NCCI, CBCI, EFI: TOWARDS A COMMON VISION & UNITED ACTION

NCCI, CBCI, EFI Meeting in Delhi for Joint Action in Orissa

TOWARDS A COMMON VISION & UNITED ACTION   In the context of the ongoing violence on Christians all across India, the National United Christian Forum (NUCF), the united platform of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI), the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) had a meeting of solidarity, shared vision and united action. The meeting was held on Tuesday, the 7th October 2008 at Bible Bhavan, New Delhi from 10 a.m. 4.30 p.m. Archbishop Vincent Concessao, President of NUCF & Catholic Bishop of the Delhi welcomed the gathering and moderated the proceedings. Bishop Taranath Sagar, President of NCCI, shared the Biblical reflection on sufferings and called on the people to be united in countering all forms of violence against the minorities in India. Fr. Thomas Sequeira, the Deputy Secretary General of CBCI, Bishop D. K. Sahu, General Secretary of NCCI and Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, General Secretary of EFI briefed the role of the Indian churches in situations of crisis and violence.  Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, Co-Chairperson of Orissa United Christian Forum (OUCF) and Catholic Bishop of Cuttack- Bhubaneswar, Bishop Samson Das, President of Utkal Christian Council (UCC) and  Co-Chairperson of the OUCF, Bishop AC Khosla, Bishop of Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC), Prof. Dr. HH. Watson, Secretary Karnataka Council of Churches, Fr. Onil D’ Souza from Mangalore, Mr. Shekar from New Life Church, Bombay and several others shared the gravity of violence and briefed the meeting with an analysis of the happenings. ..................... The relief agencies (CASA, CARITAS, CRS, World Vision, EFICOR, CMAI, etc.) shall work joint mechanisms in pooling the resources for relief and rehabilitation both short term and long term in coherence with the need expressed by the Churches was one of the major decisions at the plenary. The other decisions include, that Christian Legal Association shall be the fulcrum point for all legal interventions on behalf of the Churches in India, to articulate a position paper on conversion in countering the allegations on Christians, to encourage in writing to the vernacular press on views and news on issues related to human rights and to encourage engagement of Christians with civil society. Towards the end, Mr. Shanti Bhushan, former Union Law Minister and Ms. Kamla Bhasin leading social activist addressed the gathering on the civil societies solidarity with Christians. more  India’s Civil Society Defends Christians in New Delhi Rally