Rev. Dr. Luther Paul passes away

Rev. Dr. Luther Paul  passed away at around 8.30 P.M. on Friday, the 15^th April, 2016 at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad.  Rev. Dr. Paul, 59, an ordained minister of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church served for about 20 years in various parishes of the AELC prior to being seconded to serve the ACTC as a member of the faculty and later as Principal of the Andhra Christian Theological College, prior to joining the A. P. Council of Churches as its Executive Secretary in April 2014.  Within the 4 years tenure as Principal of ACTC, he was instrumental in building a huge chapel with a cellar for programme facilities; a women centre, workers housing, hostels and library renovations etc. and thus created revenue generating assets for the college.  As Executive Secretary of the APCC, he was also responsible for Hudhud disaster mitigation, renovating 139 Households in Eduruvaripalem near Vishakapatnam in cooperation with the CASA.  

His wife heads a nursing school; his elder son with two children is a pastor, at a town near Hyderabad. After a solemn funeral service held around 4.30 PM at Vanasthalipuram Lutheran Church, his mortal remains were laid to rest around 6 PM on Saturday the 16^th April, 2016 with scores of friends, relatives, colleagues and admirers in attendance with the members of the family.

We thank God for his leadership, life and ministry, and pray for God's comfort for the bereaved family.

Source: Bishop John S. D. Raju

    

Bail granted to one of the 7 innocent convicts of Kandhamal.

Message received from Mr. Anto Akkara

Great Victory for Kandhamal's Innocents - Christ is Risen!!!! 

Bail granted to one of the 7 innocent convicts of Kandhamal.

On March 22, the Odisha high court granted one-month bail to Gornath Chalanseth - one of the 7 innocent Christians - undergoing life imprisonment for Swami Laxmanananda's 'murder'. The bail order has come a day after I got a call from the National Human Rights Commission - 19 days into the signature campaign for the release of the innocent I launched in New Delhi at great risk.

Thanks for all those who have signed petition. 

Remember each signature at www.release7innocents.com generates three instant emails to the Chief Justice of India, the President of India and the National Human Rights Commission Chairman. 

Request: Pls join the signature campaign for the release of the innocent convicts. The greater the  numbers the faster the innocent Christians will be released.I plead once again - lend your voice to the innocents. Link one and all to ww.release7innocents.com and ask them to sign as a Lenten Act

Here's Gornath pic and his story. You can read the shocking story of other innocents at '7 innocents' at www.release7innocents.com

Source: Mr. Anto Akkara

Chattisgarh Christian Council condemns vandalism and assault on church members in Kachana, India.

Chhattisgarh Christian Council (CCC), regional Christian Council of the National Council of Churches in India,  strongly Condemns the Vandalisation of Church and assault on Believers Chhattisgarh Church and subsequent assault on the church members in Kachana near Raipur city. The attack happened around 11 am on March 6, 2016 allegedly by members of Bajrang Dal. The Pastor Ankush Bareyekar approached the Vidhan Sabha thana where the police after a long delay registered the FIR. 

Prayer request from Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church

Here is a prayer request received from Mr. Saroj Jha (Secretary, NELC). Please uphold Moderator Most Rev. S. Soren in your prayers.

Dear Colleagues in Christ,

Greetings from the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church.

With a great sorrow we would like to inform you that our Moderator Most Rev. S. Soren is ill health and admitted in Mohulpahari Christian Hospital. He is suffering from the hear problem. His condition is not much well and he would be referred to higher medical centre for specific necessary treatment within 2-3 days.

We therefore request you to kindly uphold him in your prayer.

Thanking you.

Sincerely,

Saroj Ch. Jha
Secretary
Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church 

NCCI Christmas celebration in Delhi

The celebration of ‘Christmas joy through carols’ was arranged by National Council of Churches in India and North West India Council of Churches (NWICC) on 5th December 2015 at Free Church (CNI), Sansad Marg . Mr. Justice Vikramajit Sen, Supreme Court of India, was the Chief Guest of the event. He emphasized that as a Christian Community we should contribute to Nation Building. 

The service started with a prayer by Rev. Suresh Kumar, Presbyter-in–Charge, Free Church, followed by the welcome address by Bishop Collin C. Theodore, Secretary NWICC. The felicitation was done by Bishop Subodh C. Mondal, the President of NWICC. The gathering was delighted by carols and scripture reading. Around 10 choirs from different churches (Protestant, Catholic, orthodox and Northeast) sang carols in different languages.

The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, Executive Secretary, NCCI. The programme ended with the blessing pronounced by Rt. Rev. Warris K. Masih. 

The Church leaders present in the celebration were H.G Dr. Youhanan Mar Demetrious, Rt. Rev. Warris K Masih (Moderator’s Commissary, CNI Delhi Diocese), Fr. Joseph Chinnayan (Catholic Bishops Conference of India) Ms. Mary George ( President, Lott Carey Baptist Mission in India), representatives from The Salvation Army, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Bible Society of India, National Council of YMCAs and YWCA- Delhi, Bishop Simon John, Believers Church and Mr. Oscar Fernandez, Member of Parliament who also participated the programme.

Samuel Jayakumar Executive Secretary, CoP, NCCI

Bishop Collin C. Theodore Secretary, NWICC

Chennai situation: An Appeal to all Churches.

Dear Ecumenical Colleagues,

We all are aware of the natural calamity that has wrecked havoc in Tamilnadu. I am sure many of you must be praying for the people of the region.A few of you may also have sent your support in cash or kind to them.

In case you would still like to send help, you may do it through CASA since CASA is the social service wing of the NCCI. You may contact Dr. Sushant Agrawal, Director of CASA (casa@del6.vsnl.in or sushant@casa-india.org; Tel. 011-25730611, 25730612) or the South Zone office of CASA in Chennai (Dr. Mrs. Florina Immaculate Mary Benoit, Chief Zonal Officer, CASA South Zone, 4 Church Road, Vepery, Chennai 600 007, Tamil Nadu, India, Tel: +91-44-25321297, E-Mail: florina@casa-india.org ).

In case it is more convenient for you to render help directly, you may also do so. You could even contact the offices of Tamil Nadu Christian Council, Arcot Lutheran Church, United Evangelical Churches in India, Church of South India, The Salvation Army or any other church/agency in Tamil Nadu.


Thanking you,

Sincerely,

Roger Gaikwad
General Secretary, NCCI.

NCCI Celebrating Disability Advocacy Sunday

Disability Advocacy Sunday Theme: Inclusive and Accessible Church

Disability Advocacy Sunday (DAS) is observed on a Sunday before Advent Sunday every year since 2011.

DAS…

• is both celebration and challenge. 
• is to celebrate lives and witness of the Persons with Disability (PWDs) amongst us. 
• aims to facilitate the Churches to open their doors to become inclusive, accessible and hospitable to the PWDs to fully participate in the very Life, Mission and Ministers of the Churches. 
• is an opportunity to raise awareness and to find solutions to the physical, architectural, communication and attitude to those with PWDs. 
• is paves ways to the PWDs to participate and lead the worship and liturgies and read scriptures and even ministering the Words of God. 
• is giving a chance for the Churches to review their mission agenda to address the Disability issue differently, creatively and relevantly. 

November 6, 2014 is a bench mark year in the faith journey of the NCCI - Indian Ecumenical Disability Accompaniment (IDEA).

Challenge:
No society and Church could declare that, there are no PWDs in us and among us! If any Church is found without a PWD, the DAS is a good time to examine why that is the Church open and actively seeking to make itself to open to all?

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

Mr. Hopingstone Lyngdoh
(Pic: The Indian Express)

Mr. 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 - APCC Press Meet/ Press Note

The Metropolitan of Marthoma Church, the Most Rev.Joseph Marthoma from Kerala; Rev.Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary of the NCCI, Dr. J. A. Oliver, Secretary of APCC , Most Rev. Johan Dang and Rt. Rev. Dular Lakra  from Gossner Lutheran Traditions at a press meet in Hyderabad on 18th August 2015.See Press note below.

PRESS NOTE

18th August, 2015

•The NCCI is holding a Round Table on the concerns of Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration on 18th, 19th August 2015 at Hyderabad in which the Metropolitan of Marthoma Church, the Most Rev.Joseph Marthoma from Kerala; Rev.Dr.Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary of the NCCI, Nagpur; the Moderator, the Bishops and senior leaders of Gossner Lutheran Church from North and Eastern India are participating in conjunction with which this Press meet is convened.

• The Round Table reiterates the significance of conciliation efforts in the church and the society as a means to strengthen and speed up poverty alleviation and nation building process. 

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

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.

Karnataka Christian Council's new Executive Committee formed. Commits to counter fundamentalism.

- Newly Elected Office Bearers of the Karnataka Christian Council -

(L to R) Mr. G D Pushparajan (Treasurer), Rev. Dr. Hubert Watson (Secretary), Rev. Dr. N Jayawant (Vice-President), 
Rt. Rev. Ravikumar Niranjan (Chair) and Rt. Rev. Mohan Manoraj (President) 

Bangalore, March 26, 2015.

The General Body of the Karnataka Christian Council (KaCC) met on March 26, 2015 at the Unity Building, Bangalore. KaCC  has been significant for many important decisions including unanimously being committed to working  with all Churches against religious fundamentalism and fanaticism.  Rt. Rev. Ravikumar Niranjan, CSI Bishop for Karnataka Northern Diocese chaired the meeting. Rev. Dr. Hubert Watson, the Secretary of the Council presented the activity report. Members representing Churches and institutions from all over Karnataka participated in the meeting and elected new office bearers and Executive Committee Members.

This is the newly elected executive committee of KaCC for the next three years:
Rt. Rev. Mohan Manoraj (CSI Bishop of Karnataka Southern Diocese) unanimously elected as the President of the council; Rev. Dr. N. Jayawant (Methodist Church in India, Bangalore Regional Conference) as the Vice-President ; Rev. Dr. Hubert Watson (Karnataka Theological College) as Secretary; Mr. G D Pushparaj (the Executive Secretary of the CSITA - Karnataka Inter-Diocesan Administrative, Finance and Property Board) as Treasurer. 

NCCI Centenary Celebration 2014 - Glimpses

National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) celebrated its centenary in 2014 in a series of regional programs all over India. This video is a a compilation of the highlights / glimpses of the year-long celebration.

Check out the video from our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zhg3fS32zo

10000 Gathered in Madurai, Tamilnadu to Celebrate The NCCI Centenary

10000 Gathered in Madurai, Tamilnadu to Celebrate The NCCI Centenary

The TAMILNADU CHRISTIAN COUNCIL joining the Churches in Madurai, Tamilnadu in Hosting the Tamilnadu Regional Centenary Celebration on the 20th September 2014. The Church of South India Madurai Ramnad Diocese gave an exemplary leadership to the celebrations in joining hands with the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church, Methodist Church in India, Salvation Army, Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Roman Catholic Churches and over 100 Pentecostal and Front Line Churches and over 40 Christian Mission Organizations, Theological Seminaries and Training Institutes and including the YWCA and Bible Society.

Kerala Regional Celebrations of the Centenary of the National Council of Churches in India

Kottayam: As part of Centenary celebration programs of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) in various regions around the country, Kerala Council of Churches (KCC) hosted a three-day long (September 26th to 28th, 2014) program in Kottayam and Tiruvalla.

NEICC appeals all to Shun Violence and Maintain Peace in Assam-Nagaland Border

GUWAHATI: The North East India Christian Council (NEICC) has expressed anguish at the human suffering that has taken place on the Assam-Nagaland border and appealed all to shun violence and maintain peace.

A joint peace meeting of the churches of the N-E Region under the aegis of the NEICC at Shillong expressed their "deep pain and anguish at the human suffering" as an outcome of the conflict on the inter-state boundary.