 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.
Many of the unique firsts and fruits of the ecumenical movement can be attributed to the leadership of Dr. K. Rajaratnam. He drove the NCCI to prioritise facilitation of socio-political involvement as the mission of the Church. Almost single-handedly Dr. Rajaratnam made the NCCI adopt Dalit liberation as its core concern, along with mainstreaming it as a mission priority thereby paving the way for setting a NCCI Program Unit on Dalit Concerns. Despite attempts from several quarters to undermine the importance of the Church as a change-agent, Dr. Rajaratnam was rooted in the potency of the ministries of the Church. Dr. Rajaratnam drew his praxis oriented theological thrust that local-congregation is the ‘power-house of the gospel for Dalit liberation’ from his affinity for the New Testament book of Acts of the Apostles.
The first ever Ecumenical HIV/AIDS initiative of the NCCI was undertaken through the India Watch Desk of the NCCI Unit on National Issues of which Dr. Rajaratnam was then the Chairperson. A separate program for the North East India Concerns, moving from individualistic mode of working in Units for different concerns to an integrated pattern of working through different commissions, the move to locate NCCI Secretariat in the National capital, among others, can in part or whole be attributed to the vision and tireless efforts of the Genius.
The ability to sight and train young leadership in fields of Church and Ecumenism, and the courage to trust mission and movement in untested potential of persons anew bear witness to the faith that he had in people as co-workers with God.
On behalf of the Office-bearers, Ecumenical Leaders, Secretaries and Staff of the National Council of Churches, particularly those who have had the privilege of working with Dr. K. Rajaratnam I pray God to bestow the family, and also the Church and importantly the Ecumenical Movement in India, with a blessing – a blessing to capture, culture and continue the vision and mission of Dr. K. Rajaratnam which will further the legacy and heritage of God that we have inherited in him.
May God grant peace to the bereaved, and grace to the Church!
On behalf of the
National Council of Churches in India
Rev. Asir Ebenezer
Officiating General Secretary
April 7th 2010
|
