500 Years of the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther will be observed
and celebrated in 2017 in Germany as well as all over the world. The Special Envoy of the Celebration, Bishop Dr. Margot Käßmann visited India as part of the
preparation for the celebration. The
NCCI organized an interaction with Church Leaders on 19th
February, 2016 at YMCA’s National Council office. Around 30 Church leaders and
ecumenical organisations participated in this meeting. The meeting was chaired by Bishop Collin C.
Theodore, Secretary NWICC.
In her
introductory remarks, Dr. Margot Käßmann
observed that when we celebrate Reformation not as a history of division but as a common history of Churches,
as ecumenical history, as history of learning, it is important for the Churches
to reflect what the reformation means to them in this context. The Church leaders
also shared various concerns of Churches in India and the Indian context.
In the evening, Dr. Margot Käßmann gave a public lecture at the
German Embassy in Delhi on "Reformation and Education." She highlighted that one of the aspects
of the Reformation in middle Europe in the 16th century was education, and this helped people in being able to think, reflect, speculate,
understand and ask questions. Her lecture was well received by the audience.
Samuel Jayakumar
Executive Secretary, CoP, NCCI.
