Biblical nuances of the hour
The hour has come; … let us be going. Mark 14:41-42
The Context
After Passover celebrations, Jesus and his disciples headed over to Gethsemane to pray. Passover was an occasion to remember how God delivered and freed Israel from foreign oppression. It was a time of great patriotic and messianic anticipation. Jerusalem was overcrowded with multitudes imbued with messianic expectation and it was significant during the period of Roman colonialism. The presence of Jesus in Jerusalem augmented the expectation of people, while the colonial authorities and the religious leaders were disturbed. Their disturbance took the form of a conspiratorial nexus with the sole aim of annihilating Jesus. The Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, and elders, along with Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, and Roman soldiers joined together as part of this nexus. Their main obstacle was the crowd (Mark 14:1–2). Jesus’s withdrawal for prayer can be seen in this background. Jesus was aware of the consequences of the consolidation of the powerful against him. While he was going through the agony, in prayer, he turned to the disciples whom he instructed to remain there and keep awake (v.34) but they were sleeping. This was a highly terrifying situation; Jesus was praying so as to avoid a direct confrontation and Mark described it saying “if it were possible, the hour might pass from him” (v.35). But ‘the hour has come’ and with that realisation Jesus awakens the disciples, who couldn’t read the signs of the time, and said ‘enough’ ‘let us be going..’ (v. 42). Although the word ‘enough’ denotes sorrowful expostulation, the rest of his words show the determination of Jesus to face the situation courageously, whatever the consequences may be. It shows Jesus’s firm decision to proclaim God’s glory by being part of the struggles and pathos of the common people struggling under the yoke of Roman imperialism and its manifestation of power in different ways.
- The hour exposes the intensity of prevailing evil
The hour is an occasion to realise how repressive and coercive powers craft their trickeries to cover up the realities of the world by annihilating truth and justice. Power seeks to coercively ‘discipline’ the world and those who do not come into its brand of discipline face the consequences. Jesus was not under the discipline of the power structures of the system during that period. Therefore, Jesus was considered to be an avoidable nuisance by many elites who transacted power during that time. Judas Iscariot was a simple instrument used to extinguish Jesus. Therefore, Jesus boldly exposed the conspiracy by saying, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me” (Mark 14:18). Power never values relationships. One among his disciples who walked with him, ate with him and was with him till that night became a deceiver. A powerful sign of love – the kiss – was made a sign of betrayal. Mark asserts this moment as significant saying, “the hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Mark 14:41). The Markan expression ‘Son of man’ is a representation of the entirety of humanhood that has become victim to the fraudulence of the powerful and to their nexus in the world. The hour here exposes how the strategies of the powermongers can easily take over truth and its manifestation of justice.
2.The hour exposes God who is active in history.
Jesus makes it plain from the very outset that his life and work is ordered by the Father’s chronology, not his own. Thus, he cautions his mother at the wedding feast in Cana that “my hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4). The phrase ‘the hour’ in this context can be seen as that which points towards the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. The eschatological element in the fourth gospel is not accidental rather it is fundamental and denotes the glorification of Christ over all the forces of death. It is an assurance that God is active in history and for John it is a faith assurance that he wants to communicate to his readers. In John’s gospel we see an explicit connection between the glory of Jesus and the hour of his suffering and death. This specifically encourages all believers that our life is in the chronological order of God and hence we should not be discouraged even in the midst of the terrifying incidents in our life.
- The hour is a call to act and continue to keep perseverance.
“Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand” (Mark 14: 42) is an inspiring utterance of Jesus. Although he has clarity about what is going to happen in the next hour, he takes the courage to face it because for him his suffering, which underlines his humanity and vulnerability, stands in contrast to his vindication through the resurrection. Therefore, ‘the hour’ becomes an opportunity to act. Mordecai’s reminder to Esther in the book of Esther 4: 14 is relevant to this context; “For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:32–33). Recognising the call of the hour is important. “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber” (Rom 13:11).
4.The hour is a call for resistance and struggle:
it is also an hour of urgency, for God’s clock ticks on toward the end of all things “ Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour”(1 Jn 2:18). As he reflects from his exile on the island of Patmos, John sees another hour on its way. This is “the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world…”(Rev 3:10). This hour has been highlighted as the hour of resilience. Resilience reminds us of the innate capacity of affected communities to recover on their own from the catastrophes of the time. It characterises the ability to endure, resist, adapt to, and timely recover from disturbances. Revelation 3: 10 says; “Because you have kept my word of endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” It gives the power to navigate through adverse situations. Therefore, the hour is an invitation to move ahead with clear understanding that it is a struggle and that despite this one should not lose the spirit of endurance even amidst devastating contexts.
- The hour is a call to participate in resurrection
John 12: 23,24 “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. This is a call for authentic discipleship, which is nothing but following in the footsteps of Jesus. The cost for the discipleship is life itself. It is a call for dying for a cause and therefore it is an invitation to risk life to have life in abundance. The blooming of life can be envisaged amidst death and that is the eschatological dimension highlighted through resurrection. However, without being an authentic disciple, nobody can be part of resurrection. Earthly hours are important although experiences of cross are embedded in it. But an authentic disciple of Jesus visualises a blooming cross because on the cross life germinates from death and the resurrection is celebrated.
Ecumenical news
NCCI XXIX General Assembly 2023 – Program Shedule
/25 Comments/in XXIX Assembly news /by CommunicationsNational Council of Churches in India
XXIX GENERAL ASSEMBLY
21th – 24th April 2023, Henry Martyn Institute, Hyderabad
Program Schedule
21th April 2023 (Friday)
Announcements
Introduction to the XXIX General Assembly
Felicitation of Guests
Discerning the ecclesial Mandate:
An inter-scriptural reading
01. Roll Call
02. Constituting the Assembly
03. Appointment of Recording Secretaries
04. Adoption of the Agenda
05. Felicitation and Obituaries
06. Release of Souvenir
07. Appointment of
(a) Credentials Committee
(b) Resolutions Committee
(c) Message Committee
(d) Nomination Committee
08. Receiving
(a) Proceedings of the Last Assembly
(b) Minutes of the Office Bearers’ Meetings
(c) Minutes of the Working Committee
(d) Minutes of the Finance Committee
(e) Minutes of the Executive Committee
(f) Minutes of the General Body
(g) Reports of the Programs
i. Youth
ii. Women
iii. Children
iv. IDEA
v. NEFGSD/ ESHA
22nd April 2023 (Saturday)
General Secretary, World Council of Churches
09. Presidential Address
10. General Secretary’s Report
11. Treasurer’s report
15:15-16:00
12. Greetings from Fraternal and Overseas Guests
13. Membership Concerns
23rd April 2023 (Sunday)
Compassionate Engagement and Discipleship
Exclusion and prejudices:
Challenges for a Transforming Church (Panel)
24th April 2023 (Monday)
Learning to Hope
12. Report of the Resolutions Committee
13. Report of the Message Committee
14. Report from the Nomination Committee
Setting Priorities for the next Quadrennium (2023 -2027)
Setting Priorities for the next Quadrennium (2023 – 2027)
Vote of Thanks
Closing Worship
There could be some departures on 25th morning also . . .
NCCI XXIX General Assembly 2023 – Biblical Nuances of the Hour
/24 Comments/in XXIX Assembly news /by CommunicationsBiblical nuances of the hour
The hour has come; … let us be going. Mark 14:41-42
The Context
After Passover celebrations, Jesus and his disciples headed over to Gethsemane to pray. Passover was an occasion to remember how God delivered and freed Israel from foreign oppression. It was a time of great patriotic and messianic anticipation. Jerusalem was overcrowded with multitudes imbued with messianic expectation and it was significant during the period of Roman colonialism. The presence of Jesus in Jerusalem augmented the expectation of people, while the colonial authorities and the religious leaders were disturbed. Their disturbance took the form of a conspiratorial nexus with the sole aim of annihilating Jesus. The Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, and elders, along with Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, and Roman soldiers joined together as part of this nexus. Their main obstacle was the crowd (Mark 14:1–2). Jesus’s withdrawal for prayer can be seen in this background. Jesus was aware of the consequences of the consolidation of the powerful against him. While he was going through the agony, in prayer, he turned to the disciples whom he instructed to remain there and keep awake (v.34) but they were sleeping. This was a highly terrifying situation; Jesus was praying so as to avoid a direct confrontation and Mark described it saying “if it were possible, the hour might pass from him” (v.35). But ‘the hour has come’ and with that realisation Jesus awakens the disciples, who couldn’t read the signs of the time, and said ‘enough’ ‘let us be going..’ (v. 42). Although the word ‘enough’ denotes sorrowful expostulation, the rest of his words show the determination of Jesus to face the situation courageously, whatever the consequences may be. It shows Jesus’s firm decision to proclaim God’s glory by being part of the struggles and pathos of the common people struggling under the yoke of Roman imperialism and its manifestation of power in different ways.
The hour is an occasion to realise how repressive and coercive powers craft their trickeries to cover up the realities of the world by annihilating truth and justice. Power seeks to coercively ‘discipline’ the world and those who do not come into its brand of discipline face the consequences. Jesus was not under the discipline of the power structures of the system during that period. Therefore, Jesus was considered to be an avoidable nuisance by many elites who transacted power during that time. Judas Iscariot was a simple instrument used to extinguish Jesus. Therefore, Jesus boldly exposed the conspiracy by saying, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me” (Mark 14:18). Power never values relationships. One among his disciples who walked with him, ate with him and was with him till that night became a deceiver. A powerful sign of love – the kiss – was made a sign of betrayal. Mark asserts this moment as significant saying, “the hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” (Mark 14:41). The Markan expression ‘Son of man’ is a representation of the entirety of humanhood that has become victim to the fraudulence of the powerful and to their nexus in the world. The hour here exposes how the strategies of the powermongers can easily take over truth and its manifestation of justice.
2.The hour exposes God who is active in history.
Jesus makes it plain from the very outset that his life and work is ordered by the Father’s chronology, not his own. Thus, he cautions his mother at the wedding feast in Cana that “my hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4). The phrase ‘the hour’ in this context can be seen as that which points towards the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross. The eschatological element in the fourth gospel is not accidental rather it is fundamental and denotes the glorification of Christ over all the forces of death. It is an assurance that God is active in history and for John it is a faith assurance that he wants to communicate to his readers. In John’s gospel we see an explicit connection between the glory of Jesus and the hour of his suffering and death. This specifically encourages all believers that our life is in the chronological order of God and hence we should not be discouraged even in the midst of the terrifying incidents in our life.
“Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand” (Mark 14: 42) is an inspiring utterance of Jesus. Although he has clarity about what is going to happen in the next hour, he takes the courage to face it because for him his suffering, which underlines his humanity and vulnerability, stands in contrast to his vindication through the resurrection. Therefore, ‘the hour’ becomes an opportunity to act. Mordecai’s reminder to Esther in the book of Esther 4: 14 is relevant to this context; “For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:32–33). Recognising the call of the hour is important. “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber” (Rom 13:11).
4.The hour is a call for resistance and struggle:
it is also an hour of urgency, for God’s clock ticks on toward the end of all things “ Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour”(1 Jn 2:18). As he reflects from his exile on the island of Patmos, John sees another hour on its way. This is “the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world…”(Rev 3:10). This hour has been highlighted as the hour of resilience. Resilience reminds us of the innate capacity of affected communities to recover on their own from the catastrophes of the time. It characterises the ability to endure, resist, adapt to, and timely recover from disturbances. Revelation 3: 10 says; “Because you have kept my word of endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.” It gives the power to navigate through adverse situations. Therefore, the hour is an invitation to move ahead with clear understanding that it is a struggle and that despite this one should not lose the spirit of endurance even amidst devastating contexts.
John 12: 23,24 “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”. This is a call for authentic discipleship, which is nothing but following in the footsteps of Jesus. The cost for the discipleship is life itself. It is a call for dying for a cause and therefore it is an invitation to risk life to have life in abundance. The blooming of life can be envisaged amidst death and that is the eschatological dimension highlighted through resurrection. However, without being an authentic disciple, nobody can be part of resurrection. Earthly hours are important although experiences of cross are embedded in it. But an authentic disciple of Jesus visualises a blooming cross because on the cross life germinates from death and the resurrection is celebrated.
NCCI XXIX General Assembly 2023 – Concept Note
/24 Comments/in XXIX Assembly news /by CommunicationsThe XXIX General Assembly 2023 of the National Council of Churches in India
Theme: ‘The HOUR has come: Let us get Going…’
Place: HMI, Hyderabad Date: 21-24th April 2023
Concept Note
The XXIX General Assembly 2023 of the National Council of Churches in India invites its member churches and organisations to discern the ‘hour’ and respond to the call: ‘The HOUR has come: Let us get Going…’ (Mark 14:41-42). The General Assembly is the time when the member churches and its allied bodies within NCCI come together to reflect upon its missional agenda, its goals, purposes, priorities and to determine new strategies in the light of God’s call to be a witnessing church. This is also a time for the churches, councils, organization and agencies to come together, and celebrate in fellowship the spirit of ecumenism.
The theme for the XXIX General Assembly 2023 of NCCI is ‘The HOUR has come: Let’s get Going…,’ The anguish that Jesus experienced in the garden of Gethsemane, with the spectre of death approaching him reflects the hour in which the churches in India find themselves. The sufferings of the people induced by political, economic, institutional power make it necessary for the churches to discern the hour in which we are living. This definitive moment is a paradoxical moment for it is a moment of death and also a moment of salvation. All around us we see growing challenges and threats, including acts of violence against minorities by vigilante groups. These are indicators of the hour of crisis. It is a salvific moment because it also opens up to the church the opportunity to live out its mandate of being a community that is called to transform. This hour demands that we act now. The present reality accentuates the urgency with which the churches in India are to respond. Therefore, Jesus’ words to his disciples, “let us get going” is an imperative call for the churches, as its very own life and existence is enmeshed within these desperate times.
The HOUR in India and the world at large is characterized by a political and cultural configuration that renders certain lives as expendable. These include religious minorities, people with different sexual orientations and gender identities, the Adivasis, the Dalits, the tribals, migrants, borderland people, children, the environment, and others. Forest dwellers, migrants, and borderland people are consigned to “zones of abandonment,” and are often under disciplinary forms of surveillance where living amounts to mere surviving. The secular and pluralist character of the state and society is under unprecedented strain. The right to free speech can no longer be taken for granted as can be seen in the many instances of incarceration and detention of those who merely voiced dissent and critique. Nevertheless, the fact that a good many voices of conscience, including those of women’s groups, students and the elderly are still being raised across the land offers hope that progress is possible. Constructive criticism is absolutely vital to the health and progress of democratic societies. There have also been quite a few laudable judgements by the judiciary, stepping up to protect democratic rights. These are rays of hope. The human ability to resist the empire and to seek fullness of life points us towards the resurrection event. It challenges us to move beyond the HOUR, and embrace the resurrection as much as we embrace the cross. For churches and Christian institutions the resurrection event gives us the grace and the determination to seek a new beginning in and through Jesus Christ. It points us towards a future of possibilities, unveiling the meaning of a human existence that is life affirming. It reveals the righteousness of God and the reign of justice. The righteousness of God and the reign of justice inaugurate a societal site in which the structural, institutional and corporate sins including unjust laws and practices that threatens the existence of the powerless are transformed. Through the resurrection event and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us “our inner nature is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)
We are therefore urged to “be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord,” (1Corinthians 15:58) and seek right ways of living. This involves ‘going back to Galilee’ and not wallowing complacently in the resurrection event. It is about going to where the masses are and being one of them- in service, love and “compassionate solidarity.” This entails practicing our faith in and with the people in their struggles, confessing Christ in the street as the covenanted and resurrected church.
Jesus’ words to his disciples after his resurrection “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go and therefore make disciples, of all nations…” speaks of God’s power and reign and the actualization of eternal life here and in the age to come. Therefore, this hour is the hour for the church to live out its faith and practice its ekklesial mandate of being a witnessing community, a community called out to live like Christ. This involves rethinking our missional agendas, making positional shifts and realigning our solidarity journey. This hour is a salvific hour because it is the time to unleash the startling possibilities of living an “abundant life’ in the light of the hope that Jesus Christ enacted though his redemptive act. Jesus’ call “to get going” entails that the churches in India do not let the anguish and the turmoil of the hour overwhelm it but in wisdom, discern the will of God. The General Assembly 2023 looks towards reconfiguring a prophetic Indian church that moves ahead imaginatively with resilience marked by discipleship and hope. This is the HOUR to affirm life in the face of death in and through the resurrected Christ and his transforming power. The HOUR has come, let us get going…
The Assembly Team
Committing toward an empowered citizenry enlightened by the Constitution . . .
/25 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsOn the occasion of the 74th Republic day, we join fellow citizens of this great country in greeting each other a year ahead with the virtues of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity available to every individual, household, social group, ethnic community and the whole society.
On this august occasion we acknowledge the wisdom of the drafters of the Constitution which came into force on this day seventy-three years ago as the governing document of the ever emerging vibrant Indian Republic, particularly Babasaheb Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
Despite the challenges that it has faced over time we concur with all others who believe that the Indian Constitution remains a largely sufficient document that provides sovereignty and security to all people in the country while affirming space for every expression.
It is our dream that the principles that govern our country as a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic Republic be further strengthened and realised in all spheres of the legislature, judiciary and the administration of the country.
It is our desire that the rights and privileges endowed and guaranteed by the Constitution be affirmed to all the citizens of the country particularly to the distressed communities including the christians, muslims, women, dalits, tribals, adivasis, persons with ‘disabilities’, those with different gender identities and sexual orientations, and the children and youth in all these contexts.
It is toward the realisation of this dream and desire that we as the Churches of the Orthodox and Protestant traditions in the fellowship of the National Council of Churches in India, as well as Christian and Ecumenical Agencies, Organisations and Councils associated with the NCCI, through the power of Jesus our Lord who when singled out braved death on the cross and was raised to life on the third day in the community of the faithful, dedicate our every endeavour to uphold and protect the Constitution at all cost, and to ensure dissemination of the contents of the same for the empowerment of the fellow citizens of the country.
It is our ardent hope and fervent prayer that the priority accorded to the rule of law, based on the primacy of the Constitution that we have given to ourselves, will end prevailing targeted hostilities against Dalits, Adivasis, Christians, Muslims and such other marginalised and vulnerable communities in the country.
Indeed – an empowered citizenry, enlightened on its constitutional rights and responsibilities as well as on its privileges and prerogatives, will surely see the nation through to many more years to come.
Jai Hind!
Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 (Unity Octave)
/25 Comments/in General news, News from NCCI /by CommunicationsTheme: Do good; seek justice’ (Isaiah 1:17)
Unity Octave (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity) is a joint global initiative of the Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. In India, NCCI joins with all Episcopal and Confessional traditions in coming together to observe the Unity Octave and to pray for Christian Unity. Policy, Governance and Public Witness department of NCCI is coordinating the Unity Octave observance this year.
The days between the feast of St Peter (18 Jan) and St Paul (25 Jan) cover the Unity Octave / Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The week-long prayers are envisaged as part of this observance and hence Pulpit exchange, cottage meetings, public ecumenical gatherings, youth concerts, symposiums, etc. can be planned. These prayer meetings are meant to foster togetherness among us especially in the grass root level with an intention to encourage each other to renew our commitment to God and to the entire creation. It should also be a time to express ourselves as part of the body of Christ through which we work together for bringing healing in the midst of brokenness.
The theme for this year’s Unity Octave is ‘Do good; seek justice’ (Isaiah 1:17)
Worship this year has been prepared by the Minnesota Council of Churches, USA. The theme is shaped in the context of the history of mistreatment of communities of colour in the United States which has created longstanding inequities and relational rifts between communities. More recently Minnesota has been in the attention of the world due to the murder of George Floyd, a young African American, at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. The theme ‘Do good; seek justice’ reminds us that only by being good to others and only by maintaining justice in our relationships a better world can be expected. This theme has much relevance in caste driven and religiously polarised Indian context.
The Sunday which falls during the Unity Octave is observed as NCCI Sunday. Therefore, we request you to observe 22 January 2023 as NCCI Sunday. While remembering NCCI and its activities on this Sunday, NCCI encourages you, wherever possible, to send the offertory of the day to the NCCI office for the use of NCCI ministries. Cheques/Demand Draft can be drawn in favour of the National Council of Churches in India.
Click here to download the liturgy You can contextualize this liturgy considering the needs of your local context. We strongly encourage all our constituents to observe unity octave along with members of other Christian denominations and be part of the World Christian Community initiative to have ecumenical expressions through worship.
With Prayers,
Rev Dr Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary, NCCI
NCCI appeals Churches for austere New year celebrations in solidarity with Christians attacked for faith.
/25 Comments/in Appeal /by CommunicationsOver a thousand Christians from more than 20 villages in Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts of Chattisgarh state had to flee for their life as violent mobs attacked them for not willing to recant their Christian faith. This is latest in a series of attacks in the State as well as in different parts of the country.
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) had earlier condemned the December incidents in Chattisgarh state, and called the State Government and National bodies to intervene. Many others have also made representations for action. The Chief Minister has gone on record stating that no one is above law and action will be taken.
In a letter to the heads of the churches in the fellowship of the National Council of Churches in India, the General Secretary of the NCCI has appealed for austerity in the New Year celebration in order to express solidarity with the sentiments of the Christians who have been attacked and with their expression of deep commitment to the faith of their choice.
The NCCI has also requested for special prayers for the victims of violence, and to intercede for the country as a whole so that citizens of all faiths, ethnicities, identities and orientations will inherit 2023 in peace and harmony.
NCCI Communiqué
NCCI condemns attack on Christians in Chhattisgarh – demands action from State Government and National Bodies
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI, Statements /by CommunicationsThe National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) strongly condemns the recent violent attack on Christians in Narayanpur and Kondagaon districts in the Bastar region, Chhattisgarh. This brutal attack has left many women and children vulnerable along with the men, all of whom have been assaulted and chased out of their houses because they chose to follow Christian faith. There are reports of houses and churches demolished in the region.
This human right violation is an assault on the Constitution of India from which the Freedom of Religion and Belief is drawn equally by all citizens
Although such acts are interpreted as isolated attacks, in reality they are orchestrated attempts to malign the Christian community. It is understood to be the continuation of a series of attacks against Christians in Chhattisgarh state in recent years. The increase in violence against Christians all over India especially among the economically weaker sections of the society exposes the persecution meant to cleanse a particular religious community from all spaces.
It is to be noted that the term ‘forced conversion’ has been used as a tool to attack Christians, while at the same time persecution is used to FORCE them to leave Christianity and embrace another religion. Violent mobs are taking law and order in their hands to eliminate Christian minorities while police reportedly remain silent spectators. It is also noted in some cases that in spite of many complaints police are reluctant to file cases.
While acknowledging the precious little arrangements that has been made by the district administration, the overall political apathy towards such incidents is a shame to the country
NCCI urges the state government to take appropriate action against the perpetrators of such heinous acts against Christians who predominantly belong to Adivasi and Dalit communities.
Read more
Peace on earth . . .
/24 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsChristmas 2022 and SDGs 2030
“Peace on earth and Goodwill amidst all peoples” is the message announced at the birth of Jesus the Christ. Undoubtedly, Peace on earth is the crux of Christian faith, as also of all faith and ideological persuasions.
“To foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence” is how the fourth pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals is defined. The Global Agenda 2030 captured PEACE as one of the five pillars of Sustainable Development, the others being People, Planet, Prosperity, and Participation.
Amidst war and strife, and the contexts of ‘undeclared emergencies’ in our country, and in some others world over, Christmas 2022 (coming as it were midway in the 2015 – 2030 SDG regime) reminds us of the calling to focus on the task at hand – that of building “peaceful, just and inclusive communities.”
In the context however, we are reminded that ending poverty and hunger, protecting planet from degradation, ensuring that all humans and beings enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives, and calling all countries, stakeholders and people to participate in the process are prerequisites to fostering peaceful, just and inclusive communities.
While SDGs themselves maybe perceived as framed from within the existing market-driven development framework, the pillars and targets are notable signposts on which diaconal expressions of different Indian Churches and Christian Diaconal Agencies have mapped their ministries and activities in order to relate to the ongoing concerted mission of life affirmation of all interested parties including governments and civil society organisations.
May Christmas 2022 – the feast of incarnation – bring us back, as ecumenical communities, to focus on People (the poor and the hungry), Planet, Prosperity (life-flourishing vis-à-vis profit), PEACE, and Participation of all stakeholders (including in our own context the historically and structurally discriminated dalits, tribals, women, persons denoting richness of gender and sexual diversities, children at risk and gender non-conforming children, persons with disabilities, persons living with HIV/ AIDS, women and men in sex work, and such others who inhabit the kingdom of God first and much before those that profess to be righteous).
And may this renewal of focus enable us to envision and work toward constructing a new world in 2023 rooted in the ‘sovereignty of the least’
Wish you all a meaningful Christmastide and a blessed 2023!
Rev. Asir Ebenezer
General Secretary
16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence
/25 Comments/in Appeal, General news /by CommunicationsThe 16 Days of activism 2022 was again a time for showing the commitment and re committing for the cause of women. It was a time to affirm actions against Gender based violence and Violence against women.
“16 Days of Activism against Gender based violence”
from the 25th of November (International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women) to the 10th of December (International Human Rights Day).
This period also includes observance of some other important days like – November 29 (International Women Human Rights Defenders Day), December 1 (World AIDS Day) and December 6 (Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre).
The 16 Days Campaign this year helped organizing strategy for individuals, groups and churches around India to call for the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence against women and to:
As National Council of Churches in India it is our responsibility to encourage each other – member churches/ councils/ organizations and agencies to join in the observation of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence and work on a just inclusive environment for a wholesome growth of all.
The outcome which was very visible in the observations this year was:
Were few of the goals that were set before us all for the year 2023.
We Hope that Year 2023 will see many steps taken for creating a just and egalitarian society.
We thank our Members like, Salvation Army in India, ISPCK, CSI, Mennonite Church , CNI, Kerala Christian Council, and many more for conducting various Activism programmes in Local area.
Submitted by
Women’s Concern
NCCI
Disability Advocacy Sunday 2022
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI /by CommunicationsDear ecumenical collogues,
Greetings from NCCI-IDEA!
At the outset, we would like to thank all the churches and organisations for the encouragement and appreciation that we have received from you till date. This year also, we are observing Disability Advocacy Sunday 2022 on 27th November 2022 (or 04th December at your convenience). The theme taken is Invisible Disability: Illuminating the Potential of Invisible Community. As the name suggests, invisible disability is not easy to identify, but we need to understand that there are many such disabilities and conditions. Invisible disability could be physical, mental, or neurological condition that could restrict any individual in accomplishing their day-to-day goals of their movements, senses, or activities substantially and permanently but is completely invisible to others. The ultimate aim is LIT to L (Learn about invisible disabilities and identify them) I (Initiate appropriate help to reach the full potential) T (Terminate/ Stop shaming people on the basis of disability) and sensitize the society to understand the situation at a greater level. Some liturgical elements (which is also available in 11 regional languages) and a reflection is attached along with this mail which we encourage you to use in your churches on the Disability Advocacy Sunday.
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