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Mr. Hopingstone Lyngdoh, MLA of Nongstoin Constituency in Meghalaya passes away

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lyndohMr. Hopingstone Lyngdoh, MLA of Nongstoin Constituency in Meghalaya passed away in the early hours (12:45 AM) of September 26, 2015. He was 88.
He entered active politics in 1957 to stand for District Council elections of erstwhile United Khasi & Jaintia Autonomous District Council. Ever since, he had never lost an election. He entered the then composite Assam Legislative Assembly as an elected MLA in 1962. When Meghalaya State was created in 1972, he was elected as an MLA from Pariong Constituency. In 1977, he stood for Parliamentary Elections from Shillong and defeated Prof. G. G. Swell, former Lok Sabha Dy. Speaker, Mr. P.R. Kyndiah who later became Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Governor of Mizoram and Union Minister and, Prof. P. G. Marbaniang who later became Speaker of Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and MP. Mr. Lyngdoh was Executive Member of the UKJHADC, Chief Executive Member of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and Dy. Chief Minister of Meghalaya on different occasions.

NCCI mourns the loss of the great leader Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

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Former president Abdul KalamThe passing away of India’s most beloved and iconic leader, ex-president Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam on July 27, 2015, has cast a pall of grief over the whole country and even beyond its borders.
He won the awe and delight of India’s masses because of his profound futuristic contribution to the country and indeed our planet. He was popularly known as the “Missile Man of India”, a reference to his role in shaping India’s missile program during his tenures at India’s space and defense-research agencies respectively from the 1960s to the 1990s. He was also a key player in India’s emergence as a nuclear power. As time.com notes, Few Indian leaders in the 21st century enjoyed the kind of popular support experienced by Kalam, evidenced by the near-unanimous backing of his election as India’s 11th President in 2002 among all the parties across India’s fractious political spectrum, as well as the overwhelming outpouring of grief at his death. (http://time.com/3974357/apj-abdul-kalam-death-tributes-condolences). He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Bharat Ratna for his achievements.
Although a modest and unassuming man, Dr. Kalam captured the imagination of the country’s youth encouraging them to confidently forge ahead to pursue their dreams. He instilled patriotism and ideas of secularism in the hearts of people that united everyone in the values of humanity and greater benefit transcending region, religion, language and culture. This secularism in praxis is truly remarkable and exemplary.
As the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) joins in mourning the loss of this great leader, a hope is expressed that Dr. Abdul Kalam would continue to be an inspiration and model for the awakening of people to the values of integrity, true joy and peace.
Bishop Dr. Taranath Sagar
President, NCCI
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
General Secretary, NCCI

Bishop George Ninan rests in glory

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bnBishop George Ninan, renowned ecumenical leader, described by many as campaigner for justpeace for the urban poor and slum development in India and in Asia, passed away in New York on June 21, 2015.
 He was born in Kaviyoor in Kerala and started his ministry as the Secretary of the Church of South India (CSI) Christian Institute in Alleppey. He served the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese as the Secretary of the Diocesan Youth Movement. He was sent to Japan as a youth worker while he was actively involved in the Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI). He was ordained minister in the Anglican Communion in the year 1964. In 1970 he joined the Philips University in Oklahoma for his doctoral studies.

Rev. Dr. Somen Das passed away

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somendasRev. Dr. Somen Das, from the Church of North India, prominent theologian, prolific writer, teacher and ecumenist, passed away at the age of 75 in Mumbai today May 5, 2015.
After his B.A (Hons.) in English Literature and B.D from Serampore College, Rev. Dr. Somen Das pursued his further theological education in USA for his M.Th and PhD in Christian Theology and Ethics in Princeton and Boston Universities in 1967 and 1978 respectively. He was an ordained minister of the Church of North India, and taught Christian Theology and Ethics for 34 years in various Theological Seminaries – Serampore College (1969-70), United Theological College, Bangalore (1970-88) and Bishop’s College (1989-99). He served as Acting Principal at UTC, Bangalore (1987-88), Principal of Bishop’s College (1989-99), Visiting Professor at New College, Edinburgh, Scotland; Andover Newton, USA and Heidelberg University, Germany. From 2000 onwards he lived in Serampore and offered his services to Serampore College as well as the North India Institute of Post-Graduate Theology Studies (NIIPGTS). He wrote several books and published numerous articles in leading journals. Rev. Dr. Das also served as chairperson of Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI) from 1985 – 1989. He contributed greatly as resource person in NCCI programs and his support for the ecumenical movement is well-known.

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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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.

Prof. Dr. Ninan Koshy passes away

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drninankoshyThe National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) is grieved to hear about the sudden death of globally celebrated ecumenical leader Prof. Dr. Ninan Koshy on 4th March 2015.
Prof. Dr. Ninan Koshy will be remembered as a noted political thinker, foreign affairs expert, theologian and social analyst. He started his ministry as President of the Youth movement of the Church of South India (CSI) Madhya Kerala Diocese, later going on to be Professor of English at the CMS College, Kottayam.  He was also the founder Vice-Principal and Head of the Department of English at Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, and member of the Syndicate University of Kerala.  Later on he taught in Changanassery S.B. College, and Thiruvalla Marthoma College too.

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Rev. Dr. James Massey passes away.

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drmasseyRev. Dr. (Habil) James Massey, one of the greatest champions of the Dalit cause in India, passed away on 2nd March 2015 in Patna where he was undergoing heart treatment.

As one of the strongest voices for rights of Dalits, especially the Christians of Dalit origin, and having dedicated his life for the subaltern communities in India, his passing away is a great loss and has shocked the Indian Church and society. Being one of the pioneers and proponents of Dalit Theology, his contributions are immense to the field of theology and theological formation. He will be remembered as a “mentor to a generation of upcoming Dalit Theologians”. Rev. Dr. Massey, who was originally from Punjab, translated the Bible in Punjabi. He authored and edited more than twenty books, most of which are in-depth studies on Dalits and other subaltern communities in India. One of his major contributions is the Dalit Bible Commentary. He also served the minority communities in India in the capacity of member of Minority Commission.

Homage to Justice Dr. V. R. Krishna Iyer

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iyerThe National Council of Churches in India is deeply saddened by the demise of the world renowned and a genuine Indian Human Right defender Honourable Justice. Dr. V. R. Krishna Iyer.

Dr. V R Krishna Iyer was socially sensitized and spiritually kindled judiciary and a moral rebel against human injustice. He was a peace lover and a visionary.
Without being a member of any political party, he associated himself with political figures, freedom fighters, social reformers, constructive public workers and, with his wife, helped women’s organizations and backward classes including fishing communities. Compassion was his passion.  He identified himself with human rights causes and poor litigants found a defender in him.

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PC Jena: A Humble Ecumenical Leader with a passion for human rights

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pcjenaNCCI learns with shock and sorrow the passing away of Mr. Purna Chandra Jena, popularly known as PC Jena on 31st August 2014.  He was around 68 and was suffering from acute asthma.
He served NCCI as the Coordinator for NCCI-URM (Urban Rural Mission) from 2000 to 2006.  He, through his deep-rooted bible studies, showed great passion for just-peace for the Dalits and Tribals in India.  Through his writings, he has contributed a lot to the ecumenical world, to which we will be indebted. His talks and discussions inspired Human Rights activists and encouraged them to engage more meaningfully in achieving the Rights for the Dalits and Tribals, especially for those affected in Odisha.  He also served as the Dean for the various Youth Ecumenical Formative Programmes conducted by the NCCI Youth Unit headed by Mr. Dinesh Suna.
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