Press Coverage and Releases

• A Giant Leap Forward Towards Justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims
It was on the 21st July forty-one years ago, for the first time in the history of the creation, that Mr. Neil Armstrong landed his foot on the Moon, and as he landed, he declared, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.” On the 21st July 2010, more than 5000 Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin marched together at the national capital, New Delhi joining their steps for justice and leaping a giant stride in their struggle for their just demand of ensuring Scheduled Caste status to them. The national rally organized by the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC) in collaboration with the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), certainly marked a giant leap in the struggle, for the Union Government of India cannot but took note of the earnest and genuine plight of Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims in granting them the much awaited justice.

• NCCI felicitates Rajya Sabha MP, Sh. Oscar Fernandes ji
On 9th July 2010, the delegation of NCCI comprising of Very Very Rev. S. Ramban of Orthodox Church and Adv. Anjna Masih Secretary Commission on Policy, Governance & Public Witness NCCI alongwith Major Yakoob Masih and Major Viyajpal of Salcvation Army and Adv. Koshy greeted and felicitated Sh. Oscar Fernandes ji on being elected as Member of Parliament Rajya Sabha.

• E2010 Begins: Witnessing to Christ Today echoes
The bright skies, with long day light, the cool breezes, the old mountains peeping down in all grandeur, with cheerful moments of exchanging smiles all around at Pollocks Hall, Edinburgh, Scotland, the centenary celebrations of the International Missionary Conference of 1910 began in all splendor on the 2nd June 2010. About 300 participants from across the world representing various faith affirmations in the World Christianity gathered together thanking God for all the mission endeavors thus far, particularly for the last hundred years, and for re-committing towards new missiological engagements in our times today. Participants at Edinburgh 2010 (E2010) are from diverse walks of life and faith affirmations, representing from the member Churches of the World Council of Churches, from the World Evangelical Alliance and from the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity from Vatican, which added much colour and grace to the occasion. Formal welcomes from the organizers of the Edinburgh 2010 and from the Churches in Scotland was done on the 2nd June in the evening, during the opening worship, which included singing from different languages. One of the main objectives of this E2010 celebration is to build friendships among people of different countries, different Churches, and different mission agencies, and the participants have been in mutual sharing of the mission engagements in their contexts. “Give us Friends and make us Family” was the prayer made by Rev. Andrew Anderson, Chairman E2010 General Council during his welcome in the day.

• Dalit Christian Struggle for Justice Gaining Momentum
As part of political activism for the cause of justice to Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims, an intense lobbying at the New Delhi circles has been unstintingly continuing, with several delegations impressing upon the political leaders in granting Scheduled caste status to Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin. On the 21st May 2010, when the nation observes it as ‘Anti Terrorism Day,’ in commemoration of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the General Secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) gave an appointment to the delegation of Dalit Christian & Dalit Muslim activists under the auspices of National Council of Dalit Christians. The delegation paid rich tributes to Late Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, remembering his efforts to the cause of Dalit emancipation, particularly for bringing in the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989. The delegation then briefed to Mr. Gandhi about the injustices done to Dalit Christians & Dalit Muslims due to the discriminatory paragraph 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Caste order 1950. Mr. Gandhi expressed his surprise that Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin are excluded from the benefits of affirmative actions such as contesting for elections from Panchayats to Parliament, when the Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists of Dalit origin are the beneficiaries of it. Mr. Gandhi was patient to the concerns and issues raised by the delegation, and expressed his earnest desire in supporting this genuine cause for justice, by following up the matter accordingly. The delegation submitted a memorandum, seeking Mr. Gandhi’s intervention in impressing upon the present UPA Government to act swiftly in taking an urgent action on the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities report (Ranganath Misra Commission report), particularly to the Additional Term of Reference, and to give an appropriate answer to the query of the Supreme Court to the Writ Petitions demanding deletion of the unjust paragraph 3 of the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950 and to extend Scheduled Caste status to Muslims and Christians of Scheduled Caste Origin.

• Confederation, Consolidation & Conscientisation: NEDSN
A meeting of Dalit coordinators of member Churches of NCCI was held at Ecumenical Resource Center, United Theological College, Bangalore during 21-23 April 2010. The need and importance of a network among Churches for the work of Dalit solidarity was felt and discussed by the participants. To that effect, a National Ecumenical Dalit Solidarity Network (NEDSN) emerged out of the deliberations with an objective for common witness and for mutual sharing of the local accompaniments with Dalit struggles.

• NCCDC meets Shri Veerappan Moily, Min. of Law & Jusice: Express pain and agony over delayed action
On the occasion of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti, a delegation comprising representatives of National Coordination Committee for Dalit Christians (NCCDC) a joint programme of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) with Mr. Franklin Caeser, Mr. Solomon Raju and Mr. M Vijay Kumar of National Council of Dalit Christians met with hon’ble Minister for Law and Justice Sh. Veerappa Moilly and shared with him their pain and agony as till date no action has been taken by government on Additional Terms of Reference of Ranganath Mishra Commission Report (NCRLM Report) though the report had been submitted to the Prime Minister in May 2007.

• NCCI-AIACHE-CBCI appeal to the HRD Ministry to shield the Rights of Minority Educational Institution
A Joint meeting of the NCCI’s Commission on Policy, Governance and Public Witness (NCCI-COP) and constituent member All India Association for Christian Higher Education (AIACHE) along with CBCI Commission for Education & Culture was held on 25th March 2010 in New Delhi to deliberate on the implications of the Sections 21 & 22 of RTE Act 2009. In an Appeal to Shri Kapil Sibal, Ministry of Human Resource – GoI, they expressed the need to amend RTE Act 2009 saying that the Sections 21 & 22 does not apply to the Religious Minorities of the country. Through Art 30(1), the Constitutional right was given by the founding fathers and mothers of the Constitution to protect the minorities so that they could preserve their religion and culture.

• Dr. Kunchala Rajaratnam - A Tribute
The National Council of Churches in India - the family of Protestant and Orthodox Churches, and Ecumenical Councils, Organisations, and Agencies, in India with all who give thanks to the life and witness of Dr. Kunchala Rajaratnam - pays rich tribute to the Charisma with which he led the Ecumenical movement in India always by example and from the front – both through commitment as a serious ecumenist and by office as the Chairperson of Units / Commissions and the President of the National Council.

• An Easter thought
On behalf of the secretariat of the National Council of Churches in India, we invite you to a meaningful observance and recapitulation of the resurrection of Jesus – on Easter day this year and all through the days leading to the feast of the Pentecost; the Pentecost in which the Jesus movement gained steam and determination

• Building Inclusive India: Overcoming Social and Religious Discriminations
When the Preamble of the Constitution of India records "We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into socialist, secular, democratic republic and to secure to all citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity', the very idea of 'We the people' has been put to risk for Christian and Muslims of Scheduled Caste Origin who continue to face social and religious discrimination.

• Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for all
As India is poised to make history on 8th March 2010, by immortalizing the Centenary Celebrations of the International Women's Day with the grand collective gesture of passing the Women's Reservation Bill, let us join hands and remember our past struggles, celebrate our achievements and turn to the future with hope and courage to face challenges and make the most of the opportunities.

• A Memorandum submitted to National Minorities Commission, GoI on the attacks on NE Indians
A delegation from NCCI submitted a memorandum to the Hon'ble Chairperson, National Minorities Commission on 4th March 2010 to seek protection for the Minorities, specially for the North East Indians.

• National Minority Commission assures NCCI delegation official enquiry
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) condemns the attack against Christians in Batala, Punjab State. Both the churches that were victims of the attack were member churches of the NCCI. The incident has severely hurt the member churches and the constituent members, making them wary over any recurring situations.

• World Day of Prayer has moved with women wherever their lives have taken them
World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service.

• NCCI condemns objectionable depiction of Jesus; demands action and enquiry
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI)condemns the act of the Skyline Publishers to depict Jesus with a cigarette and a beer can in one of their publications meant for education of children

• Walk for Life, and Walk against Life denying forces
Most Christians would like to sing the chorus "Walk, Walk, Walk, Walk in the light, Walking in the light of God", on any Sunday worship as part of praise and thanksgiving. The National Council of Churches in India, on Sunday the 14th Feb.2010 along with its friends, had its devotion and prayer on the street and participated in a Walkthon at 6.30 am, with a message 'Eliminate Manual Scavening by 2010' organized by the Rotary Club of Nagpur.

• Lent 2010
Christians the world over enter into a Season of Lent this week. Those belonging to the Orthodox tradition begin their fast today, and others on Wednesday this week. Through these days the faithful prepare themselves to enter into the experience of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

• Press Release on the occasion of 61st Republic Day of Indian Nation
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) on behalf of the - Constituent Protestant and Orthodox Churches in India, Regional Councils of Churches, All India Christian Organisations, Related Agencies and the Autonomous Bodies of the Council - salutes the citizens of the Country for upholding the spirit of the Country's strong democratic systems, diverse faith and ideological persuasions and rich secular traditions.

• Towards a relevant Missiological Vision for Pluralistic South Asia
Seventy Heads of Churches and Church leaders from South Asia met at YMCA Calcutta, to discuss and deliberate on a Relevant Missiological Vision for a pluralistic South Asia. Such a Consultation gains importance in the historic year of the Edinburgh Cenentenary Celebrations, as it brings together the Church leaders from the region, to review Christianity and Christian Mission through the years, assess it in terms of relevance to existing ground realities, and to look towards the future with hope and preparation.

• NEYA 2010 concludes:
2010 could not have begun any better for youth than by attending the National Ecumenical Youth Assembly in Kolkata. More than seven hundred young people from diverse Christian denominations and religious traditions from different parts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Australia and Ecumenical Organizations were convened by the Commission on Youth of the National Council of Churches in India. The youth assembly was also an occasion to commemorate the centenary of the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh 1910 by identifying new and creative perspectives in the direction of ecumenical mission in the 21st century.

• Towards a Harmonious India
A National Consultation on Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill 2005 was held on 24th October 2009 at Teen Murti Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi on the theme "Towards a Harmonious India".

• Friendship is a New and Inclusive paradigm of Relation to Ecumenism
2010 could not have begun any better for youth than by attending the National Ecumenical Youth Assembly which has commenced in Kolkata. More than Eight hundred young people from diverse Christian denominations and religious traditions from different parts of India, South Asian Countries and Ecumenical Organizations were convened by the Commission on Youth of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI).

• Violence and Violation of Human Rights: Patterns and Perspectives for Peace
“Every demand and action for Human Rights should never be at the expense of other’s Freedom and Rights” is the echo of the Shillong Consultation, 2009.

• Conversations Build Communities, Confessions Yield Commitment and Concurrence breeds Continuity
The culmination of the series of Theological Conversations held at Trivandrum, Kolkata and Mumbai took place at a National Theological Conversation held at NCCI Campus during 8-10 December 2009. The National Theological Conversation conversed and discussed around the theme of 'Churches becoming and effecting as Just and Inclusive Communities’ that has been evolved from the earlier Conversations. It has been reiterated that Conversations among churches and among people will help to recognize the leaven among each other which shall ultimately lead towards building all communities as just and inclusive. This National Conversation has also helped the Churches to position where we are regarding the concerns of justice and inclusivity and helped the participants to openly confess on issues that have been barriers to our Churches in becoming and effecting as just and inclusive communities. It has also been echoed in this National Theological Conversation that concurrence among Churches and the constituents of the National Council in terms of mission engagements can lead towards continuing the reign of God here on earth.

• Theological Roundtable on Churches' response to Human Sexuality
We, the participants of the Theological Roundtable on Churches’ Response to Human Sexuality jointly organized by NCCI, SCEPTRE, CISRS, and SCMI, who are engaged in different ministries in Church and Society as Bishops, Church Leaders, Theological Educators, Research Scholars, Professional Counselors, Lawyers, and Activists with different sexual orientations, after several brainstorming discussions and sessions on Biblical, Theological, Ministerial, Ecclesiastical and Legal perspectives, resolve to send the following message on Human Sexuality to all Christian communities in India in general, and to the NCCI member churches, regional councils, theological institutions, Christian organizations, and our ecumenical partners in particular.