XXVIth Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India  

The XXVIth Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India was concluded on 4^th May 2008, held in Jaiaw Church being hosted by the Presbyterian Church of India in Shillong, Meghalaya. It was preceded by six Pre-Assemblies and an occasion once in four years to come together to be a credible Christian community within the wider human community by promoting intrinsic values of life.  The Theme of the Assembly was “Together in Mission : Empowering Local Congregations”. The colorful opening ceremony on Ist May, preceded with a parade by the Two hundred and eighty delegates representing the Protestant and Orthodox Churches in India and hundreds of local Christians in traditional costumes with music and dance.   The Assembly expressed solidarity with all victims of violence, Dalit Christians, Indigenous and Tribal people, marginalized community of women, youth and physically challenged, people affected with HIV and AIDS and families affected with farmers’ suicide. It discussed the effects of globalization, climate change, and migration. The call was given to the churches to consciously exercise their right to vote to retain the secular democratic credentials of our nation.  The climax of the Assembly was the Ecumenical Sunday Worship in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shilong attended by Fifty Thousand worshipers including the Honorable Chief Minister: Donkupar Roy and Honorable Deputy Chief Minister: Hopingstone Lyngdoh of Meghalaya. The newly elected office bearers: Bishop Dr Taranath Sagar of the Methodist Church of India as President, Rev P.B.M.Basaiawmoit of the Presbyterian Church of India as Vice-president, Ms.Sushma Ramswami of the Church of North India as Vice-President (woman), Mr. Angelious Michael of the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church as Vice-President (Youth) and Advocate Suresh Koshy of the Marthoma Church as the Treasurer were installed in the public worship. 

MESSAGE OF THE ASSEMBLY

We, the delegates from the 30 Member Churches, 17 Regional Christian Councils, 17 All India Christian Organizations and 7 Related Agencies gathered for the XXVI Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India in Shillong, Meghalaya hosted by the Presbyterian Church of India from 30th April - 5th May, 2008 deliberated on the theme
“Together in Mission: Empowering Local Congregations”.

We praise the Triune God, the source of all life, who has created us, redeemed us and empowered us in our journey of faith to this day.  As believers and followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word Incarnate, we affirm the value of “Abundant Life” for all.  We believe that the Church is called and set apart to follow Christ on the way of the Cross for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God on earth.  The resurrection of Christ constantly reminds us that God will never allow sin and evil to say the final word in history.  We reiterate the task of the Church to be the “Salt of the Earth” and “Light of the World” always speaking the truth in love.

We acknowledge that we are in a common pilgrimage with people of other faiths, cultures and traditions and it is our common task to discern and promote all those who are allies of life.  We believe that our endowed task is to be credible Christian community within the wider human community by promoting the intrinsic values of life at all levels.  We acknowledge the different religio-cultural and linguistic diversity as a gift from God and the Holy Spirit at work in the ushering in of the new in all traditions.  The Holy Spirit is also the “Spirit of Truth” who leads us all to the higher dimensions of Truth (Satya) and also empowers us to stand for Truth, Peace and Justice.

We affirm the right to life and human dignity for all and condemn violence in all its forms.  We recognize that the so-called “War on Terrorism” has unleashed only animosity and hatred among the peoples of the world.  We express our solidarity with all victims of violence due to communal riots, ethnic conflicts in different areas, especially Sri-Lanka.  We thank God that a democratically elected Government has been installed in Pakistan and Nepal .  We also note with concern the violence unleashed on the minorities, especially the dalits in India .  Christians as a religious minority in our country, are very often marginalized and intimidated by the discriminatory laws like the anti-conversion law in some of our States. 

We affirm our solidarity with the dalits, adivasis, tribals and the indigenous peoples in their struggle for equal rights and dignity under the constitution of India .  We recognize the evil effects of globalization which swallows up the lives of the poor and indigenous people, traditional fisher folk and others.  People who are physically challenged and those affected with HIV-AIDS are struggling for a space in our privatized high-tech market economy system.  We solemnly affirm that it is our God-given task to be with those who are stigmatized and marginalized within the Church and outside.  We also thank God for the efforts that are being made within the Member Churches to address these issues.

As we are in the backdrop of the centenary celebration of the Edinburgh World Missionary Conference 1910, earnest efforts are to be made to rediscover the value of God's mission, yes mission together as far as possible in local situations.  We affirm that mission is both being and doing and, polemical and confrontationist attitudes are to be avoided and a life affirming, holistic awareness of mission has to be promoted. It would be appreciated at this point to underscore one of the old paradigms of mission - Mission as Christian presence.  What is of great importance is to make our presence healing, reconciling and transforming one.

As Member Churches of NCCI, we humbly confess before God the Almighty that there is a gap between the ideal and actual within the life of all our ecclesial traditions. Very often we fail to vindicate the claims that we make for ourselves due to internal rivalry, corruption and litigation within the Churches.  Hence all of us stand in dire need of introspection about our Church life and public witness.  While retaining our own respective liturgical traditions, the question is whether our liturgical life would be an impetus for the promotion of the sanctity of life in all its forms.

We also note with concern the ecological issues, mainly the Global warming.  Biblically speaking, we consider this as human sin towards nature. While negating an anthropocentric world-view, question before us is whether we can have a responsible life within God's created order by promoting an eco-friendly life. We urge all Member Churches to initiate on a war-footing green Parish programs, plastic free Church campuses, biological farming and so on.

As the elections are round the corner, as a Christian community, we need to discern God's will for us more than ever before by reading the signs of the times. We urge our Church members to conscientiously exercise their right to vote so that the secular democratic credentials of our nation would be promoted.  Let us also resolve that in the elections we will do away with all communal and fascist forces and support all those who stand for the human rights of all, especially the religious minorities and the weaker sections of the society.

We note with serious concern the “prosperity Gospel” of the new generation Spiritual Groups who make exclusive truth claims such as instant reading, success in business, education and so on.  Several of our youth are attracted to these groups mainly because of their high-tech performance, expressive and extempore forms of worship and music. Rather than condemning them, or accommodating them uncritically the question that comes to the fore is whether we can revitalize our Pastoral Ministry by effective pastoral care, and healing ministry in the local congregations.

We call upon the Member Churches:
• To rejuvenate the local congregations so that the values of the Kingdom of God will have local manifestations.
• To be agents of healing and reconciliation so that communal amity is promoted.
• To promote pluralistic neighborhood communities so that we give some local manifestations to the “wider Ecumenism”.
• To take clear stances for the reservation of dalits and women within our Church structures and institutions.
• To revitalize the youth in the respective traditions by giving them pastoral care and due representation in church bodies.
•  To promote an effective 'greening of faith' at the congregational level through programs such as Green Parish, special awards like 'Karshaka Sree' etc.
• To support those NGOs and other alternate forms of responses to Globalization such as alternate media, alternate methods of healing etc.
•  To motivate our Parishioners to be active in the local self-government bodies such as 'Gram Sabha'.
• Above all, to be open always to the promptings and challenges posed by the spirit of God in our common journey of faith.

We call upon the State:

• To uphold and promote the secular credentials of our nation so that the fundamental rights of all citizens are promoted.
•  To address and combat the communal fascist forces more effectively through proper use of administrative machinery so that the dignity and identity of all, especially the marginalized are cherished.
•  To ensure that truth and fairness will prevail in the ensuing elections to Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies.
•  To make constitutional provisions for the reservation of Christian dalits and other minorities.
•  To root out corruption and nepotism in our national polity.

We affirm our strong support:

• To all measures taken by the Government for the cause of the physically challenged, youth and children especially the girl child.
•  To protect the minorities, the dalits, tribals and adivasis and all efforts made to combat violence against them.
•  To root out casteism in all its forms which robs people off their dignity and freedom.

We, the delegates of the Assembly, solemnly stand by this statement and communicate to all that we as a community in India are called to make a difference in our actions and options for the Glory of the Triune God.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY

We, the Delegates of the XXVI Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India, held at the Jaiawa Presbyterian Church, Shillong, Meghalaya, from 30th April 2008 to 5th May 2008, having met and deliberated on the Assembly Theme “Together in Mission: Empowering Local Congregations”

RESOLVED  to call on the Churches in India to

I. Prioritize Mission and Evangelism by:
1. Engaging the local communities and congregations to transcend traditional barriers of denominations, to be partners in Mission of God with a preferential option to the poor and the marginalized, making churches the medium through which the Reign of God can be established.
2. Encouraging spirituality in Mission .
3. Promoting a feeling of togetherness and ecumenical harmony at congregational levels.

II. Be inclusive by:
1. Ensuring just and equal participation of women, men and young people.
2. Urgently restructuring the functioning of the administrative and spiritual life of the Church so that it would be have inclusive space for those who live on the margins of society, like Dalits, tribals, women and youth.
3. Affirming that the Church is a safe haven which upholds the right to life and dignity, constantly striving to transform a world challenged by HIV and AIDS.

III. Walk in solidarity with the people by:
1. Being a people’s church; to be the ‘voice of the voiceless’ in their struggle for “home space” in a world of special economic zones and fast disappearing forests.
2. Confronting the causes and dire consequences of poverty.
3. Engaging in research and proposing alternate, efficient development modules to the Government for economic and social development, eradication of poverty, affordable and accessible health services, and a value-added education system that contributes to the holistic development of children.

IV. Encourage a new form of leadership that
1. is based on the shepherd like, selfless and sacrificial leadership of Christ.
2. is enabling rather than being positions of power.
3. upholds the rights and dignity of people, especially the children and the differently-abled.
4. acknowledges the responsibility of stewardship and integrity of creation.
5. promotes sustainable development with justice and an equitable distribution of resources

V. Take Special care of the youth by:
1. Being sensitive to the special needs of the youth.
2. Affirming that Churches are in solidarity with the young people who bring in new dimensions of thought and action that rejuvenate and refresh the Church.
3. Appreciating and commending their tremendous contributions to the life and activities of the church.
4. Extending pastoral care to the young who migrate for employment or study.

VI. Enhance the life and activities of the Church by:
1. Encouraging wide spread networking that improves communication with local congregations.
2. To increase accountability in order to cleanse the Church of corruption and commercialization.
3. Make Theological education relevant to the changing times.

VII. Be a determining force beyond the boundaries of the Church by:
1. Continuing to be a key player in advocating and participating in people’s movements for freedom and peace within the country and in neighboring countries in order to establish regional peace and harmony.
2. Condemning and overcoming all forms of violence at all levels.
3. Being in partnership with other faith communities to address issues of climatic change, poverty and the negative effects of globalization on the world community.

RESOLVED to call on the National Council of Churches to:

I.  Be the nodal point of development by undertaking to:
1. Widely circulate and encourage implementation of these resolutions.
2. To periodically evaluate the Churches’ activities in the field of Mission so that down the years a proper methodology/policy could be evolved and streamlined.

II   Continue its Role of Advocacy at the national and regional level to
1. Ensure justice and equal rights for Dalit Christians.
2. Guarantee the constitutional rights of minorities to profess their own religion, run their own educational institutions, and preserve their unique culture.
3. Demand our “rightful space” as citizens of this great Nation.

III. Commit to cooperate and celebrate
1. 2010 Edinburgh Missionary Conference in creative manner in all its constituencies in India
2. 2010 by revisiting the missiology today for meaningful engagement for witness & service

IV.    Continue to walk together
1. Journeying towards Shatabdi 2014
2. Reflecting on rich history and contributions of the council
3. Rededicating to the indispensable values of the ecumenical movement
    
V. Continue the efforts for wider ecumenical movement
1. Strengthening the relation of the Council with National Bodies like Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and Evangelical Fellowship of India
2. Supporting the ventures of Global Christian Forum