the meeting will be to pray not to mediate,” Francis said on the return flight from the Holy Land to Rome. “The two presidents and I will only meet to pray and I believe that prayer is important and doing this helps. Then they will go home. There will be a rabbi, a Muslim and me…” Elsewhere Francis said: “In this place where the Prince of Peace was born, I desire to invite you, President Mahmoud Abbas, and President Shimon Peres, to raise together with me an intense prayer to God for the gift of peace. And I offer my house in the Vatican to host you in this encounter of prayer.” 
Note that Pope Francis asserts “The purpose of the meeting is not to attempt mediation or discuss new road maps.” In an article published on the Time website . . . Christopher J. Hale wrote: “Francis’ successful overture was especially remarkable considering the failed efforts by the United States earlier this spring to get both sides to the table to begin negotiated peace talks…” Countries, and in particular the superpowers, have been trying to broker peace and reconciliation, in line with their political ideologies of justice and peace, and within their framework of economic development,  nuclearization, militarization, and strategic alliances, spelling out human utopias.

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Affirm Diversity – Defend the Rights of Sexual Minorities: A Call for Indian Faith Communities

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Bangalore, 31 May, 2014. Sri Sri Ravishankar, the founder of Art of Living, said that, ‘affirm diversity – defend the Rights of the Sexual minorities’,  in a public meeting on ‘Faiths Against Homophobia’ jointly organised by the  ‘aneka-Trust’, Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore University, and  Centre for Peace and Justice Concerns of the National Christian Council of India, at  Institute for Agriculture Hall, in Bangalore on the 31st May 2014.
Ravishankar calls upon all religious leaders and the faith communities to affirm the rights of the sexual minority communities who are socially and religiously stigmatised, excluded and discriminated for centuries. He further emphasised that, they too belong to the ‘Cod created Cosmic Community’ where we too are part and got a space to live. It is the duty of the faith communities to affirm the diversity and to defend the Rights of the neglected and rejected ones especially the sexual minorities.
here were over 200 participants including women and men apart from the sexual minorities. Ms. Chitra a male to female transgender invoked God by a special number as to inaugurate the public meeting.

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