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World Council of Churches: On behalf of the member churches and partners of the World Council of Churches, I am writing  to  express  our  solidarity  and extend our prayerful support to you all as you  go  through  these  turbulent  and challenging times, and encourage you to witness to the love and peace of God in Jesus  Christ  amidst  hatred  and aggression. Rev.  Dr.  Sam  Kobia,General Secretary.

Lutheran World Federation  - World Council of Churches in a  letter to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. The World  Council  of  Churches  and  the Lutheran World Federation have been monitoring  with  deep  concern  the situation in the State of Orissa . We have been told by our member churches in India  that  the  indiscriminate  killings, burning  of  church  buildings  and destruction  of  institutions  continues  in Gajapati and Khandamal districts and other parts of the state. We therefore appeal to you to use your good office to intervene in this situation so as to ensure an immediate cessation of violence, the restoration  of  law and  justice, and sanctuary for the displaced. Rev. Dr. Ishmael  Noko,  General  Secretary, Lutheran World Federation and Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of Churches, Geneva

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Willams, has expressed profound distress at the extreme violence being used in Orissa following the murder of Hindu  leader,  Swami  Lakshmananda Saraswati. The Archbishop said of the situation:  "I  hope  that  Christians  and people of faith around the world will make known their horror at this violence, their support for the rebuilding of lives and the churches,  orphanages  and  schools destroyed, and for work towards future reconciliation".

The President of NCCI, Bishop Taranath Sagar shared the sufferings of the people of  Orissa  during  the Conference of Christian Conference of Asia - World Council of Churches in a Consultation of  NCC  Asia  General  Secretaries, members of CCA General Committee and WCC Central Committee members of  Asia  from  Sept. 1-3,  at  Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Communique of the conference expressed their solidarity at this most difficult time.

The World  Student  Christian Federation (WSCF) - Asia  Pacific Region expressed, We  are  deeply concerned about the communal violence in  Orissa  which  has  caused  the indiscriminate  killings. Sunita  Suna, Regional Women's Coordinator, WSCF-Asia Pacific.

The National Council of Churches in Australia has been deeply concerned to hear of the outbreak of violence in the state of Orissa, with reports of killings, church and school burnings, house attacks, and many personal  and  shameful  attacks  on individuals  and  families.  We  hear  that thousands of people are being displaced and forced to seek refuge in camps and private  homes .  The  NCC  Australia expresses its solidarity with you and the Christians in Orissa at this difficult time, and we assure you of our prayerful support in the search  for  a  peaceful  resolution  to  the situation. - John  Henderson, General Secretary, NCC Australia

World  Evangelical  Alliance expressed concern  on the  still  continuing  carnage against  the  Christian  community,  in  the  Kandhamal district of Orissa.   In a letter addressed to  Indian  Prime  Minister  Dr. Manmohan Singh, urging him to ensure that an adequate compensation is given to those affected by this man-made tragedy and to take all  necessary action  to  ensure the protection of the minorities in . - Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the World Evangelical Alliance.

Allahabad  Agricultural-Deemed University condemned  the  communal violence that has exploded over the horrific murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati  and  his  four  associates reportedly by Maoists. We also support NUCF by having a special Day of Prayer on Sunday, September 7, 2008 in our Yeshu Darbar and Chapel of Brotherly Love for communal  harmony  and  peace in  the country. Prof. Dr. Rajendra B. Lal, Vice Chancellor

National  United  Christian  Forum denounced the communal violence that has erupted over the gruesome murder of a VHP leader and four others in Kandhamal district allegedly by Maoist groups.   While condemning the dastardly act of murder we appeal to one and all to maintain communal harmony and peace.   The Christians were  not at all involved in the  incident.  Appealing to  the  Christian  community,  Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao, President NUCF, said, As a mark of our solidarity with our suffering  brothers  and  sisters  and  as  a protest  against  all  acts  of  communal violence  and  atrocities  on  the  Christian community and other innocent people we request all our Christian schools, colleges and other educational  institutions  to  be closed on Friday, August 29, 2008 and we  wish that everywhere peaceful marches/rallies  be  conducted with black flags demonstration  in  a  truly  prayerful spirit. 

The  Theology  students  of Serampore College condemned  the  communal violence and pledged solidarity with the victims.- Rev.  Dr.  Lalchungnunga, Principal, Serampore College

World Vision : We are shocked by the  murder  of  Swami  Laxmananda Saraswathi  and  others. We strongly condemn this dastardly act of taking life and law into ones own hands and the violence surrounding this.   Violence of any kind is never justifiable and only serves to protract the suffering and misery of common people. World  Vision  does  not  engage  in proselytizing or using aid and development to  tamper with people's faith. Jayant Vincent.

The  Jeypore  Evangelical  Lutheran Church, Orissa,  India  condemned  the killing  of  Vishwa  Hindu Parishad  (World Hindu Council) leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati  and  his  four  associates  by suspected  Maoists  in  Orissa  state's Kandhamal district on August 23.   JELC stands against every act of violence. JELC

North  East  India  Christian  Council: Along with the NCCI, CBCI & EFI the NEICC calls upon all Christians and peace loving  citizens  of  the  country  especially pray  for  the  people  of  Orissa  and particularly to make 31st August 2008 a Day  of  special  prayer  in  that  Peace, Harmony and Normalcy will be restored in Orissa. Rev. N.S. Phawa, Secretary, NEICC

National  Minority  Front: The  recent communal violence in Orissa has been taking a different shape because of failure on the part of the State machineries.   The State  of  Orissa  have  failed  to  provide adequate  security  to  its  citizens  and minorities who are facing such inhuman problem at the  behest  of  unscrupulous fundamentalists  who  are  instigating  the normal citizen to attack on minorities so that tension will prevail. Mr. Herod Mallick, Convener, National Minority Front

Maharashtra Council of Churches: The atrocities  perpetrated  against  Christian community and their Missionaries in the state are a threat to our national unity and shame for our secular entity.   Hundreds of innocent Christians including women and children  have been chased out of their homes,  attacked  and  looted.     Attack against  the  Christian  community  is unabated and uncalled and we condemn the  gruesome  acts. Rev.  Dr.  Victor Gollapalli, Secretary, MCC

Betul Christian Community of Madhya Pradesh: In a letter to the President of India condemned the Orissa killings and also demanded the Freedom of Religion enshrined in the Constitution of India.

The  Nagpur  Christian  Community in   a memorandum submitted to the Collector demanded the arrest of the main culprits behind the murder of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati, arrest of the anti-social people   responsible for attack on the Christian community, demanded   for a CID probe in the said attack, to provide adequate Police security to Christian community, to provide adequate financial relief to the victims. All schools and colleges were closed on 29th August to express solidarity.  Solidarity of the community was expressed in closing the Christian schools and colleges all over on 29th August 2008.

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