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September 2009
New bishops in the CNI
The Rev Pinuel Dip has been elected bishop-elect of the Sambalpur Diocese and consecrated bishop on the 30th August. The Rev Morris Edgar Dan has been elected bishop-elect of the Lucknow Diocese and consecrated on the 30th August. We pray that God will bless their ministry.
CNI looking for archives of the Church Union
The Church of North India will be completing 40 years of united journey in November 2010. To commemorate this we are shortly opening Bishop Eric Nasir Memorial Archive in the CNI Bhavan. Any old photographs or documents concerning Church Union or any Church leaders of yesteryears will be happily welcomed. Please write to us at info@cniprogrammes.org (CNI newsletter)
Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh killed in helicopter accident
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE FROM THE CSI, Thursday, Sep 03, 2009
The Church of South India is deeply grieved to hear of the tragic death of the beloved leader of the State of Andhra Pradesh Dr Y Samuel Rajashekara Reddy. Since yesterday when we received the news of his chopper missing, we were praying for his safety and well being. We were also remembering the family members in our prayers. It is with a great sense of loss we receive the message that our leader is no more. ...
Dr Reddy was a good Christian and the Christian community was proud to have one of its members as the Chief Minster. He was a member of the church in Pulivendula town in Cudappah District. ...
We want to let the family know that our deepest sympathy and prayers are with his dear wife Mrs Vijayalakshmi Reddy and the family. May God give them strength to accept the reality and give courage to look forward with hope.
With our deepest sympathy,
Rev Dr Moses Jayakumar, General Secretary, Church of South India
(for the full message see the CSI website.)
Ajay Singh Appointed Presbyter of Methodist Church in U.K.
The Rev. Ajay Singh from the Diocese of Lucknow has successfully completed five years of his contract as the World Church Partner on behalf of Church of North India in U.K.
He has been accepted as presbyter in the Methodist Conference meeting at Wolverhampton to serve in the Methodist Church. He has been assigned three churches, viz. Parkway Methodist Church, Bishopston Methodist Church and Eastville Park Methodist Church, which are using the Fresh Expressions and Messy Church programmes and are situated in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Circuit. He will be stationed in Bristol from September 1, 2009, initially for five years. (CNI newsletter. For more news see http://www.cnisynod.org/0908/newsletter.html)
Congratulations Ajay! Every blessing in your new appointment!
Interfaith Conference - “Addressing Caste Discrimination in the UK” held on 15th July 2009, London, UK
Approximately 50 delegates from different Faith and Community groups, Human Rights organisations, Churches, Charities, Aid Agencies and the Media assembled at the venue of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) at 9 Henry Road, London on 15th July 2009 for an Interfaith Conference on “Addressing Caste Discrimination in the UK”. The Conference was organised by Voice of Dalit International (VODI) in partnership with CARJ.
The Conference concluded that Caste Discrimination exists in the UK, is practised by Asian communities, and is against the cherished values of the UK - democracy, human rights, equality, and social cohesion. To combat this evil, it was decided to form a coalition of interested people under the joint chairmanship of CARJ and VODI and work to raise awareness of the problem in faith communities in particular and the public in general.
Actions envisaged are lobbying MPs on the Single Equality Bill, involvement of faith bodies to gain their strong support, working with aid organisations for them to include the topic in their education programmes and gain their financial support, education for the UK diaspora, church and faith groups, schools and colleges, NGOs, and local government.
Further information from vodi@vodintl.org.uk .
June 2009
Congress Party wins in Indian Election: Comment
In one of the largest exercises in democracy in the world, the Indian people elected the Congress Party to rule them for the next five years. The Secretary of the Church of North India comments:-
Praise God! Our God Almighty is the one who holds our future and knew exactly well what was needed for us, for our country India and the people of the world's biggest democracy, India, have spoken through ballots ... Thus through this election to 15th Lok Sabha the secularism has been saved by the people of India.
The sweeping win by Congress means that Minorities can live & breathe easily for five more years, with Hindu fundamentalists effectively shut out of power. History has been created that this was the biggest win for the Congress since 1977. This verdict is also an answer to much prayer especially after Kandhamal incidents which killed many Christians. God does certainly hear prayer and delivers. It was a vote against the extreme Right (BJP) and the extreme Left (Communists).
For the Christian community, hope increases that the rapists, killers and arsonists of Orissa’s Kandhamal and Karnataka will be brought to justice, that our cry for development – articulated in the manifestos we gave to the political parties on the eve of the general elections – will be fulfilled. The Christian community needs special economic and development resources from the government, and should not be relegated to the margins because of its unwavering commitment to peace and because it does not always articulate politically its genuine needs. Dalit Christians look forward to a realization of their 50 years old search for equal rights, promised often but yet to be given.
Trafficking in Women: Role of the Church
The Church of North India’s mission to prevent, protect and rehabilitate the victims requires that organized fellowship like the Diocesan Women’s Fellowship for Christian Services is enabled to build its capacity to address the issue. Hence, a national level programme on the theme ‘Trafficking in Women: Role of the Church’ was held at the CNI Centre for Human Potential Development, Nagpur from May 29 – 31, 2009. The programme was attended by 60 women from different Dioceses of the Church of North India. The programme began with the ‘Inaugural Worship’ led by the President of SWFCS, Mrs. Primrose Prabhjot Masih. She welcomed the delegates to the Seminar. In her keynote address, she stressed the fact that God has created women to be agents in his great plan for restoration of justice and peace. Therefore, women should be united in and with the Spirit of God to work and overcome problems, and not retreat from the situation they are placed in. They are to be agents to bring joy in the lives of the oppressed. There was reporting by some of the delegates of the work that they had begun in their dioceses after the Lucknow Chapter of ‘Trafficking in Women’. The whole programme included Bible Studies, Sessions, Workshop and Group Works and presentations.
The resource persons brought awareness among the delegates of the Church’s involvement in Anti Trafficking and the leaders of the Churches of South Asia forming a coalition to make Anti Trafficking of humans a priority in the Church’s agenda. A slide show presentation of child labour, child marriage, abuse and violence on children and women gave a better understanding of the term ‘trafficking’. Traditionally viewed as welfare issue rather than a rights issue because of lack of conceptual clarity, victimization of women and children is increasing in the process of justice administration, repatriation and social integration.
(See also ‘Act to combat Trafficking’ on CNI website http://cnisynod.org/0906/news05.htm )
From CNI News
Bishop’s College Chapel Rededicated
On the 28th of April 2009, after six months of extensive repairs and renovation, the 109 year old St. Thomas’ chapel of Bishop’s College was rededicated by the Most Rev. Purely Lyngdoh, Moderator of the Church of North India. Present at the rededication service were several Bishops of the Church of North India, Presbyters and other old students of the college as well the Principal and members of the faculty of Bishop’s College and those representing the local churches in the diocese of Calcutta.
Many individuals, churches and institutions have contributed to the repair and the renovation of the chapel. We are grateful for the grant received from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Fund that was procured for us through the work of the General Secretary of the Church of North India, Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan. We also received support from the Anglican Church in Canada and the Methodist Church in Great Britain. Several dioceses of the Church of North India also offered support and among these are the Diocese of North East India, Patna Diocese, Jabalpur Diocese Bombay Diocese and Durgapur Diocese. Support was also received from the Presbyterian Church in Mizoram as well as the Dornkal Diocese and the Krishna Godavari Diocese of the Church of South India. Apart from this the faculty and student of Bishop’s College organized a Christian Art and Music Festivals in 2005 and 2008 as well as a Fete in 2007 to raise funds for the chapel renovation. The college also received a lot of local support from Churches as well as individuals for the restoration of the Chapel that is also a heritage building in the city of Kolkata.
From CNI News
World Churches to mark 100 years of Landmark Mission Event.
As the centennial of a landmark mission event approaches in 2010, a global study process is mobilizing churches, theological institutions and mission bodies around the world.
The World Mission Conference that took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1910 brought together some 1,200 representatives mainly linked to the Western missionary movement. In addition to its focus on evangelism, the historic gathering emphasized cooperation and unity.
"It is because of this concern for unity that Edinburgh 1910 is widely considered the symbolic starting point of the contemporary ecumenical movement, although there were no Orthodox nor Catholic delegates present at that time", says Nayiri Baljian, an Armenian Orthodox from the US. "In 2010, as opposed to 1910, we look forward to a gathering and its preceding study process that is much more inclusive and representative of the global church."
Key among the activities marking the centennial is a study process on nine themes that are at the centre of contemporary missiology. Launched in 2005, it has an interdenominational and intercontinental scope and a decentralized approach that allows for the participation of many organizations and movements.
The outcomes of the study process will be the main input for a 2-6 June 2010 conference hosted by the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. Some 150 delegates from the stakeholder organizations will engage with about 70 delegates from the study process.
Organizers envision the conference as an opportunity for joint celebration of what God has done in the growth of the church over the last 100 years; repentance for all that has gone wrong in mission; and re-commitment to a new shared vision for the present and future of God's mission in the world.
This spectrum of churches includes Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Reformed, Methodist, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Pentecostal and Independent traditions. "Although relatively small in terms of participants, the 2010 Edinburgh conference will be the most representative of the diversity of world Christianity today", adds Matthey, who has been involved with the project since its inception.
The conference culmination will be on Sunday, 6 June, when participants will join members of the local churches and gather at the 1910 Assembly Hall for what organizers anticipate as "a significant celebration".
Whilst Edinburgh 1910 gave indirectly birth to the International Missionary Council and the contemporary ecumenical movement, Edinburgh 2010 is not expected to create a new structure or institution. However, the four-day long conference will not be the end of the Edinburgh 2010 process.
"There are already many ecumenical or interdenominational mission or church bodies at global and regional levels who can take up the results of the process and of the conference", explains Matthey. "It will be up to them to keep going on the key conversation on mission that Edinburgh 2010 will initiate."
From CNI News
8 September 2008
Thirty Christians killed in Orissa
The killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Laxmanananda Saraswati by the Maoists in the tribal dominated Kandhamal district in Orissa on 23rd August 2008 has provoked Hindus to attack Christians in retaliation, killing at least 30 people out of which at least 8 were burnt alive. Although the Maoists, in an interview to an Oriya Daily, have claimed the responsibility of killing the VHP leader, the Hindus are adamant in their claim that the killing is schemed by Christians as the slain VHP leader was very active in the area for reconverting the Christians into Hindus and he violently opposed the missionary activities by churches.
The flames of violence sparked at Kandhamal have now spread to the other districts of Orissa. Hundreds of churches and thousands of houses and institutions have been burnt, desecrated, and vandalized across the State. Over 50,000 people have been displaced and left homeless. Police were silent bystanders as the rioters’ rampaged through village after village. Thousands of Christians are still hiding in forests and nearly 17,000 people are now living at relief camps. Almost all the church buildings and houses belonging to the members of Church of North India have been burnt and many killed. The accurate number of people killed is not possible to record as the miscreants have either burnt them alive or are immediately burning the dead bodies of those killed by them. ...
The CNI Bishops of Phulbani, Cuttack and Sambalpur Dioceses have been threatened with deadly consequences if they continue their missionary activities in Orissa. ...
Meanwhile, ecumenical delegations have met the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, the Chairperson of UPA, the Governor and the Chief Minister of Orissa and have demanded security for Christian minority in the State and a CBI probe into the killing of the VHP leader and innocent Christians. ...
Through an affidavit the Orissa government on 4th September 2008 assured the Supreme Court that it will take all possible steps to protect the Christian minority in the state. ...
Every Christian is gripped by fear of an attack and they are living through the worst persecution they have experienced.
We are requested to uphold our brothers and sisters in Orissa in prayer and to pray for peace in the region.
(From CNI news. See http://cnisynod.org:80/0806/news01.htm for more details and pictures)
Floods in Bihar
Millions of people are now homeless and hundreds are missing, possibly drowned, due to the worst ever flood resulting out of Koshi River in Bihar. Almost 1/3 of Bihar is now submerged in water as rains continue to lash affecting the relief operations of governments and NGOs. The Prime Minister visited the area and has declared it as ‘National Calamity’. According to Bishop P P Marandih, Diocese of Patna, Church of North India ‘the Churches and the people of CNI stayed unaffected but still in the other parts of Bihar many lives have been lost. At least 2 million families have become homeless and all their belongings have been swept away in flood. Immediate help is required to reach out to these families’. People have no access to food and even drinking water.
(From CNI news.)
Synod of the Church of North India to meet
The thirteenth Ordinary Synod of the church of North India will meet on October 16-21, 2008, at Avlons Girls’ Senior Secondary School, Pathankot. The theme is “Not to Conform but Reform to Transform” (Romans 12:2)
16 August 2008
Visit to Derbyshire by Bishops and their wives from the Church of North India, 10th – 16th July 2008, prior to the Lambeth Conference
You can read about this at http://www.northindia-derbyshirechurches-partnership.org.uk/pre-lambethvisit.htm
Also about a visit by people from Wingerworth to the CNI on http://www.northindia-derbyshirechurches-partnership.org.uk/wingerworthvisit.doc and by the Rev Christopher Harrison to Assam on http://www.northindia-derbyshirechurches-partnership.org.uk/N_Assamvisit.pdf
CNI and CSI Leaders hold joint talks
Together in Mission : CNI & CSI Hold Joint Meeting of Office Bearers
The two biggest protestant and united churches, sharing the same mission history and tradition, the Church of North India and the Church of South India , have pledged to work and walk together closer than ever before to respond to the missional call of Christ in the given context of India . In a joint meeting of their Office Bearers, held at CNI Bhavan, New Delhi on 6th and 7th June 2008, on the invitation to CSI by CNI, they affirmed their call to unity for Missio Dei and Kerygma. Describing it as a historical achievement Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan, the General Secretary of the Church of North India exclaimed ‘walking together is need of the hour to turn every challenge of Mission into opportunity for the edification of church and the glory of God’. In the same spirit, commenting on the meeting, the Moderator of CSI, The Most Rev. Dr. John Wilson Gladstone said that this meeting is not only to build and mend relations within CNI and CSI but also a step towards building and mending our relations with other ecumenical partners.
For more on this item and much more news from the CNI see http://cnisynod.org/0804/newsletter.html and http://cnisynod.org/0805/newsletter.html .
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