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

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Oct. 15, 1931 - July 27, 2015
(Pic: media.thenewindianexpress.com)

The 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

Asia Bibi's death sentence suspended by Pakistan Supreme Court

Asia Bibi - charged under Pakistan's blasphemy law

Dear brothers, sisters & Friends,

Greetings from NCC- Pakistan!

The good news that Asia Bibi who is in jail from the last 6/7 years and was charged under Blasphemy law. Her case was heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to-day, 22^nd July, 2015.

The Supreme Court in its preliminary orders suspended the death penalty which was awarded by the session Court and subsequently upheld by the High Court, under Blasphemy Law.

This order of the Supreme Court paved the way for her complete acquittal from the Blasphemy charge.

Now she could be released on bail but due to sensitivity of the issue it was advised that she should remain in jail for security reasons and wait for the final judgment of the Supreme Court.

 

(Source: Email received from Mr. Victor Azariah, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan)

NCCI Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment

Consultation on 'Towards Inclusive Society: From Disability Perspective

The National Council of Churches in India's (NCCI) Indian Disability Ecumenical Accompaniment (IDEA) joined with the Engage Disability Network (EDN) and Christian Service Agency (CSA) to organize a consultation on 'Towards Inclusive Society: From Disability Perspective" at NCCI Campus on 21st July 2015.

30 participants including persons with disabilities, activists, social workers, pastors, academicians, educators, counselors and students participated in this consultation.

The consultation aimed to come-up with a few collective action plans to work at the grass-root communities to become inclusive by not considering the PWDs as burden or sending them to hostels and homes or make them socially isolated by our attitudes and behaviors including use of derogatory and abusive languages that stigmatize and discriminate the PWDs.

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, the General Secretary – NCCI, in his presidential address informed that the NCCI has developed a work place policy  where there will be 'zero discrimination' on the basis of physical fitness, caste, creed, gender and generation in working environment of NCCI. He also suggested that, all the organizations and churches and other religious institutions must have such policies that promotes inclusiveness.

Rev. Amin Kalwale, Pastor at All Saints Cathedral, Nagpur, presented a paper on 'Inclusive Church'. He mentioned that the churches and other faith communities have to be sensitive towards people with special needs and they have to become disable-friendly by  constructing ramps and such.  Also he suggested to develop and produce liturgies and publications considering the PWDs in Braille and other such means of communication.

Ms. Ashrita Bhelwa, an educationalist from St. Ursula Girls High School, Nagpur, informed the participants that, every human has right to schooling including the children with disabilities. She suggested that every school  and educational institution has to be inclusive  not only having and developing disabled-friendly infrastructure but also admitting children from all types of disabilities with all  necessary systems including appointing a teacher who could  communicate using sign language while the other teacher is teaching the same subject in the classroom.  She pointed out such measures would definitely motivate the younger generations to become inclusive in their living environments and in the future also.

NCCI Tribal and Adivasi Sunday 2015

"Tribals and Adivasis: Custodians of 

God-given land and its ecosystems"

Tribal-Adivasi Sunday will be observed on 9th August 2015. (click here to download the worship order) The NCCI encourages you to celebrate Tribal-Adivasi Sunday as an important expression of our affirmation of and dedication to the gospel: the gospel is for all including Tribals and Adivasis. Many of us, who do not consider ourselves as Tribals/Adivasis, tend to overlook or neglect the importance of indigenous people in the vision and mission of God the creator. Those of us who belong to indigenous communities take our status for granted and therefore do not affirm our special position in God’s plans and purposes. Hence, NCCI appeals to all churches to give the observance of Tribal-Adivasi Sunday its due importance. 

The theme for this year is "Tribals and Adivasis: Custodians of God-given Land and its Ecosystems." This is in tune with the theme of UN’s International Day of Indigenous People, which is “Indigenous Peoples as Custodians of the Land and its Ecosystems.” 

Hope in the midst of violence

Chhattisgarh Council of Churches unites churches, Mahila Mandals and organizations to protest and resist atrocities on Women from Minority Christian Community

Rev Dr Atul Arthur Secretary of Regional Council of Churches in Chattisgarh with leaders from Churches and women’s fellowship placing the memorandum to government officials seeking Justice 

Atrocities on Christians are increasing at an alarming rate in India. Worst victims of such atrocities are women and missionaries at the grassroots who have dedicated their lives to serve the community, the poor and the downtrodden. On 19th June, a nun was gang-raped by men in masks in ‘Christo Sahay Health Center’ where she was serving as nurse in Raipur the capital of Chhattisgarh state. ‘Strategized Rape’ is used as a weapon to create fear, shame and humiliate the Christian community which is a minority community in India.

The All India Council of Christian Women and National Council of Churches in India gave a clarion call to women’s fellowship of member Churches and leaders of Chhattisgarh Christian Council (CCC) to respond to end this culture of rape and atrocities of Christian missionaries in India. 

Indian Volunteers for Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI)

 Dear Ecumenical Colleagues,

Greetings in Christ from NCCI!

We are inviting applications for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) for the year 2015. The EAPPI is an international initiative of World Council Churches (WCC) under the Palestine - Israel Ecumenical Forum (PIEF). The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) brings internationals to the West Bank to experience life under occupation. Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) provide protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitor and report human rights abuses and support Palestinians and Israelis working together for peace. EAs serve in small international teams in one location (or ‘placement’) living in a shared apartment with their colleagues.

More than 20 countries are sending EAs to operate in one of these 7 placements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem where they live and work alongside local people who are non-violently resisting the occupation. When they return home, EAs campaign for a just and peaceful resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through an end to the occupation, respect for international law and implementation of UN resolutions.

We are recruiting for 2 EAs from India to serve in Israel and the occupied Palestine territories (I-oPt) for 3 months in 2015 for the group of 58 (September, 2015 – December, 2015) or 59 (December, 2015 – March, 2016).

Download forms:
(1) Advertisement
(2) Overview of the EAPPI programme
(3) Role Description
(4) Application Form

I request you to kindly give publicity to the programme among your churches/constituent bodies and encourage people to apply for the same by 25th July, 2015.

For further enquiry contact Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, Executive Secretary, NCCI commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness (samncci@gmail.com, nccidel@nccindia.in).

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad,
General Secretary, NCCI.


Instructions to fill the application form

1. Download the Application form to your computer
2. Fill it completely
3. Save the document
4. Email it as attachment to nccidel@nccindia.in

AICCW - NCCI Condemn the Heinous Crime of Rape of Salesian Nun in Chhattisgarh

STOP THE PANDEMIC OF RAPE USED AS WEAPON OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN HATE CAMPAIGN

An Indian Nun in her mid forties from Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, was brutally attacked, molested and raped in Raipur capital of Chattisgarth state in India on Saturday 22^nd June 2015. She was found semi clad, unconscious and hands tied in a medical center run by Christian Missionaries near Pandri locality in the state of Chattisgarh.

chief minister Raman Singh and governor Balram Das Tondon demanding immediate arrest of culprits and asking police to act sensitive in the casechief minister Raman Singh and governor Balram Das Tondon demanding immediate arrest of culprits and asking police to act sensitive in the case. chief minister Raman Singh and governor Balram Das Tondon demanding immediate arrest of culprits and asking police to act sensitive in the case. Chhattisgarh Police is handling the case of sexual assault on a nun at a medicare centre in the state capital.Sister Annie John, the nun’s superior revealed that the victim was wakened by the sound of cupboards being opened and the victim asked if they were looking for money. Sister Annie further reports that the victims mentioned the culprits said “We need money, but something else also,” The attackers forced the victim to swallow tablet before they raped her. The victim is in acute trauma and pain. (Source : ucanews.com reporters, Delhi, 22^nd June 2015)

Raman Singh and governor Balram Das Tondon demanding immediate arrest of culprits and asking police to act sensitive in the case.chief minister Raman Singh and governor Balram Das Tondon demanding immediate arrestTwo months earlier, in March 2015, a 74 -year old nun was raped by six men at a local convent school in Ranaghat, West Bengal after they entered the premises to rob the building. The rape came after a series of incidents, including thefts, at Delhi churches that put church leaders in India on alert about religious violence.

Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad, the General Secretary of National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) states “Rape, sexual assault,  abuse and attack on women, children from minority communities is increasing in alarming rate in India. Such attacks are heinous crimes. We request the  Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi to consider this phenomenon  seriously and intervene to ensure the safety of citizens, particularly minority communities. We urge our Prime Minister to protect religious freedom and ensure safety of women in our country.”

According to Ms. Moumita Biswas, the Executive Secretary of All India Council of Christian Women (AICCW), “Rape is being   used as a  weapon of  expressing hatred and religious intolerance. Recurring phenomenon of targeting nuns and Christian missionaries is nothing but a deliberate attempt to inflict humiliation on minority community. ”

Bishop George Ninan rests in glory

Bishop 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.

Interfaith Dialogue on Child Labour and Child Rights

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN INDIA: PRESS RELEASE

PROGRAMME ON ‘Child Labour and Child Rights’ held

A programme on Interfaith Dialogue on Child Labour and Child Rights was jointly organised by United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELC) Conflict Transformation and Peace-building Programme and the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation recently at the NCCI Campus, Nagpur, on the occasion of International Day against Child labour.

The Programme was chaired by the National Secretary of All India Progressive Forum, Dr. Yugal J. Rayalu, while Dr. Roger Gaikwad, General Secretary NCCI, gave the keynote address. Mr. Samuel Logan from United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, was present on the dais.

At the beginning of the programme, Mr. Samuel Logan, welcomed all the speakers and the dignitaries present in the programme. He told the gathering that the main aim of this programme was to develop a platform where people of different faith can come together and work towards the rights of Children.

In his Key Note, Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad said that the welfare of children concerns all of us, including the NCCI. It’s focus on poverty, justice and liberation theology involved concern for children. Its engagement with Feminist theology also addressed the plight of girl child, Dalit Theology also included concerns about Dalit children, and so till date, for different Commissions and Ministries of NCCI, children are still an important part of NCCI. As challenges for children are increasing, it is important for us to learn from one another how religions address the issue of child rights and child labour.

International Day of Yoga

The UN General Assembly has declared 21st June as International  Day of Yoga. The Government of India is making preparations for a large scale observance of this day in India and in other parts of the world this year. Yoga is considered by many to be a healthy discipline and therefore has become popular worldwide. Many persons belonging to different religious traditions already practice yoga as a matter of personal choice and conviction.

Yoga is essentially a way of life that integrates the means of harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit. One should also keep in mind that, internationally, there are other disciplines similar in intent and content to Yoga. For example, T'ai chi is a meditative exercise that requires you to pay close attention to your breathing while completing a series of choreographed, slow, fluid, and continuous dance-like movements. Chi-gong is an exercise that focuses on breath work, while incorporating meditation and very gentle, slow physical movements. In Zen Buddhism, zazen (literally "seated meditation”) is a meditative discipline in which body, breath and mind come together as one reality. 

Therefore people should not be compelled to practice yoga as if it is the only method for bringing harmony between mind and body – such a philosophy runs through all religions and cultures. We are deeply concerned that in spite of the declarations made by the Centre, in many states, circulars have been sent to schools to have compulsory Yoga practices. We oppose such compulsions; and especially minority run institutions should be given the freedom to decide how and whether to introduce yoga in their schools. 

Surya Namaskar, with its religious overtones, should not be introduced in our schools and institutions. We regret that some responsible people in the government have interpreted yoga with religious motifs. The BJP legislator Yogi Adiyanth’s statement that those opposing yoga and surya namaskar should either leave India or drown themselves in the ocean is not acceptable and is strongly condemned by the churches. It is statements such as these that are making minority communities suspicious about the intentions of the government.

We urge the Government to be sensitive to the different cultural and religious practices in our country. We reiterate that Christianity has existed in India from the first century onwards and over the centuries Christianity has developed its own Indian Christian cultural traditions. We hope this government will respect the ethos and spirituality of the Christian community and not impose any particular practices on any citizens of the country.


Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in India