PRESBYTERIAN WOMENS GLOBAL EXCHANGE GROUP MEETS THE CNI WFCS

GREATELY HONORED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR JUSTICE MATHEW 5; 6.

A team of 27 Presbyterian Women, representing the Presbyterian Church, USA (PC USA) was on a global exchange to India from Oct. 7-25, 2011. The planning of this exchange visit started a year ahead when Ms. Jenny Lee, Ms Susan Jackson Dawd, Ms Katharine Reeves along with Rev. David Hudson visited different dioceses of the Church of North India in October 2010. 

The group comprised of members from various synods and presbyteries of the PC USA. They had a hectic trip planned. Their visit began with an orientation about the Church of North India, at the CNI Synod head quarters in New Delhi led by Mr. Sudipto Singh Director, CNI Programme, on the 13th of October 2011. The orientation was followed by visit to St. Thomas School, Mandir Marg, Delhi, where in the group got a glimpse of the community work of the school.

The Presbyterian Church in India has a partnership with the PC USA, hence the group than preceded to the PCI Head Quarters in Shillong. There they had a three days exposure to the life and witness of the PCI. From Shillong the group proceeded to Kolkata, from there to visit three Dioceses of the Church of North India. The group were then divided into smaller groups and left for their exposure visit to the Diocese of Calcutta, Diocese of Durgapur and the Diocese of Agra.

The DWFCS at each diocese shared their achievements and failures, the work done by them with the other groups for a strong community building.

It was a historic moment for CNI-WFCS and the Presbyterian Women, PC USA on October 23, 2011, when they came together to worship at the Free Church, Sansad Marg New Delhi. The delegation was felicitated and welcomed by the Revd. Suresh Kumar, Presbyter in charge. Ms. Marta Rodriques Moderator PW PCUSA and Mrs. Neerja Prasad, Secretary CNI-WFCS brought greetings on behalf of their organization and shared the purpose of their coming together. 

This was the first time that a woman’s group from a partner church had a formal meeting with their women counter parts in India. The CNI WFCS and the group representing the Presbyterian Church, USA had a meeting on October 23rd, 2011 at the CNI Bhavan, New Delhi. The programme began with a formal felicitation of Ms. Marta Rodriques, Moderator, Jenny Lee Chairperson Global Exchange, Mr. Alwan Masih, General Secretary, CNI Synod and all the other members of the group by the CNI WFCS Executive Committee members. Mrs. Meenakshi Das, President CNI-WFCS gave the welcome address.

Mr. Alwan Masih, General Secretary CNI Synod, in his greeting shared that the women is created from rib bone and that is why she is equal stake holder. There is lot of responsibility on women along with opposition, but the country and the Church is providing lot of opportunities for women. He challenged the women as how can we change the face of our Church, our society and our country. How we dream our dreams, we need to wake up and start working. CNI-WFCS is an important wing and an integral part of CNI, operating under its own constitution. Let us continue to encourage women to life and witness.

Mrs. Neerja Rajeev Prasad, Secretary, CNI-WFCS shared the work of CNI-WFCS and also shared about the projects on vocational training for girls by Nasik Diocese, Community Study Centre at Phulbani diocese, empowerment of tribal women in Chattisgarh Diocese, and Vocational training for CSW in Nagpur. Ms Jenny Lee the Chairperson for Global Exchange PW, PC USA shared about the Global Exchange programme that takes place every three year, she emphasized that as we go ahead with our united journey, we carry the stories and projects of CNI-WFCS, and we continue to partnership with CNI-WFCS at the grass root level. 

A Memorandum of Understanding affirming faith in the journey together was signed by the officials of the CNI-WFCS and the Presbyterian Women, PC USA. Ms. Marta Rodrigues, Jenny Lee, Chairperson Global exchange and Mrs. Meenakshi Das, President, CNI WFCS and Mrs. Neerja R. Prasad, Secretary, CNI WFCS, unanimously affirmed that we engage ourselves in doing as, well as committing our partnership to sojourn with and to share our common call to liberate women wherever they are oppressed. 

The global exchange meeting ended with vote of thanks proposed by Mrs. Anita Paul, Vice President, CNI WFCS and a cultural evening hosted by the Diocesan Women’s Fellowship for Christian Service, Diocese of Delhi, who presented the traditional colorful folk dances of India, which was very much enjoyed by one and all. Dr. Mrs. Meena Gupta, President, DWFCS, welcomed the guest and presented a small memento to each one, the whole executive body of Delhi WFCS with their warmth and love made the evening a very enjoyable and a memorable one. 

On October 24, 2011, the PW PCUSA and CNI-WFCS called upon the Honorable Smt. Shiela Dikshit, Chief Minister, Delhi, for her strong commitment to developing a harmonious society particularly in regard to her work on behalf of the women of India. They affirmed their solidarity to her for common concerns for the welfare of women and children in India and throughout the world, and presented her a letter of “special recognition” along with a handmade stole, and CNI-WFCS memento. The women interacted with Smt. Shiela Dikshit, and she also affirmed her solidarity with the Church women and said that she is always there ready to stand up for the cause of women.

“For we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office, so we being many are one body in Christ and every one member one of another.”(Romans 12:4-5) trusting in these words of the lord the Church of North India Women’s Fellowship for Christian Service and Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church(U.S.A), journey together in their oneness in God’s image as leaders.