Posted byDr. Solomon Rongpi

Rationale:  The world celebrates the centenary of World Missionary Conference of Edinburgh 1910. This provides opportunity to critically reflection the past and look for a new future. Search for a relevant mission is debated in the academic world, but very little efforts have been made to see the implication for local congregation. Indian churches have made significant contribution in the area of interfaith dialogue, liberation and transformation mission. How are they translated at the local congregation? The churches still pursue traditional mission paradigm and there is a need to empowering local churches with transformational mission. Therefore, this consultation is arranged in collaboration with Pastoral Research Centre of the Senate of Serampore College to explore new ways of doing mission and it is expected that this consultation will empower local congregation for mission.

Aim: In the context of 2010 centenary celebration of the First International Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, this consultation is being organized to revisit mission practice and see its implications for local congregation.  It will help to evolve new mission endeavors for the churches in India in context of growing religious fundamentalism, market competition, consumerism, and continuing marginalization and exclusion of the marginalized sections of the society.

Objectives:
• To critically analyze the missionary contributions of missions from `Receivers’, especially marginalized perspective.
• To evolve new mission practices in local congregation.
• To empower local congregation to engage wholistic mission
• To strategize new collaborative mission endeavor among various mission agencies and churches.

Programme Methodology:It is a consultation basically for the people who are involved in mission work at grass root context. It intends to bring 30 pastors, missionaries and academicians. The programme will consist of paper presentation on three major themes, panel presentation on various issues and its implication for mission at local congregation. Sufficient time will be allocated to plan for concrete mission strategy at grass root levels.

Target groups: Altogether 30 participants will attend this conference – 7 pastors/ministers, 6 missionaries, 5 academicians, 5 NGOs workers, 5 mission partners and 2 NCCI staff. Gender balance and equal regional participation will be ensured.

Expected Outcome:

• Evolve a proposal on collaborative mission practice at local congregation.
• Evolve a proposal on liberative /transformational mission practices for local congregation. 

Date: 10-13 March 2010

Venue: SCEPTRE, 74B, A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata – 700 016, West Bengal.

Hospitality and Travel Assistance: 

The participants’ local hospitality and II Sleeper Class may be reimbursed. Food and lodging will be taken care by organizer. Churches will also be requested to contribute travel and accidental expenses for their participants.

Programme Facilitation:

The programme will be jointly organized by the Commissions on Unity, Mission & Evangelism, NCCI and BTESSC/SCEPTRE, Kolkata.

Contact Person for Programme Planning:
The Rev. Dr. Solomon Rongpi,
Secretary, Unity, Mission & Evangelism,
NCCI, Christian Council Campus, Civil Lines, PO Box-205
Nagpurr – 440 001, Maharashtra.
Tel : 0712-2531312, 2561464  Fax: 0712 – 2520554; Mobile: 09422306295
 Email: srongpi@yahoo.com, srongpi@gmail.com

Contact Persons for Food and Lodging:
Dr. M.T. Cherian
Shrachi Centre
Asso. Dean, SCEPTRE
17B, A.J. C. Bose Road
Kolkata – 700 016
Tel:09433265710
Email: cherianmt@rediffmail.com

Tentative Programme Schedule:

First Day
09:00 to 09:30   Morning Devotion and Bible study –
- Mrs. Papiya Durairaj (cofm)
09.30 to 10:30   Welcome & Introduction: Rev. Dr. Solomon Rongpi
10:30 to 11:00   Tea Break
11:00 to 12.30   Keynote Address – Rev. Dr. Wati Longchar 
12.30 to 14.30   Lunch Break
14.30 to 16.00   Conversion, Salvation and  Mission by
     Dr. M.T. Cherian
16.00 to 16.30   Tea
17.00 to 18.15   Edinburgh Conference and Beyond –  
Looking Ahead for Future
     Dr. Sunil Caleb
19.15 to 20.00   Dinner
20.00 to 21.00   Video Presentation

Second Day
08.00 to 08.30   Break-fast
08:30 to 09:00   Morning devotion and Bible study
     - Dr. Patta Deva Raju
09.00 to 10.00   Panel Presentation on “Issues and challenges for Mission
    in local context”
a) South Indian perspective – Dr. Watson, Confirmed
b) North Indian perspective – Mr. Dipankar Halder, Confirmed
c) Northeast Indian perspective – Mr. Senti, Asso. Pastor, Kohima?
10.00 to 10.30   Tea
10.30 to 01.00   Panel Presentation on “Doing mission in local
    Congregation” 
a) Pastor’s Perspective – Mr. Nagil Pope
b) Laity perspective  - Mrs. Haldir Peacock
c) Missionary perspective – Dr. S.Chongloi
d) Activist perspective –  Rev. S. Chandra Mohan

14.30 to 16.00   Group Work – Mission Collaboration and Action Plan                         
16.00 to 16.30   Tea
17.00 to 18.15   Group Work Continued….
19.15 to 20.00   Dinner
20.00 to 21.00   Group Reporting & Discussion

Third Day:
08.00 to 08.30   Break-fast
08:30 to 09:00   Devotion and Bible Study – Rev.  Vunthang Siethlou
09.00 to 10.00   Presentation of Statement and Action plan
10.00 to 10.30   Tea
10.30 to 11.00   Adoption of the Statement
11.00 to 12.00   Action Plan and Follow-up
12.00 to 13.00   Concluding Session with Worship – Mrs. Dipti Gine
13.00 to 14.30   Lunch
14.30 -    Departure

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