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36Th Session of the CSI Synod - Inauguration

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36Th Session of the CSI Synod - Inauguration COVER FRONT 36th Session of the CSI Synod - Inauguration www.csi1947.com 2 January 2020 Editor’s Desk Adv. C. Fernandas Rathina Raja, General Secretary CSI & Honorary Secretary CSITA united and uniting church in the by these new laws. The Church has world, while I am entrusted with the a role to play in this crucial juncture task of being the General Secretary and that role should be based on for the triennium 2020- 2023. The biblical justice. Standing with the Church of South India made an afflicted and standing for truth and impact in the global Christian history, justice are obviously the call the new he Church of South India is being one of the earliest united leadership of the Church of South entering to the 73rd year of the churches, and continue to be open India has. Dr Walter Brueggemann Tformation with the great vision for further discussions towards the says, “love of God gets translated into and motto of ‘that they all may be concept of ‘borderless church’. The CSI a love of vulnerable neighbours. And one’. The 36th session of the Synod Synod, with its active departments, the doing of justice is the prophetic of the Church of South India, which intervenes, identifies, and encourages invitation to do what needs to be was held at the Bishop Heber College the progression of the lives of the done to enable the poor and the in Trichy from in January 2020 people of the church. I am aware of the disadvantaged and the neglected to hosted by the Trichy Tanjore Diocese given task of carrying forward the great participate in the resources and wealth aptly chose the theme “Towards a vision and mission of this great church of the community.” The church should Koinonia of Love and Justice”, which and add more momentum to it. be doing this, and I humbly submit is an explanation of the motto of myself to the fact that the primary the church. The church, being the The church is not existing in the onus is upon the leadership of the embodiment of koinonia should be vacuum. The Church has an active Church. implementing the greater fellowship presence and role in Indian society. that surpasses boundaries and Our church has a rich missionary I cannot finish writing this editorial sharing the love that binds people legacy which paved the way for without mentioning the great work together irrespective of gender, caste, education and health care for all. with vision, enthusiam, dedication, financial status, hierarchy, language, The marginalised communities, transparency and accountability by region and religion. The Synod session the untouchables, were able to be Most Rev. Thomas K. Oommen; the was a pointer to the strength and educated and thus enjoyed freedom Moderator, Rt. Rev. V. Prasada Rao; weaknesses of the structure of the and self- esteem and were able to the Deputy Moderator, Rev. Dr. Daniel church, the leadership, and the people make a drastic social change. Hence, Rathnakara Sadananda; the General for being in koinonia and sharing the Church cannot be away from the Secretary, and Adv. Robert Bruce, the love. This self-critical approach social realities and from the fact that during the past two triennium. On is essential for the church to grow the Church is called to be the salt in behalf of the 4.5 million members and achieve the goal of ‘expressing society. The church cannot be the of the CSI, I would like to mark the solidarity with the broken communities friend of those who is doing injustice appreciation and gratitude these for a new hope to face the challenges and divisive activities, instead, the former officers of the Synod. of life and striving towards Unity, church should be doing its prophetic Peace and Reconciliation as a vibrant role in the society. I hope and pray that this triennium Channel of God’, as the much- will be a blessing for all of us. Let appreciated mission statement of the India is witnessing an unprecedented us together work for changes that CSI, proclaims. situation of unrest, divisions, and God will be pleased. Let us together bigotry of a certain group of people. thrive for justice, love and unity. Let I would like to thanks all the bishops The citizens of India, especially the us be prouder of our church’s legacy who helped the process of mission aboriginal communities of India such and instil that feeling in the new council meeting in various ways to as the Dalits and Adivasis face the generation. make it a success. My thanks go to danger of losing citizenship and the the representatives of the partner detention centres are staring at them. I need your sincere prayers and organisations who attended the Synod An unbiased view on CAA and NRC support. in Trichy. will reveal that the basic principle of the great Indian constitution prepared May God bless you all! It is my responsibility to humble by Dr Ambedkar, equality of all and myself before God and the people of the non- discrimination based on this great church, which is the biggest religion or caste, has been violated www.csi1947.com January 2020 3 Greeting From Moderator The Most. Rev. A. Dharmaraj Rasalam, Moderator, CSI & Bishop in South Kerala greet you all in the precious will be strengthened as empowered. name of our Lord Jesus Christ. IIt gives me immense pleasure I am delighted to observe that though to address you as Moderator of the there were systematic programmes Church of South India, which is an designed and implemented by the exceptional example of united and previous officers of the Synod, there uniting churches across the globe. are many locations of ministry open XXXVI Synod meeting of the Church for the people of all sections of the of South India, held in Trichy in society. it should help us to develop January 2020, bestowed upon me a missiological understanding with this responsibility to serve this great the liberative capability of the Gospel. ecumenical union of distinctive In our context, it is significant to be Churches and legacies. I am sure aware of the shifts in the mission and God’s wisdom and guidance will ministry of the church to represent facilitate me to journey with you as God’s love in local congregations. the Moderator of the Church. As the It may be a radical act to promote Moderator of the Church of South a missional Church to address the India, I would like to be a pastor for cultural hybridity of the society. Ruth all bishops primarily and bequeath Mathews while addressing the issue leadership to the church with the of ministry states: “the realization co-operation of all God’s people. I of solidarity seems to be about the sincerely thank all who prayed for minister’s representative function. the harmony and partnership of the This is part of the ministry of all Church based on the Love of Christ. Christians”. I request all of you to pray for us. “Brother and Sisters pray In the context of contemporary for us” (I Thess. 5: 25). challenges in doing ministry, there is an inevitable need for a course May the Lord Almighty facilitate us to of action of self-assessment and carry on the Ministry of the Church. repentance. It is remarkable that Archbishop Justin Welby recently Amen. made a number of invitations in terms of enabling the people God to repent and come into contact with the values of the Gospel. He states, “Remembering the Reformation should also lead us to repentance of our part in perpetuity division. Such repentance needs to be linked to action aimed at reaching out to other churches and strengthening the relationship with them.” As the Synod reflected on the theme “Towards the koinonia of love and reconciliation,” it is important for us to endow the local congregations in tune with appeasement of Christ. In today’s context, reconciliation demands justice-oriented radical reconciliation through which the poor and the marginalized in our society www.csi1947.com 4 January 2020 Greeting From Deputy Moderator The Rt. Rev. Dr. K. Reuben Mark, Deputy Moderator & Bishop in Karimnagar his is the LORD’s doing; the General Secretary and Prof. Dr it is marvellous in our Vimal Sukumar for being chosen as eyes.” Psalm 118:23 the Hon. Treasurer. As one among the team as the Deputy Moderator, I “TI take pleasure to greet strongly believe that God has chosen my dear brothers and sisters as the these four to lead this mighty Church Deputy Moderator of the Church of to greater heights in all dimensions. South India. I firmly believe that under the leadership of Most Rev. Dharmaraj My immense thanks to Jesus who Rasalam the Church will surely blessed me as the Deputy Moderator experience wonders and yield good of the Church of South India. As I fruits. strongly believe that this is Lord’s doing, and hence my desire is to do The Church of South India is “something” that pleases the Lord considered as a role model to the Jesus and the Church at large to churches in this world because this keep it growing and glowing. I can do Church is not only a “United Church” this “something” only through God’s but it is a “Uniting Church”. As this grace and prayer support. is a “Uniting Church” CSI is looked as a borderless Church. The various I want to thank my dear brother ministries carried out by various Bishops and sister Bishop, and the departments of CSI has made the Synod delegates for the way you whole world know that this church is all allowed us to be used as God’s translating thoughts and words into instruments in blessing me as the actions.
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