Posted byRaj Bharath Patta

National Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits 2010

The stratification of Indian society into layers of caste has been a common phenomenon, where the nexus of power, caste, class & patriarchy together dominate and oppress those that are born outside the caste system, the Dalits. Over the years the discrimination on Dalits has been so subtle that today violence against these our Dalits has been unabated and is highly rampant. Even places of higher learning, which have to set the trend for a casteless society are not exempted from caste based discrimination and violence, for there has been an umpteen number of cases recorded in such distinguished places. Despite awareness that is imparted in accepting every person as equal to the other, unfortunately caste and its ramifications today dictate terms in affirming ones identity, and that has been the saga from centuries.

The Church is not an exception in fanning the caste-based identities and practicing discrimination. “In Christ we are all one” perhaps seems to be reduced to be a mere slogan but in practice “With Christ we are still different.” Churches tend to be divided in the name of caste and sub-castes. Hardly there is any homily about the injustice of practicing caste in our Churches today. Caste alignments and conglomerations play an important role in Church elections. The ethical calling and living of the Church in India has not been lived up due to the forces and practices of caste within its fold. The witness of the Church has taken a different route, for most of us are either concerned of life after death or of prosperity and blessing that is due for a Christian. The witness of the Church amidst the Dalit realities is at stake and calls for an urgent attention of the Indian Churches to deal it.

Despite the exclusion and discrimination, Dalits have claimed their agency in asserting themselves by self-naming, writing themselves into history and in the electoral process. In this process the Christian Mission historically has played, at least in some pockets of the country, the role of being a midwife by creating a condition in which Dalit communities could seek alternative identities and socio-economic empowerment. Modern Dalit movement in some South Indian states of India in some ways found it’s impetuous in the Church. Yet that pioneering vision of mission has been lost with the church either accommodating the caste system or normalizing it as a matter of culture and tradition.

The evangelical and ecumenical legacy of being the Church of the Dalits is reclaimed in the strong theological voice from within the Church in the form of Dalit theology, which aims at affirming life in and for all, in addressing the systemic injustice done on Dalits from the perspectives of faith. Those subscribing to faith in action have been bold in calling a spade a spade and have been ascribing challenges to faith in eliminating caste based discriminations within and outside the Churches. Thanks to all the vibrant contributions of our Dalit fore fathers and fore mothers, who voiced out our concerns of justice at the expense of forfeiting their privileges, at various forums. All their toil and hardship for Dalit solidarity have not gone in vain, but have given rise to newer resilient systems and mechanisms in overcoming discriminations in our generations. The Churches have now come to terms that no mission engagement can go unattended without addressing the concerns of Dalits today. Dalit Liberation Sundays are now slowly permeating into the life and witness of the Churches taking cognizance of the fact that Dalit issues are a reality in our localities and an engagement in and with the struggles of the Dalits is a quest for an authentic expression of Christian faith and discipleship. The participation of the Churches in ensuring justice to Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin also needs commendations, though it is not sufficient in terms of exerting pressure in achieving justice.

On the other hand, the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation along with other international agencies have internationalized Dalit issue and have sought the help of UNHRC & CERD to intervene in eliminating caste in South Asia. Global conference on Dalits in March 2009, at Bangkok has drawn the international attention to the concerns of Dalits in South Asia. Bangkok conference was an important milestone in the history of Dalit liberation, for its success was that Dalit issue will no longer be addressed as mere diaconal issue but rather will be addressed as a faith issue. For in Bangkok, it was univocally said that injustice done to Dalits under the guise of caste-based discrimination is against the core of Christian gospel and it affects the whole of the Christian family. Bangkok declaration on Justice for Dalits has emphatically pronounced the need for a Kairos like Document, a theological affirmation by the Churches in India in overcoming caste-based discrimination within and outside the church.

Over the years affirmative actions by Churches in addressing caste and its ramifications at the national level have not been really coherent and consolidated, for some Churches are not interested in Dalit cause, some perceive Dalits as objects of mission and some perceive Dalit work as a mission of Charity. Therefore there is a need for a united, ecumenical and affirmative action by the churches in conjunction with the other movements and community based organizations. Besides this coming together, there is also a need to re-look at the mission strategies of the churches in addressing Dalit concerns at the local congregation level and at the Church level. The context of the Dalit situation in South Asia has also been alarming, which needs immediate attention by all those working for justice. The joint partnerships among Churches and also between Churches and social movements are also required in our journey for liberation.

In the backdrop of these realities, what is the witness of the Churches to Christ and his values in the context of prevailing caste based discriminations? Where will the Indian Churches go in their mission in such a context? What are the new frontiers in mission today? What is the prophetic response of the Churches in India in dismantling the heinous caste structures?

Therefore, as we wrestle with these pertinent questions, as an expression of the Indian Churches’ commitment to Dalit cause and as an offering of the Indian Churches to the global ecumenical movement, the National Council of Churches in India is organizing a National Ecumenical Consultation on Justice for Dalits. This conference is to express our Indian Churches position on caste based discrimination irrespective of denomination and theological affiliation. It will attempt to bring the leadership of the Ecumenical, Evangelical and Catholic churches together to speak in one voice against the caste system and to outline a common theological position for the faith basis and mission praxis of the Indian church with regard caste and caste based discrimination. The consultation will attempt to invite the leadership of the church and invite them to commit themselves and their churches to the struggle for Dalit emancipation and the end of caste based discrimination as an act of common witness to the life in fullness for all that Jesus came to offer. It is in this context that the consultation will meet under the theme Churches Response to Caste Based Discriminations.

• To affirm that the caste system and the continued violence and discrimination against Dalits is contrary to the will of God and that the calling of the Church is to stand against injustice wherever it may occur.
• To affirm the rich contributions of the Dalit theological resources and heritage in celebrating life in all equality.
• To bring out a theological statement that calls the churches to stand against caste based discrimination
• To evolve a coherent and a consolidated action plans by the Churches in South Asia in addressing this issue of caste.
• To re-visit the mission strategies and mission theology in addressing Dalit cause, and to rediscover newer paradigms and modules.
• To build partnerships and bridges among churches and also between Churches and social movements working towards Dalit transformation.

Therefore taking into cognizance the above-mentioned needs, it is envisaged to organize a National Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits organized by the National Council of Churches in India in partnership with the other committed Churches in India. About eighty Church leaders, theologians, social activists and those involved in the cause of Dalit liberation will attend this national conference. For the visibility of the Churches role for Dalits and for the attention of the public media and political groups, it is suggested to organize this national conference at New Delhi. Tentatively the dates will be during October 22-25 2010.

The National Consultation will be for three full days, with a particular focus for each day. Day one will delve on the rationale, why do the Churches in India today need to witness to Christ in the context of growing caste based discriminations within and outside the Churches. Day two shall discuss the frontiers of mission today highlighting the Dalit struggles today. Day three will be the Churches’ prophetic role and response to the struggles of Dalits today, a theological audit of holding each other accountable. Every day will have sessions with Bible Studies, thematic presentations and workshops on the given themes for the day. Cultural activities and meetings with movements, some politicians and inter-faith friends shall also take place in the evenings.

• Affirmative theological directives in dismantling caste-based discrimination and injustice shall be brought out which shall be owned by the Churches in India, and shall find creative ways to implement those directives within and outside the Churches.
• Coherence of Dalit work among the Churches for a united witness for Dalit liberation
• Forge new partnerships among Churches and between churches and social movements for the cause of Dalit rights.

Bishop B.S. Devamani                                        Rev. Raj Bharath Patta

Chairperson,                                                                 Executive Secretary,

NCCI- Commission on Dalits                                    NCCI- Commission on Dalits

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