June 2018 |Pentecost Volume XVI | Issue 06 | Rs.150 Per Annum Cover CSI General Secretary and WF President Attend WCRC Executive Committee in South Korea

Karnataka Regional Missionary Conference in Dharward

02 EDITOR’S DESK

Join the creational liturgy

Psalm 148 is a hallelujah sung by the creatures the human practice of praising sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and choir of creation. Each created order and God in human language. It entails how all those who live in it. Let the floods clap being joins in singing praise to the Lord! creatures bring glory to God simply by their hands; let the field exult, and It represents a symbiosis of praise with being themselves and fulfilling their everything in it. Then shall all the trees of every element in all of God's creation God-given roles in God's creation. the forest sing for joy all the trees of the being called to praise together, and the field shall clap their hands (Psalm 96:11- The psalms present us with the creational response of one affects the response of 12, Psalm 98:7-8, Cf. 1 Chronicles 16:32- Hallelujah in very powerful language. the other. Contrary to the popular belief 33, Isaiah 55:12). The heavens are telling the glory of God; that human beings have a priestly role on and the firmament proclaims His By their being, by their splendour and behalf of the creation, the psalmist uses handiwork. Day to day pours forth majesty, created things allude to the far human language to describe how the speech, and night to night declares greater splendour and majesty of the whole creation joins together in the knowledge. There is no speech, nor are Lord. In the created order is the self- worship of God the creator. In fact, the there words; their voice is not heard; yet revelation of the Creator God. Creation psalm makes it clear that creation sings their voice goes out through all the earth, proclaims the very being and nature of hallelujah very well without human and their words to the end of the world the Creator God. The creational liturgy beings! Nevertheless, human beings (Psalm 19:1-4). Let the heavens be glad, informs us who God is and ascribes God have the great opportunity to join the and let the earth rejoice; the mountains the supreme worth. The liturgy of creation liturgy of praise as part of creation. and the hills before you shall burst into powerfully conveys the marvellous, Creational symphony of praise is song and sing together for joy. Let the beautiful and intricate bonds of metaphorical! It attributes to nonhuman

J u n e 2 0 1 8 03 connection between the Creator and the conviction that God, and not human the whole web of life. created, as well as the complete beings, rule the world. Praise as a lifestyle The symphony of praise in the liturgy of dependence of creation on the Creator and involves living out what we affirm in creation has become a song of lamentation therefore, is a call to understand the variety, worship, that is, living in such a way that and groaning (Romans 8:22) manifested in the interconnectedness and the acknowledges and preserves the intrinsic the form of global warming, depletion of interdependence of all that is created. value, interdependence and integrity of Carbon sinks, bleaching of coral reefs, all people, all animate and inanimate The creational liturgy also informs us of deforestation, melting of the northern ice, creation. the secret of the creational Sabbath, the rising of sea levels submerging the islands Shalom, the harmonious peace that Psalm 148 stands in the tradition of heat waves, toxic water bodies and emphasizes the Creator's constant protest and resistance against the empire, farmlands, polluted oceans, drought, presence in the creation through His against princes, rulers (vs 11ff) and mortal cloud bursts, floods, extreme cold indwelling spirit, holding everything human beings on the earth who falsely conditions and snow covers, earthquakes, together, and keeping the rhythm and claim to have the power to control and tsunamis etc. Creation's hallelujah has song of life. (Prov.8:22ff). Thus, in the use creation to serve their purposes and turned into cries of distress and creational liturgy, God's unfathomable plans. It is against the powers that break the subjugation. The whole creation waits in wisdom and knowledge is revealed and interconnectedness and interdependence eager expectation of liberation from the encountered. In listening to the creational of every creature and the created order. It is bondage of decay (Romans 8:19-21). liturgy, we begin to discern God's plan, against the forces that break the harmony in We human beings need to humbly purpose for God's creation and are led to creation. Therefore, the Psalm confesses its approach the throne of grace, with true understand our own life and being, unshakable faith in the Lord, reverberating repentance which involves the pain of revealed only when it is reconciled and in and constituting a kind of hallelujah chorus - facing the truth, acknowledging the synchronization with the rhythm of the Lord reigns! Let the whole creation praise injustice and sins committed against God's creation, which resonates peace. the name of the Lord, for God's name alone creation; looking forward to forgiveness is exalted (vs.13). According to Psalm 148, God will be and possibility of reconciliation and praised by nothing short of a cosmic However, today we acknowledge that restored communion and hoping to congregation. In this universal symphony creation's symphony of praise has been receive pardon and the embrace of God's of praise, there is a tacit acknowledgement muted or distorted by the ways that all-encompassing grace, in order to be part of the equality of all constituents that make humankind has exploited, polluted, and of creational liturgy once again, in joining up the whole creation. Thus, Psalm 148 calls destroyed creation's resources, all in the the symphony of praise, Hallelujah! all creation to praise God and to show forth name of progress and development for Rev. Dr. D. Rathnakara Sadananda God's glory with greater clarity and to whatever human benefits and reasons. General Secretary, CSI recognize God's sovereign claim upon the The massive presence of injustice meted universe, which is in essence, both a out to the created order and the voracious liturgical worship as well as a lifestyle. exploitation and over consumption of the Praise in worship acknowledges the resources in the creation is threatening

04 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Beat Plastic Pollution

India is hosting the World Environment Day everyone uses it. Polythene is the world's (WED) on 5th June 2018. World Environment most popular plastic and is used to make Day is the UN's most important day for billions of carrier bags each year. Today, it's encouraging worldwide awareness and used widely in the manufacture of food a c t i o n f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f o u r packaging, carrier bags, plastic pipes, environment. Since it began in 1974, it has electrical cable insulation and even artificial grown to become a global platform for hips. However, because it takes several public outreach that is widely celebrated in centuries to biodegrade, polythene is P r o f . D r . M a t h e w Ko s h y over 100 countries. World Environment loathed by environmentalists and the Punnackad, Hon. Director, CSI Day is the "people's day" for doing polythene bag has become a symbol of synod Department of Ecological something to take care of the Earth. The man's pollution of the planet. theme each World Environment Day is Concerns Story of Polythene: organized around focuses attention on a 1933 – Polyethylene, the most commonly particularly pressing environmental used plastic, is created by accident at a concern. The theme for 2018 is beating chemical plant in Northwich, England. plastic pollution. While polyethylene had been created in Plastic Pollution facts: small batches before, this was the first Ÿ Every year the world uses 500 billion synthesis of the material that was plastic bags. industrially practical, and it was initially used in secret by the British military during Ÿ Each year, at least 8 million tonnes of World War II. plastic end up in the oceans, the equivalent of a full garbage truck every 1965 – The one-piece polyethylene minute. shopping bag is patented by the Swedish company Celloplast. Designed by engineer Ÿ In the last decade, we produced more Sten Gustaf Thulin, the plastic bag quickly plastic than in the whole last century. began to replace cloth and plastic in Ÿ 50 percent of the plastic we use is single- Europe. use or disposable. 1979 – Already controlling 80% of the bag Ÿ We buy 1 million plastic bottles every market in Europe, plastic bags go abroad minute. and are widely introduced to the United States. Plastic companies begin to Ÿ Plastic makes up 10% of all of the waste aggressively market their product as we generate. superior to paper and reusable bags. Supermarkets love it. Environmentalists 1982 – Safeway and Kroger, two of the hate it: A rare novelty in the 1970s, plastic biggest supermarket chains in the United shopping bags are now an omnipresent States, switch to plastic bags. More stores global product, produced at a rate of one follow suit and by the end of the decade trillion a year. They are showing up in the plastic bags will have almost replaced paper darkest depths of the oceans to the summit around the world. of Mount Everest to the polar ice caps – and creating some major environmental 1997 – Sailor and researcher Charles Moore challenges. Supermarkets love it. discovers the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Environmentalists hate it. And almost the largest of several gyres in the world's

MJ uanye 2 2001188 05 oceans where immense amounts of increasing garbage problem. oceans, poisoning our fish, birds and plastic waste have accumulated, other sea creatures. That's the The state government took up these threatening marine life. Plastic bags are equivalent of one garbage truck of litter drastic initiatives on the grounds that notorious for killing sea turtles, which being dumped into the sea every disposable products which were in vogue mistakenly think they are jellyfish and minute. In April, a sperm whale was in both rural and urban areas were eat them. found dead on the southern coast of environmentally hazardous, generated a Spain and an autopsy revealed that it 2002 – Bangladesh is the first country in huge quantity of municipal waste and was killed by the 29 kilos of plastic found the world to implement a ban on thin were claiming a lot of space in landfills. in its stomach. This, unfortunately, is not plastic bags, after it was found they And on plastic water bottles, the a unique case. played a key role in clogging drainage government held the view that that the systems during disastrous flooding. rampant usage of packaged drinking Clean Seas Campaign: UN Environment's Other countries begin to follow suit. water in departmental meetings and #CleanSeas campaign has been raising functions was adding an unnecessary awareness of what plastic waste is doing 2011 – Worldwide one million plastic burden on the dump yards so it banned to our oceans, our wildlife and ourselves bags are consumed every minute. their use in official functions.Sikkim is a since its launch in February 2017. We've 2017 – Kenya bans plastic bags, making small and biodiversity-rich area and given ourselves five years to build a it one the most recent of the global movement to tackle the more than two dozen countries excessive use of single-use that have sought to reduce plastics and get rid of dangerous plastic bag use through fees or microplastics in our toiletries and bans. cosmetics. The tide is already beginning to turn. Just over a 2018 – #BeatPlasticPollution is year since the launch, 42 chosen as the theme of World governments – accounting for Environment Day, hosted this more than half the world's year by India. Companies and coastline – have signed up to the governments around the world #CleanSeas campaign with many continue to announce new making specific commitments to pledges to tackle plastic waste. protect oceans, encourage Sikkim banned disposable plastic recycling and cut back on single- bags: The tiny state of Sikkim use plastics. nestled in the Himalayas in Across the world, individuals northeastern India has been h a v e b e e n i n s p i r e d b y leading a green revolution of its #CleanSeas to re-evaluate their own kind. Despite being small and use of plastic and they are now isolated, and with its people leading their hence has limited space for garbage pushing their governments and the lives in extremely tough mountainous dumps. It has already stretched its limit private sector to deliver bold pollution- terrain, Sikkim has emerged as one of and opting for new landfill sites is beating policies. Nearly 80,000 people India's environmental leaders. neither an easy option nor permissible have taken the #Clean Seas pledge to as it would mean taking over forest land Sikkim, which in 1998 became the first eradicate single-use plastics and that's home to endangered wildlife. Indian state to ban disposable plastic microbeads from their lives. From Bali to bags, is also among the first to target It is estimated that with the growing Panama, they are cleaning beaches, single-use plastic bottles. In 2016, population and rising consumerism, the cataloguing what they find, and Sikkim took two major decisions. It world's plastic bottle consumption will changing their own behaviour by, for banned the use of packaged drinking increase to half a trillion annually by example, using cloth bags and carrying water in government offices and 2021. Studies have also suggested that steel cups or cutlery with them, refusing government events. Second, it banned some compounds in plastics may plastic straws and demanding the the use of Styrofoam and thermocol threaten human health. removal of plastic cups or single-use disposable plates and cutlery in the bottles from their offices. The scale of the problem demands a entire state in a move to cut down toxic global response. Every year, around 8 #CleanSeas first priority was to highlight plastic pollution and tackle its ever- million tonnes of plastic end up in our the scale of the problem and the message

06 J u n e 2 0 1 8 has been heard loud and clear. The Clean bags. Israel aims to have 70 per cent of Ÿ Never burn waste and minimize the Seas campaign was launched at an event its beaches clean 70 per cent of the time burning of wood. in Bali, Indonesia in February 2017. Tens of this year and is implementing a ban on Ÿ Let my electronics live longer, then thousands of people have visited our certain types of plastic bags. Denmark, dispose of them properly or resell website cleanseas.org to learn more, Finland, Iceland and Sweden have them. while thousands of people are using committed to implement the “Nordic #CleanSeas and #beatpollution on programme” on a sustainable approach Ÿ Compost and recycle. Twitter and Instagram to tag pictures of to plastics by preventing plastic waste, Ÿ Use public transport, carpool, cycle beach clean-ups and to urge their friends encouraging recycling and promoting a or walk. and followers to join the fight against circular economy. New Zealand has marine litter. committed to ban products containing Ÿ Eat less meat and more organic and plastic. microbeads from June and is unpackaged foods. Here are some of the pledges that developing options to get rid of single- have already been made: Belgium, Ÿ Refuse to buy cosmetics with use plastic bags. The #CleanSeas Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Panama microbeads. campaign will monitor these promises and the Philippines are drawing up or and look to get more countries to Ÿ Choose natural cleaning products adopting national plans and legislation commit to action. But governments and lead-free paint. to combat marine litter. cannot fight this battle alone. Ÿ Use organic pesticides and fertilizers Canada, which has the world's longest Businesses are acutely aware of the efficiently. coastline, is funding community-based popular awakening over plastics and programmes, like beach clean-ups, and Ÿ Use clean technologies to light and they are responding: European retailers continuing critical research into the power home. have committed to plastic-free aisles impact of microplastics. It is also and products while some restaurants Ÿ Collect and use rainwater. drawing up regulations to ban the have pledged to phase out plastic manufacture and sale of toiletries Make a commitment: Pollution straws. containing microbeads. contributes to the death of millions of What we can do: people every year. It also threatens Indonesia has committed to reduce wildlife and plants and can devastate plastic waste by 70 per cent by 2030 Ÿ Never throw rubbish, chemicals or entire ecosystems. We all have a solvents into storm drains or sewers. Kenya, Jordan, Madagascar, Chile and responsibility to act. France have banned or pledged to ban Ÿ Stop using disposable shopping single-use or non-biodegradable plastic bags and other single-use plastic.

J u n e 2 0 1 8 07 Prof. Susy Abraham, Rtd. Prof. CMS College, Kottayam “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures”

Green is the colour of life. Green leaves are components. They need to recognize the the basic source of breath and food. A deep interaction between man and nature- green school can be formed only by the air, water, soil, sun, rain, plants, animals-the whole hearted love of God and His creation list is endless. So teachers need to read, by the different components of school- listen and act. They should take time to slow Management,Teachers [staff] and children down and in silence take in the beauty of [students]. We need to know, tell, show and Gods Creation. live the way of cross. We will have to “The fruit of silence is prayer, acknowledge that we are only co-creations of God's creation, created to live in The fruit of prayer is faith harmony and tend our co-creations. And the fruit of faith is service” Let us go through the three components of Mother Teresa. a school and see what can be done to turn it into a green one. 3. Students/Children: “Let the children come unto me”said Christ. 1. Management: They provide the infrastructure and the finance for the Children are the hope a better world. Their different projects and activities that need to natural curiosity, willingness to learn and be undertaken. They must understand and lack of hidden agendas are all factors that cooperate in turning the school into a green make them an ideal source for nurturing the one, through the implementation of the earth. Green Protocol of our church. *Create an interest in them by telling them 2. The staff: They are the green leaders who stories-grandma stories, local folk-lore, have to kindle the love for God's creation in rhymes, poems, songs.... the hearts of children. To do this, they must *Help them to see nature as God's Creation- have the fire of a deep relationship with the wonder, the miracle that can be seen God, through Christ, that is kept burning by and heard in leaves, flowers, trees, local the Holy Spirit. They need to have at least a plants, birds, insects etc., along with stories basic knowledge of the ecosystem, the related to them and their life histories. harmony and balance between all its

08 J u n e 2 0 1 8 *Relate every lesson in all subjects to the carefull use of study materials,like *The children must be encouraged to concept of a green school and a green paper,notebooks,pens,uniform….. carry and implement what they learn world. and do in school to their homes and b. School as a whole: surroundings. *Demonstrate through one's life the Each school is unique and this must be importance of a simple life style. Let them taken into consideration while planning *A knowledge of the local water sources recall the Mahatma's words “there is projects. and water bodies, local flora and fauna, enough for every one's need but not local medicinal plants and local *Trees that provide shade,pure air and a greed”. environmental issues should be natural landscape should be planted in acquired, through survey and the 4. School: plenty all around the compound. information recorded. a. Class room: *Solar panels, biogas and rain harvest *Each student can take turns to bring *Cost efficient and easy mosquito units must be installed. one fresh flower and leaf for the control can be done by allowing the teacher's table. They should be able to *methods to reduce and reuse water m o s q u i t o e s t o b r e e d i n e a s i l y tell the class all about that particular and waste must be implemented. monitored containers and empting plant. Projects to reuse waste like plastic bottles them after seven days when wrigglers and refills can be planted. Children should appear. This has to be repeated through *The class room can be decorated by be encouraged to create art forms from out the year. paintings and other art work done by waste and these can be displayed around the chidren, all related to nature. *Kitchen gardens in every home must the school. became a major hobby of the children. *The walls can be painted green. *Books on environment and related issues, Frequent brain storming sessions for *Each class can be given the area in front nature stories and adventures should find teachers,students and members of the of their class room, create their own a prominent place in the library. local community should be held to nature corner,learn to landscape and *School activities and celebrations identify issues,develop new ideas,learn take care of it. Prizes can be given for the should be planned with the concept of new methods and bring out a vibrant best nature corner and class room. the green school in mind. fellowship. *Insist on the proper use of the waste *Pooling of vehicles,use of cycles for May God bless you all in your endeavour basket and disposal of waste. transportation to school and walking to create Green Schools,Green Homes *Let them help to reduce electricity use from nearby areas should be encouraged. and a Green Earth. by monitoring the use of the light and 5. Local Area: fan in the class room. *The locality around the school must *Stress the importance of minimum and experience the effect of the green school.

J u n e 2 0 1 8 09 The Book of Jonah– An Ecological perspective

Rev. M.S.Jebastin Michelraj has been serving as a Introduction: Environmental pollution is of the creation and also as “God of Heaven” presbyter in Thoothukudi- one of the biggest problems in the present who has concern on the earth, for He made Nazareth Diocese, CSI. He world. In the modern technological world we the sea and the dry land. are facing different sorts of environmental has his M.Com. from Many traditional creation tales articulate harms. We can say that we are living in the about the creation in a different manner. Madurai Kamaraj University, 'wounded creation' scenario. The book of For example, the myth of Greece and Rome B.D and M.Th (Pastoral Care Jonah contains not only prophecy but also promotes that in the beginning there was and Counseling) from the the personal experiences of the prophet. It an empty darkness. The great Bird of explains the common destiny of human Union Biblical Seminary, Divinity laid the Golden Egg. And for ages it beings and nature. In this book one can see Pune. Currently he holds the sat upon this egg. Finally the egg was the elements of nature have been broken. One half of the shell rose into the air res pons i bi l i ty of the mentioned and used in order to fulfill the and became the sky and the other became Department of Counselling, God's purpose. the Earth. TND-CSI, as the Director. 1. Jonah's Ecological Observation and Here, Jonah introduces himself as a Hebrew, Understanding: The meaning of the name a pious Jew, having patriotic zeal and 'Jonah' in Hebrew is dove. The name itself is believes that God created all matters – identified with Ecological root. Jonah lived heaven, earth and sea out of nothing. The during the reign of Jeroboam II about 780 creator is an architect of pre-existent matter B.C. Some scholars have mentioned that a and energy, who constructed the present major earthquake had occurred in Israel universe out of any raw material. In such a during the time of Jeroboam II. So Jonah way Jonah proclaimed the eco fairness might have known about the consequences towards the heathen sailors. of the disaster of nature. The basic truth that Jonah told the sailors is Moreover, he introduced himself before that his God created the world, and was in sailors as (Johna 1: 9) 'I am a Hebrew, and I the control of the weather. Most pagan fear the LORD (Adonai) God of heaven who deities were only in control of a small made the sea and the dry land.' As a pious portion of the world. One deity would rule Hebrew he believed and accepted the the ocean, while another would rule a creation account of Genesis that God portion of land, and a third would control identified as a creator of the world, by the weather. Jonah is essentially saying that saying “God made the sea and the dry land”. his God is the God of weather, the God of At this point the root word of the word 'God the sea and the God of the land. made' indicates the concept of uniqueness

10 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Hebrews usually orders three elements - by the river Tigris, which flowed west of Even the god they worshipped was a “heaven…earth…sea,” But Jonah the city and Khoser river which flowed god of war. The Assyrians were great reorders them and emphasized as dry west to east within the city. In ecological warriors and it was their practice to land and sea. Why? One thing we should perspective we could say that the destroy the conquered cities. Assyrian know that Niniveh was in the East - people of Nin eveh used available water soldiers were famous for their cruelty. present day Iraq. Tarshis was in west - recourses in proper ways. To put it in For example, the King Ashunasirpal II present day Spain. God commended other words, the people of Nineveh (883-859) after his victory was used to Jonah to go east but he selected west, used the available ecological recourses cut off their hands and feet, noses and just opposite direction. From his in order to meet their day to day needs. ears, held them by a hook in their lips, hometown to Nineveh was about 500 For example they had enormous cattle pull out the eyes of his captives and to miles but Tarshes 2500 miles. He (Jonah 3:7). raise heaps of human heads. Moreover, selected 2500 miles instead of 500 miles. according to the prophet Nahum, it was Moreover, in 4:11 we see the phrase If he wanted to fulfill the will of God he a bloody city of the world, full of fraud, 'many animals,’ which represents that a supposed to have used 'the land route' lies and violence. major change had happened in that city. because there was only land route from In other words agricultural revolution But in other side they gave much more his hometown to Nineveh. But he might have happed in order to increase care and concern to their domestic selected Sea route to go to Tarshish. animals for they survive with natural animals. In such a way they lived with Now he recognized that God has food. Hence, in ecological perspective it nature. Even the king of Nineveh did watched and followed his path and can be referred green revolution might not allow to die any cattle by the wrath journey. It should be the elements of have occurred in the city of Nineveh by of God. We might see this perception in nature by saying the dry land and sea. using the available water resources. Chapter 3: 6-9. 2. Ninivites' Ecological Care and Furthermore, in Genesis 10: 8-12 we For them animals are parts of their Concern: Nineveh was a big city, the read about Nimrod, who was a 'mighty community. For example, When the king capital city of Assyrian kingdom. It was warrior/hunter' founder of Nineveh city. of Nineveh heard the divine verdict, as well fortified city. Its walls were 100 feet His name was identified with mighty spoken by Jonah, he issued a royal high and had great breadth, had 1500 warrior/ mighty hunter. Nin, the god of announcement that applied to both his watch towers. The city was well watered war, was the prime god of Nin eveh. people and domestic animals: “Let man

J u n e 2 0 1 8 11 and beast, herd and flock, not taste vomit Johna onto dry land (2:10) that Furthermore, in 4:6 we see the LORD anything` let them not feed, or drink means God used animal resources. God (Yahweh Elohim) used here is an water, but let man and beast be covered Later, He appointed a fast growing plant unusual combination, which occurs with sack cloth, and let them cry mightily (vine ) to shade His prophet (4:6). Here mainly in story of creation in Genisis 2 & to God, let every man turn from his evil we could see the use of plant resources. 3. It implicitly means that - the LORD way and from the violence which is in his Then He specially made a worm to has control over the environment. hands. Who knows, God may yet repent destroy the plant (4:7) and He prepared Moreover, Chapter 4:11 says “And and turn from His fierce anger, so that a boiling wind which is called east wind should I not have concern for the great we perish not?” (Jonah 3: 7–9).Here, the (sirocco) to discomfort Jonah (4:8). The city of Nineveh, in which there are more phrase “man and beast” appears twice in term east wind has uniqueness. We than a hundred and twenty thousand the king's directive in order to protect could not find this terminology people who cannot tell their right hand them from death and save their animals. anywhere in OT expect in Jonah. God from their left--and also many animals?" What I am trying to say in ecological caused a hot east wind to blow. This It is manifestation of God's concern view is that the people of Nineveh vocabulary derived from 'harrshit' 'to be towards human being and animals. including the cruel King, showed their sharp' that means is 'very hot' burning Conclusion: Here, as a pious Jew Jonah care and concern towards their animals wind. portrays that God is a creator of the which were part of the nature. In such a way God used the natural earth and heavens. He controls the land 3. God's Ecological Handling and agents such as water, animal, worm, and sea. Moreover, we learned about Anxiety: Throughout the book of Jonah plant, weeds and winds - living and non the Ninevites's care and concern one can see that God used the natural living things for manifesting His destiny. towards the animals. We came to know resources in order to His plan and Interestingly here we see the great fish that natural elements play prominent purpose. Here God was identified as Eco and tiny worm. Put it in other words tiny role in the book of Jonah: they serve as -friendly God. I would like to summarize worm also acts on His behalf to fulfill His the Lord's deputies and agents; they are this in brief as follows. When Jonah went task. Evangelically it means that God part of the community. In conclusion it away from God, at first God sent a may use anybody and everybody to His can be affirmatively stated that the book mighty storm on the sea, which work. In Hebrew, the word mana only of Jonah teaches us that the Lord's threatened to destroy the ship (1:4). used in the place of English translation compassion and concern extends to Josephus speaks of a violent wind called as appointed, provided, and prepared. both human beings and animals. 'the black North wind'. Here, I say that Manna does not mean to create or God used natural air recourse for his prepare but appoint that means God mission. appointed these natural agencies for a particular destiny for fulfilling His plan Then God provided a great fish to rescue and purpose towards Jonah and people Jonah (1:17), a great fish was probably a of Neiveh. mammal. He commanded the fish to

Behind the Cover

he cover photo of this issue of the CSI Life Magazine is the prize-winning entry of the Tphotography compeon organised by the Ecological Concerns Department of the Church of South India (CSI) Synod on the theme "Global Warming". Mr. Bijulal M.D., the photographer of this splendid shot, is a member of South Kerala Diocese of CSI.

12 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Dept. of Mission & Evangelism, CSI Synod

One Day Retreat for Missionaries in Rayalaseema Diocese: Enhancing Capacities in forming Missional Congregations

CSI Synod Mission and Evangelism well as action plan. Participants actively and have close fellowship. All were able to Department has conducted a one day retreat involved in the discussion and shared their be enhanced as well as rejuvenated more for the missionaries in Rayalaseema Diocese burning issues which they are facing in their for the mission and evangelism. at Sunday School Hall, CSI Central Church in living context such as poverty, lack of Department is very much grateful to the Kadapa, on the 3rd May 2018. The theme of education, malnutrition, caste discriminations, leadership of the Rayalaseema Diocese, for retreat was “Enhancing Capacities of religious atrocities etc. They unanimously their dedicated and excellent services for the Congregation as Missional Congregation”. Rt. decided to work together for the common well blessing of the retreat. The mission Rev. Dr. B. D. Prasada Rao, Bishop in being of the community even in the midst of all department of the Synod is thankful to Rayalaseema, has inaugurated the retreat. these burning issues. All have dedicated them for their remarkable as well as cordial Mrs. Lilly Prasad, Rev. Dr. Isaac Varaprasad themselves for the well-being of the society and hospitality. (Diocesan Secretary), and Rev. Benn Hinn church. Twenty-One missionaries attended in have conveyed greetings. Rev. Maxcin John the Retreat. Rev. Maxcin John, (Synod Mission Director) has led the Director, The retreat was an opportunity to learn and retreat. As part of the Retreat, there was a Dept. Mission & Evangelism, CSI Synod. listen each other and also the time to share group discussion regarding the theme as

Kadiri-Nallacheruvu Mission Field Exposure Visit

This exposure visit was an eye -opening experience by which the team could able to identify the needs of the fields such as community health awareness programme, career guidance, basic and necessary supports to the missionaries in those who were rendered commendable doing Missions, tuition service to lead the team through the centers, medical camps, Mission Fields. On behalf of Mission and Evangelism formation of self-supporting groups, old Rev. Maxcin John Department of the CSI Synod, a Mission field age care, family welfare schemes etc. Director, Dept. Mission & Evangelism, CSI exposure visit was organized to Kadiri and People are highly potential, but very much Synod. Nallacheruvu areas of Anadhapur District in in need of proper guidance as well as Andhra Pradesh on 4th May 2018. Visit motivations. There are immense started at 9am and the team had visited possibilities to develop and move Bramanapally, Gandlapendta and but needed to channelize and Rekkamanu in Kadiri, and also visited encouragements. The exposure Nallacheruvu areas. Visit was guided by Rev. visit got over at 8pm. David Naik (Kadiri Mission in Charge). Rev. Maxcin John (Synod Mission Director), Mr. Department is grateful to Joshua Naik, Mr. Soloman Naik, Mr. Rayalaseema Diocese, Bishop Rt. Peerenaik, Mr. Ranganath and Ms. Esther Rev. Dr. B. D. Prasada Rao and all Jyothi have accompanied in the visits. other Officers, especially Rev. David Naik and Missionaries

J u n e 2 0 1 8 13 Dept. of Christian Education, CSI Synod A One-day Meet of the Directors of Christian Education

A one-day meet of the DIrectors of curriculum for CSI. All enthusistically bishops who encouraged them to Christian Education from various contributed to the startegical planning of contribute to the same. representative dioceses met at CSI synod a curriculum relevant for the children in Rev. Dr. Jayachitra Lalitha, centre, Chennai, on 1st May. 2018. This our contemporary church scenario. Director, Dept. of Christian Education, was to discuss about the possibilities of A special word of thanks to all the CSI Synod bringing out a common Sunday School representatives of dioceses and to the

O B I T U A R Y Rt. Rev. T. B. D. Prakash Rao, Former Bishop in Krishna Godavari Diocese of CSI, Passes Away Hyderabad. Rt. Rev. Prakash Rao had his ministry, passed away last year. served as the fourth Bishop of the Bishop Prakash Rao is survived with two diocese for twenty years (1981- 2001). sons- Mr. Sunil Prakash and Mr. Sudhir Prakash Rao earlier led the Bible Society Prakash and a daughter- Ms. Rebecca of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary from Shanthi. 1976 through 1981 especially during the Most Rev. Thomas K. Oommen; the period when common language Moderator of the Church of South India, translations into vernacular languages Rt. Rev. Vadapally Prasada Rao; the were being undertaken by the Bible Deputy Moderator, Rev. Dr. Daniel Society of India throughout the country. Rathnakara Sadananda; the General He was the Chairperson of the Board of Secretary, and Adv. Robert Bruce; the Governors of the Andhra Christian Treasurer, expressed their deep Theological College, Hyderabad. He was Rt. Rev. T. B. D. Prakash Rao, former condolences to the bereaved family. a leader with great ecumenical vision. Bishop in Krishna Godavari Diocese of the Church of South India, was called to Mrs. Krupa Veni, the wife of Bishop the eternal glory on (30.5.2018) in Prakash Rao who was a strong support to

14 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Dept. of Mission & Evangelism, CSI Synod Church of South India was Represented at the CWM 2018 South Asia Regional Assembly in Bangladesh

4. We lament the continued denial of human rights of the most vulnerable people particularly those who are trafficked, engaged in forced labour, abused and exploited. We affirm and embrace all humanity as God’s image bearers and seek social transformation. 5. We encourage the churches to reaffirm the commitment to equip young people to be full contributors and participants in carrying out God’s mission. 6. Discerning the signs of the times mandates us to distinguish the context of Council for World Mission (CWM) has makeshift camps such as Kutupalong in empire with its values of the anti- organized a South Asia Regional Cox’s Bazar. Assembly has resolved Beatitudes. We affirm the values of the Assembly on 21-26 May 2018 in Cox’s following matters: Beatitudes reflected in the prophetic Bazar, Bangladesh, reflecting on the Diakonia of God’s mission. Having immersed ourselves in the theme “Healing Relationships: Hope for a context of the forced displacement and 7. We affirm the presence of God and the New Spirituality”. There were Nineteen continued suffering of the millions of spirituality of love in healing broken participants from South Asia member such ethnic minority people and going relationships. churches of CWM, i.e., Church of South through other context analysis of South India (CSI), Church of North India (CNI), 8. We commit to continue hearing the Asia: Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) and voices of suffering people and creation Church of Bangladesh (COB). The Rt. Rev. 1. We affirm that the churches are deeply by responding to the changing global Dr. Royce Manoj Kumar Victor (Bishop in committed to justly intervene in all levels and local landscapes. Malabar Diocese), Rev. Dr. Allan Samuel to address the causes of forced migration CWM regional Assembly was the venue Palanna (Professor, UTC & Southern and respond to dehumanization of all for listen and learn together as well as Karnataka Diocese), Mr. J. Andrews people irrespective of faith tradition. share and dedicate together the Christopher (Diocese of Thoothukudy - 2. We lament the suffering of the resources for the BETTER WORLD! Nazareth) and Rev. Maxcin John (Synod Rohingya people and express our Mission Director) have attended the Rev. Maxcin John solidarity as a family of CWM. We appeal Assembly as representation from CSI. Director, to the member churches of CWM to Dept. Mission & Evangelism, The deliberation of the regional actively join the solidarity initiatives. CSI Synod. assembly which included consultation, 3 . We a ffi r m t h e s p i r i t u a l i t y o f Bible studies and presentation were partnership which nurtures us toward informed by the dehumanizing context mutuality of sharing of resources and of the Rohingya people living in serving as prophets of our age.

J u n e 2 0 1 8 15 Dept. of Mission & Evangelism, CSI Synod Karnataka Regional Missionary Conference in Dharwad On behalf of Mission and Evangelism Diocesan Context and helped them to Northern Diocese. They have considered it Department- CSI Synod, Karnataka share and listen each other in doing as their own event and made all possible Regional Missionary Conference was Mission. The participants actively and excellent arrangements out of their organized at RLTC, All Saint’s Church participated in cultural presentations in best level in order to make the conference Compound, Dharwad in Karnataka which they could able to encourage and success and blessed one. All arrangements Northern Diocese, on 26th to 27th April mingle with each other in Missional including food, accommodation, 2018. The Rt. Rev. Ravikumar J. Niranjan, Context. hospitality, reception and all other services Bishop in Karnataka Northern Diocese, were organised well. They have The morning and the evening worships has inaugurated the Conference. Rev. accomplished it through a concrete and were led by each Dioceses of Karnataka Vincent Vinod Kumar (Karnataka Central creative team work. Region which were enriched by singing Diocese) has delivered the Key Note and prayers. There was a mission Department is proud of Karnataka Northern Address on the Conference Theme: exposure isit to the historical places in Diocese for their ever-memorable hosting “Equipping Missionaries Towards Dharwad. The participants have visited and especially grateful to Rt. Rev. Building Christ Communities”. Following the Basel Mission Hebich Memorial CSI Ravikumar J. Niranjan(Bishop), Rev. Hanna to the Key Note Address, there was an Church as well as Cemetery which is Niranjan, Dr. Immanuel S. Malekar (KND interactive as well as action planning specially dedicated for Missionaries Diocesan Secretary), Rev. D. S. Honnaikar session conducted by Rev. Vincent Vinod where participants have offered flowers (Associate Secretary, KND), Rev. Samuel Kumar on the theme. in loving memories of Missionaries. Calvin (Associate Treasurer, KND) Special Rev. Solomon Paul (Director, Youth Participants also have visited the statue thanks to Dr. Kamal Dhawale (CSI College Department CSI Synod) led a class on of German Missionary Rev. Dr. Ferdinand Principal, Dharwad) and Mr. Diwakar “Equipping Missionaries towards Kittel who had rendered commendable Dhawale (Artist and Designer) for their Building Christ Communities: Youth contribution to the Kannada Literature. support to the Conference. The Service of Perspectives” and Rev. Dr. L. Jayachithra They visited the University Campus of KND staff was also commendable. ( D i r e c t o r , C h r i s t i a n E d u c a t i o n Karnataka University at Dharwad. Karnataka Regional Missionary conference Department, CSI Synod) has led both the There were sixty participants who have was the avenue and opportunity to be Bible study and aq class on ‘Equipping attended in Karnataka Regional Missionary equipped and rejuvenated in order to build Missionaries towards Building Christ Conference from the Diocese such as Christ Communities. All participants have C o m m u n i t i e s ’ f r o m C h i l d r e n ’ s Karnataka Southern, Karnataka Central rededicated themselves in order to Perspectives. All resource persons have and Karnataka Northern Diocese. All had engage in doing Mission more actively encouraged the participants to actively actively participated in the Conference for the glory of God and for the well- participate in the Mission of God in their and enriched and rejuvenated with being of all people. own living context. innovative insights and plans for the glory Rev. Maxcin John, There was Diocesan level group discussions of God. Director, Dept. of Mission & Evangelism, and presentations in connection to each Karnataka Regional Missionary Conference CSI Synod class those have helped the participants to was remarkably hosted by Karnataka prepare action-plans according to their

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16 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod MITHRA inspires the Youth to Educate and Engage with the Migrant Brick Kiln Workers Children

Vishwa, Pravalika, Akhil and Pramod, four youngsters from CSI Karimnagar Diocese have exited their comfort zones travelling and staying in Gummudi Poondi for a period of 12 days to educate and engage the children of the migrant workers from North India. This programme is jointly organised by the Synod Youth Department in association with The Jesuit Migrant Ministry in Chennai. Around 12 young volunteers are spending their time and energy to focus on building the self esteem of these They deem this a special opportunity as Karimnagar Diocese for offering children engaging with them through they also get to meet the other young themselves for this cause. Sincere thanks various games and activities. people from Loyola College, Chennai, in to the Bishop of Karimnagar Diocese, Rt. sharing fruitful conversations about Rev. Dr. Rueben Mark, for encouraging The youngsters representing the Church culture, language, mission and issues of and sending these youngsters. Thanks to of South India in this noble venture, opine young people in their own context. Rev. S. Dinakaran, Presbyter In-Charge of that the life situations of these migrant CSI Gummudipoondi pastorate and the This programme is aimed at equipping the children have sensitized them about their Catechist Mr. Edward for all the local Migrant children with various social skills struggles in a situation of poverty and arrangements and hospitality in making to enhance their quality of life and to structural injustice. They also opine that the stay of our young people a motivate them in their struggle towards amidst their struggles of life, the laughter comfortable and memorable one. and the naughtiness of the children better education. Rev. Solomon Paul, inspires them to add meaning to their The Synod Youth Department thanks and Director, Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod lives. appreciates these Young people from

J u n e 2 0 1 8 17 Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod Youth DARE to DREAM Volunteering Programme at Rohingya Refugee Settlement at Chennai

The youth volunteers engage in teaching the children and building their self esteem with various extracurricular activities like singing, dancing, coloring and games. Their time with the children also enables these little ones to look at life and its inspirations through the commitment and embracing attitude of these youth volunteers They also spend a lot of time in talking to the elders and other members of the settlement. Enabling them to listen to their stories of pain and rejection. This The youth of CSI continue to engage with association with United Nations High experiential learning is believed to equip the Rohingya refugee settlement in the Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to these youngsters in making them more outskirts of Chennai. Mr. Manish from CSI motivate the youth of CSI to go beyond committed to the call of Christ who is Madras Diocese and Mr. Ashish from CSI the borders of church, to look at society and always in solidarity with the weak and the South Kerala Diocese are spending 25 the issues of people beyond faith and marginalized. days this summer engaging themselves identity and to commit themselves to the with the Rohingya refugee settlement. cause of the marginalized and the needy in Rev. Solomon Paul, This initiative from the Church of South the society. Director, Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod India Synod Youth Department in Awareness Session on Community Health and Women's Health for the Women of the Rohingya Refugee Camp

commitment towards addressing community health concerns. This interactive session enabled the Rohingya refugee women to seek many clarifications on maintaining menstrual hygiene and other children health- related queries. The Church of South India Synod Youth D e p a r t m e n t a c k n o w l e d g e s t h e commitment of all the Youth involved in this process and encourages more young people to commit to building a just an An awareness session on community Chennai. Ms. S. W. Naomi Nancy and Ms. inclusive society. health and women's health was Vandana S. Charles Junior Lecturers, Rev. Solomon Paul, organised and conducted by the Synod College of Nursing, CMC Vellore who are Director, Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod Youth Department for the Women of the also the Youth of CSI volunteered to do Rohingya refugee camp in Kellambakam, handle these sessions as a part of their

18 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Training Christian Educators for Child Friendly Churches

Christian Education Pedagogies for Missional Congregations

19 Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Chandrasekaran is the new bishop of the Trichy- Tanjore Diocese of the CSI

20 Rt. Rev. George Cornelious T. is the new bishop of the Krishna Godavari Diocese of the Church of South India

21 Clergy Family Summer Refresher Course-2018

Building agenda for Socio-Political Consciousness

22 Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod CSI Youth Department hosts NCCI Youth Leaders Meet on the theme ‘Promoting Good Citizenry: Building Secularism’

The National Council of India (NCCI) – are equal to or harmonious with each fight for secularism comes from our Youth Concerns in collaboration with the other.), he observed that Hinduism – status as rightful citizens under the Church of South India (CSI) organised a basically a caste-based religion, is now constitution, and not as having a two-day programme on the theme being promoted by right wing elements minority status. Therefore he urged the “Promoting Good Citizenry: Building as an all-embracing religion. Therefore young people to fight for secularism Secularism” on 4-5 May 2018 at the CSI Dr. Sadananda asserted that Christians from the Indian citizenship platform. Synod Center, Chennai, focusing on the have to be vigilant and should be ready Dr. Christopher S. Baskeran, Associate rise of intolerance, promotion of to become a community of hope for all. Director – Church Relations & Interfaith individual responsibility, and building The theology of prayer is not a prayer to Engagement, World Vision India, secularism in the country especially God alone but a prayer with commitment reflected on the notion of justice and among the youth. to action. He reaffirmed that the Christian social transformation under the topic community needs to rethink its being. Mr. Liju Kuriokose, Youth Vice President, “Justice and Social Transformation – The Church should never become the NCCI delivered the welcome address. In Marginalised Perspectives.” Drawing majority; it is called to be a minority, to his address, he expressed disappointment inspiration from Plato's Republic (c. 380 be the salt of the earth. Church should that the world is getting conservative and BCE), he talked about justice as the join the choirs of life, a choir that exclusive; however youth have the quality of being fair and reasonable; empowers and enriches. He concluded capacity to rise above the situation and to theory and practice of administering with a challenge to the young people to challenge the world to strive for change. fairness; and justice as being drawn from become the choir that makes a choir of Youth need to be prophetic which is law. Dr. Baskeran maintained that social minority. beyond foretelling; rather they should be transformation implies a fundamental engaged in forth-telling, reforming the Rev. Asir Ebenezer, Director, CSI-SEVA, change in society. In conclusion he situation and being responsible to the future deliberated on the theme “Rise of asserted that the marginalised sections generations to come. Intolerance: A Threat to Indian Secularism of the society should be acknowledged – Socio-Political Perspectives.” He and should be given transformative Rev. Dr. D. Rathnakara Sadananda, admitted that a citizen can be of any justice (which is biblical), a justice of General Secretary, CSI and the Vice religion; however the state should be a- redemption and restoration, what would President, NCCI, brought the keynote religious, being equidistant from all bear witness to social transformation. address on the main theme “Promoting religions and instead focus on all its Good Citizenry: Building Secularism”. Rev. Solomon Paul, Youth Director, CSI, citizens. Secularism is fundamentally Questioning the notion of India as a led a Bible Study from Matthew 25:14-30 proactive and progressive, encouraging nation where minorities live under the (Parable of Talents) highlighting the people not only to tolerate one another threat of majority and where the country capitalistic approach, the unequal but also to live in love and friendship. is under a monolithic majority, he distribution of wealth, and the exercise of Rev. Ebenezer added that intolerance is asserted that India is a nation of power and authority over the poor. non-juxtaposed to secularism, and it minorities. Whereas people look at distorts the values and principles of the The programme concluded with a vote of secularism as a threat to Christianity in constitution. Concurrently, a minority thanks and a prayer by Mr. Jianthaolung the West, there is a distinctive positive community cannot practice selective Gonmei, Executive Secretary, NCCI-Youth understanding of secularism in India. secularism and secular sectarianism. Concerns and Fr. John C Matthew Referring to the concept of Sarva Intolerance should be checked when respectively. Dharma Sambhav (a Hindu concept c h u r c h e s a r e e n g a g e d i n t h e which asserts that all Dharmas (truths) proclamation of the gospel. Power to

J u n e 2 0 1 8 23 Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly (AEYA) – 2018 Ongoing Issues of the Asian Youth and our Collective Response as the Church “Young people need to be inspired, told they can achieve anything they set their minds to” – Jim Stynes

he youth in Asia constitute around around, which harm the physical and 26% of its total population and spiritual realms of life as well. The world Tobviously they draw a valid global breathes the air of fear now and the attention to the issues which occur in and recent terror attacks around the world around. Youth hood, a noted era in one’s had not only created deaths, but life is exceptionally gifted with talents, refugees, physical losses, economic time and enthusiasm. An ideal response instability also. It had created with a blend of the mentioned towards intolerance towards religions and the various hassles which find its place in religious identities as well. Moments of t h e s o c i e t y c a n d e t e r m i n e t h e fear which is being supplemented by the commitment of the youth and it has to nuclear forces in the world still put the to understand each other’s issues and think loudly, how the Church can globe in anguish. pains and that is the way forward to energize and motivate the youth of this reestablish what Jesus had envisioned It is a high challenge for the Church to time to be the agents of change. The and also to mark the same as the call of fare its way forward amidst religious Asian Ecumenical Youth Assembly 2018 the Church. f u n d a m e n t a l i s m a n d e x t r e m e (AEYA) organized by the Christian nationalism which still have life in the The place and position of women within Conference of Asia (CCA), which was held context of Asia and that has to address the Church has to be redefined. The in Manado, Indonesia, from the 6th of seriously. The politicization of religion is principles of hierarchy and subordination April to the 13th paved way to a bunch of very much evident in the Indian scenario; which had been organized by the gender more than 350 young people who had humans are being brutally massacred in relations should find a positive approach gathered from 23 different nations of the the name of religion. The ‘Hindutva’ through our Churches and the youth Asian subcontinent and of the pacific agendas are deeply penetrating into the should take the initiative that justice to region. The assembly was focused on the normal life of those who live in India, let the gender is done. The teachings, theme “Lord send your light and truth to that be food, let that be what we believe practices and rituals which are patriarchal lead us”, which throws light into a and even in the films which appears on in tone try to give an upper hand to the numerous issues which the youth of this the screen. Right to live and express are males over the females and it should be generation undergo and meaningful being questioned in India by the addressed well. The subordination of talks and discussions were evolved, how advocates of communalism. The reason women in our church scenario should be we should fare our faith journey and of economic poverty/unemployment can ‘opposed, resisted and transformed’ and commitment towards one another to be cited as one of the reasons why young the position of women in our churches find a way out. folk lean towards religious intolerance. should be viewed as normative and not The Church is in search of a challenging O u r y o u t h s h o u l d n ’ t b e c o m e marginal, opines Ms. Ruth Mathen one of generation who can offer beacons of psychologically vulnerable in front of the distinguished panelists for the AEYA transformation to the existing challenges certain ideologies. We, as one should try 2018. Living in an era where we see many who adhere to various faith traditions, a clear understanding of the various religions is needed rather than looking adversely at if for the things which occur in the name of it. Asia is a land which had cradled many religions which still has a good number of adherers. Extremism from the side of any religion may cause the loss of harmony and peace between humans. The clashes which had occurred between ultranationalist Buddhists and minority

24 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Muslims in Yangon, Myanmar stay fresh in us. Respect one another and contribute one towards the betterment of the other. Let dialogue which carries the essence of humanity and love occur and our youth must respond to these calls in a constructive manner. Digitalization now creates a space for everyone to react, to express and to ‘participate’ even which definitely lacks the physical presence. As we live in an era where emoticons express our emotions and virtual platforms create assembly points, a Christian response should come up. No doubt, digital media increasingly becomes influential in the lives of the Asian youth, and that too often negating the values of Christian spirituality. The unbelievable hours which one spends for online browsing and playing with gadgets lead him/her to shorter attention spans, information overloaded words and visualizations, sometimes it today. Prayers, discussion, sharing of and anxiety too. The digitalization of being more harmful than fighting with testimonies, to hold hands for a noble human mind stands as a firm reason for guns. Young minds can explore the cause, the windows of media can still be the increase in the cases of cyber- possibilities lie behind every progressive made useful. step as technology advances. bullying, human trafficking and Rather than being chained to oneself, my oppression of certain sectors of society. It is an undeniable fact that the present young friends, conquer the horizons. We The common folk in India is still day churches invest social media to reach have a long way to go. In a world where ‘I wondering at the money loot which was the youngsters and it has found to be give preference to mine alone’, a ‘selfie’ done by the business magnates. Now we e ff e c t i v e , r e s e a r c h e r s s a y . T h e attitude exists. I must say, let us stand are excessed with ‘fake news’ which the proliferation of the digital media paves united as a church, record a positive note private and the political entities use to way to the rise of virtual churches and the to those which harms, disturbs and propagate hate, prejudice and anger. communitarian aspect of the Church destroys the divinity and beauty of “Digitalization leads to the rise of digital would shrink to a few web pages or a few human life. Let the whole cosmos take a activism, which obviously decrease mobile apps. Since technology can’t positive turn, because of what we are, as human interaction and sense of replace the emotions, faith and life and it what it means to be YOUTH. community”, said Ismael Fisco Jr. makes one think less, how to be a true Rev. Rohan P Throwing light into the advancement of Christian is a vital area to be addressed. South Kerala Diocese modern media, it has become easy for Hear the call to explore the unique areas the terror factions as the modern where digitalization can turn to be a technology clears the way for them to boon to meet the needs of the youth spread the message of hatred through

EYA-2018 was organized by the A E YA ( A s i a n E c u m e n i c a l Yo u t h Theological perspectives, Light and Truth Christian Conference of Asia Assembly). AEYA was based on the in a pluralistic Asia (Hindu, Islam, A(CCA) from 6th to 13th April 2018 theme, “Lord, send your Light and Truth Buddhist and Taoist perspectives), at Manado, Indonesia. Almost 350 to lead us-Ps 43:3,” and this theme was emerging issues and concerns in Asia participants from 23 countries and systematically presented through the and changing family values in Asian around 100 Christian denominations and thematic sessions such as, prophetic context. AEYA is basically designed for ecumenical councils have gathered for witness to the Truth and Light: Biblical- the young Asians to collectively engage

J u n e 2 0 1 8 25 with the contemporary challenges such a s , r e l i g i o u s i n t o l e r a n c e a n d politicization of religion, trafficking in persons and people on the move, artificial intelligence: future of Asian youth, HIV & AIDS and human sexuality, gender justice and Asian cultural values, digitalization, educational system and consumerism, poverty Vs. Asian development and so on. All the above engagements were very well structured and strengthened by the various aspects like bible study focused on few case studies and adoption of affirmation focused on young Asians journeying together in search of Light and Truth for the common humanity. Issues of Asian Youth are enormous in nature but AEYA has adopted a limited self-employment procedures, denounce Simarmata, Moderator, CCA; Dr. framework which covers the most the corruptive systems and structures Mathews George Chunakara, General general and reliable issues. The premise which hinder the growth of the people. Secretary, CCA; Mr. Olly Dondokambey, and the findings of some issues of Asian Technological advancement is one of the Governor, North Sulawesi and few other youth are as follows: Asia is largely hot topics in young Asian minds and this prominent people. Rev.Ch.John Nischal pluralistic and in this context religious is inevitable, thus the church needs to presented a paper on, ‘Poor, yet making violence and politicization of religion reach out its hands in adopting more many rich: poverty Vs Asian development’ have become the hindrance for the unity, technology and educate the youngsters and Rev. Noah James had led a bible study. in this scenario youngsters from all the on the proper and responsible use of Our report will not be complete if we don’t religions need to build a strong technology in their lives. Light and Truth use the word which we used many times interpersonal network and strive for the in pluralistic Asia was brought out during our stay at Indonesia, i.e Terima unity in diversity. In connection with the through interreligious dialogue and this Kasih, which means ‘Thank You.’ helped to discuss the possibilities of a future of Asian youth, artificial healthy religion in contemporary Asian intelligence plays a vital role, in this Rev. Ch. John Nischal Kumar society. AEYA-2108 statement is capsuled situation the church needs to work Youth Director, CSI Rayalaseema Diocese in the following lines; young Asians need together with the government to identify & to reaffirm their commitment towards areas where artificial intelligence can be Rev. Noah James peace, love and justice. These virtues beneficial (for example: agriculture, Presbyter In-Charge: CSI Vellore Diocese health and educational sectors). Asian really develop a sense of inter-faith youth are constantly exposed to the friendship and this will help young Asians s o c i o - e c o n o m i c , p o l i t i c a l a n d to be faithful witnesses and thereby psychological effects of poverty and in holistic community can be framed. this context church need to advocate AEYA has helped us to engage with the wide range of experiences such as, all the participants were hosted by the local church members in their houses thereby this made us to understand their traditional family systems. We c o u l d a b l e t o w i t n e s s E a s t e r celebrations held at Maesa stadium, Tondano, North Sulawesi. We had the opportunity to engage on certain issues with Bishop Dr. Willem T.P.

26 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Dept. of Youth, CSI Synod Rohingya Refugee Crisis Becomes Negation of Humanity as well as Negation of God

As a part of CWM 2018: South Asian health care systems. People including help the victims. All supports, and help Regional Assembly on 21st to 26th May visible majority of Children and Youth are must be beyond of mere sympathy, rather, 2018 at Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh, struggling than anything. must be empathetical intervention and Church of South India had taken part in engagements with the crisis for the It is the right hour for the Church to raise an exposure Visit to the Rohingya sustainable development. Only through her prophetic voice against the crisis as Refugee Camp at Kutupalong in Cox’s the joint effort as well as political well as work together to awake the Bazaar of Bangladesh. It was an eye- interference, the Rohingya issue could able political consciousness to settle the issue opening as well as heart-breaking visit to be solved. in most healthy as well as sustainable way where the Team could able to identify the as early as possible. Meantime, it is the It is commendable as well as remarkable Rohingya Refugee Problem as bare moral responsibility of the church to share that Church of South India is doing violation of Human Rights as well as clear her available and possible resources to creative and constructive engagements negation of humanity as well as negation through the Department of Youth of God. More than 1.1 Million are with Rohingya Refugees who are struggling to live and fighting for camped in Chennai premises. basic needs including food and drink. Even though there are Rev. Maxcin John commendable attempts from Director, Dept. Mission & Bangladesh Government as well Evangelism, CSI Synod. as UN-UNICEF and other NGOs such as World Vision, people are really suffering out of the visible lack of proper shelter, sanitation, food and drink. They don’t have access to the education and

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J u n e 2 0 1 8 27 Dept. of Christian Education, CSI Synod Training Christian Educators for Child Friendly Churches

prepare Bible lessons in view of the contemporary challenges such as ‘culture of materialism’ and ‘culture of Hatred’. Such an approach helped the participants to relate the familiar Biblical passages to the various socio-cultural and political issues of our society. Ms. Vincy Venugopal and Ms. Nancy Susanna, two trained student counsellors led through a moving session on the need to understand children’s emotional and psychological needs in Sunday Schools. They trained the participants to understand basic principles of counselling and applying them appropriately in Sunday school education. Many participants A group of Christian educators and participants to focus on their basic expressed the urgency of learning Sunday School teachers from the methods of teaching that would result in counselling skills to meet out to the Karnataka Northern Diocese numbering a better learning environment. pressing issues faced by children. 43 attended a three-days’ training Rev. Dr. Rohan Gideon, Assistant Professor Rev. Dr. D. R. Sadananda, the General programme of the Synod department of of Theology, United Theological College, Secretary of CSI, gave an inspiring Christian Education at CSI Synod Centre, Bangalore, conducted a short workshop message in the closing session Chennai from 29th to 31st May 2018. This on reading and interpreting the Bible from highlighting the tremendous scope of was held as part of the project of children’s perspectives. This has instilling Christian values in children for TRAINING CHRISTIAN EDUCATORS FOR challenged the participants to recall and the growth of the church in the Indian CHILD-FRIENDLY CHURCHES sponsored relive their childhood aspirations when scenario. He challenged them to go back by EMS, Germany. they read and interpreted the Bible as to their respective congregations to Rev. Hanna Niranjan, a senior presbyter children. A thorough analysis of function as the ambassadors of Synod and Bishop Amma of Karnataka Northern prejudices behind the adult reading of Christian Education goals of capacity Diocese, inaugurated the programme the Bible exposed the need to do an building for teachers of Christian challenging to reach out to children with intentional reading of the Bible from the education and training children towards a commitment to establish God’s reign in viewpoints of children. The participants wholistic Christian education. this present world. She appreciated the prepared Bible lessons by re-reading the A word of thanks is due to Rt. Rev. participants’ voluntary initiative to instil select Bible passages from the lived Ravikumar J. Niranjan, the Bishop of Christian values in children and experiences of children. They demonstrated Karnataka Northern Diocese and to encouraged them to equip themselves through innovative methods of teaching re- Professor Immanuel S. Malekar, Honorary with advanced skills to continue the creating classrooms and transforming the Secretary of Karnataka Northern Diocese Christian education. Dr. Kamala Dhawale, whole approach to the Bible narratives. for coordinating the training programme Principal, CSI College of Commerce, led This session has enabled teachers to come along with the synod department of the first session on “Teaching Methods in out of their adult biases in reading and Christian Education. Sunday School” in which she explained interpreting the Bible and to focus on how adopting various teaching methods identifying children’s experiences in the Rev. Dr. Jayachitra Lalitha, enhances the learning experience of Bible passages and the contemporary Director, Dept. of Christian Education, c h i l d r e n i n t h e S u n d a y S c h o o l context of living. Rev. Solomon Paul, CSI Synod classrooms. It was a good start to the Director, Synod department of Youth programme as it set the tone for Concerns, trained the participants to

28 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Dept. of Pastoral Concerns, CSI Synod Clergy Family Summer Refresher Course - 2018

The Department of Pastoral Concerns in partnership with the Diocese of Coimbatore has conducted a refresher course called Clergy Family Summer Institute on 26-28 May 2018 at CSI College of Engineering, Ketti. About 40 clergy from all the Dioceses have attended this program along with their spouses and children. The reflections and deliberations were around the theme: 'Missional Congregations-Beyond the Borders'. The Inaugural Service was led by Rev. James Cecil Victor; Director- Pastoral Concerns, Rev. Charles Sam Raj; Hon. Secretary, Diocese of Coimbatore, Rev. Victor Perm Kumar; Administrative Secretary of CSI College of Engineering & Chairperson of Nilgiri Area, Rev. Ramesh; Diocesan Ecological Concerns Department, and the participants. In his stress. He pointed out 10 steps to program. I will serve the congregations inaugural address Rev. Victor said manage / reduce stress. The session on more committed” were some of the “uniting the families, reconstructing the health awareness was focussed on responses in the closing session. The relationships in the family and building human anatomy and the ways to Diocese of Coimbatore extended their peace in the family are pivotal for maintain good health for a healthy mind hospitality and gave compliments which transforming congregations in to and ministry. Rev. Cecil took a session on the participants have appreciated missional congregations'. Family's Role in effective pastoral care by immensely. The Department of Pastoral sighting the common challenges a concerns expressed gratitude to the Rev. Charles Sam Raj took a session on pastor's family face and suggested ways officers of the Synod, Bishop in Scope of Ministry in Today's Context. By forward. While Rev. Chellappa and Mrs. Coimbatore, officers of Coimbatore explicating various possibilities in Suhasini Cecil initiated the group Diocese, CSI College of Engineering for ministry, Rev. Charles expressed that the discussions on 'managing family and their kind cooperation to organise the real accomplishment in ministry is when ministry' and 'strengthening women's summer refresher course meaningfully. people's lives are transformed and ministries' respectively, Mrs. Latika empowered. Dr. Antony David, a Rev. K. James Cecil Victor, Gurung conducted sessions for children professor in Physiology and a trained Director, Department of Pastoral Concerns, and led the praise and worship along biblical counsellor led sessions on Stress CSI Synod with Ms. Sherly and Mr. Martin. The Management and Health Awareness. He refresher course concluded with the Holy dealt with physiological, psychological Communion Service and Feedback and spiritual signs and symptoms of session. “We as a family never got an opportunity to attend a program of this nature where we have learnt many insights to be more effective in ministry,” “All the topics were excellent, especially the stress management and strengthening women's ministries gave me new ideas to reduce stress and be involved in the ministry as a family,” “very relevant

J u n e 2 0 1 8 29 CSI SEVA RETHINKING ECCLESIA Being and Becoming Christ Communities: Towards a Borderless Church 4th Consultation – “Prophetic Diakonia Perspective”

CSI Synod organized a consultation on perspective, 2) Practice of ministry within affirming experiences shared by the rethinking ecclesia from ‘Prophetic the church and 3) Rethinking mission (in panellists challenged participants to see Diakonia Perspective’, attributed line with the mission task of Jesus, the Jesus mandate carried out by many towards a borderless church by being Nazareth manifesto). There were a total others in the community, including those and becoming Christ communities. This of 12 presentations on life-affirming who do not believe in religion. consultation was held in CSI Synod activities in the community facilitated by Respondents to the panellists were the Centre on the 15th and 16th May 2018. different community organizations, theologians and pastors, including The consultation was inaugurated by the peoples movements and networks. The Rt.Rev.Mohan Manoraj, Rev.Jacqulin Most Rev. Thomas K. Oommen, panellists include Dr. K. Krishnan, Jothi, Dr.Mohan Larbeer, Rev.Dr.Samuel Moderator, CSI., where 40 participants Foundation for Sustainable Development, Rajadurai, Rev. Dr. Isaac Kadirvelu and from different professions, including Ms. Geetha Ramakrishnan of Unorganized Rev.Milanton Rajareegam responded to Bishops, pastors, social concern Workers Federation, Dr. TMN. Deepak of the panellists and tried to capture the directors, people’s movement and December 3 Movement, Dr. Faizur Rahman learning and challenges. They interns from seminary and social work of Islamic Forum for the promotion of suggested ways and means to rethink colleges actively participated. moderate thought, Mr. Martin, Mr. Siva and ecclesia toward a borderless church. Dr. Ramki of Nirangal, Orinam and SAATHI, It was an exercise of introspection and The entire deliberation of the 2 days Ms.Loretta Johanna of International Justice rethinking Ecclesia, in the context of consultation suggested that to redraw Mission, Dr. Paul Divakar of National 500th anniversary of reformation and the border of the Ecclesia, making it Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, Ms. 70th anniversary of the Church of South liberative and inclusive, is possible only Kousalya Periyasami of Positive Women India. Keynote address was delivered by when the church comes outside and Network (PWN+), Dr. Richard Devadoss Rev. V. J. John who set the tone for the experiences salvation, as concluded by of Cornerstone Trust and Rev. Asir discussion by expounding 1) Ministry the General Secretary of CSI Synod. Ebenezer, Director, CSI – SEVA. These life- f r o m b i b l i c a l a n d t h e o l o g i c a l

Building Agenda for Socio-Political Consciousness One day programme on building Political consciousness to address the Marriage, Child Trafficking, Housing, and agenda for Socio-Political Consciousness issues of people in their day to day life. Bonded Labour. among peoples’ groups and movements was organized by Justice Empowerment The participants brainstormed on the The panel decided to conduct similar Diakonia Perspective (JEDP) of CSI-SEVA current situation, the socio-political and meetings in different places and orient in partnership with Urban Rural Mission economic scenario of the country. The the facilitators through a Training of of National Council of Churches in India emerging problems and burning issues Trainers program to ideologically (NCCI-URM) on 27 April 2018 at CSI including religious fundamentalism, strengthen the movement and prepare Centre, Chennai. caste exploitation, constituting water the people to reclaim their citizenship management board, political vengeance, rights both individually and collectively Thirty-five representatives of different NEET and ideological conflicts in with the agenda of creating peoples’ peoples’ groups, movements, organizations different parts of India were discussed. manifesto. and social activists from North Tamil Nadu They were challenged to respond the region participated in this programme. The participants to respond to these socio- Rev. Asir Ebenezer, Director, CSI SEVA, focus of the meeting was: political concerns by sensitizing people. Mr. Sekar Chief Executive of “An Idea” (NGO) and Executive committee Ÿ To unite people those who are During the group discussion, the m e m b e r o f N CC I - U R M a n d M r . working at the grass roots level participants listed out the following Yesupadam, Hon.Treasurer , NCCI-URM, issues which need to be addressed: facilitated the meeting. Mr. Isaac Ÿ Hear the voices of the marginalized Jebaseelan, Consultant - Research, and voiceless Basic Amenities, Water, Sanitation, Caste Training and Documentation, CSI-SEVA, Discrimination, Equal Education, Ÿ To know each other’s work in and Mr. Solomon Raja of JEDP, CSI- SEVA, Deforestation, Migration due to Employment, facilitated the group work. different context Grabbing of Land by Multi-Nationals, Caste Ÿ And to build agenda for Socio- based Violence, Poverty, Gender JEDP Team Discrimination, Child Labor and Child CSI -SEVA

30 J u n e 2 0 1 8 CSI SEVA Have Budgets, Financial Planning & Allocation Got Anything To Do With Gender Equity?

Budgets are one of the most influential tools for organizations imparted to finance staff in the field? because without funds, policies or programmes cannot be Has budget planning at all levels made efforts to constantly implemented. Budgets influence the realisation of overall identify categories of vulnerable women? objectives and they reflect the strategic priorities of the Has an analysis been carried out to asses if all budgets for organization. However budgets tend to be viewed just as a set trainings by organisations/ programs/ projects are gender- of numbers or an annual projection of receipts & payments. sensitive in terms of logistics, time, location, creche facilities, first Budgets can also be an effective instrument for social justice. aid kid and sanitary needs of women. Why Gender-sensitive Financial Planning? Have strategies to adjust and reprioritise the budget to meet Budgets can be an important tool to achieve gender equity, needs of women and gender concerns been made? because social and faith based organisations like ourselves have a Are there provisions to analyse expenditure based on gender mandate towards social commitment and therefore to categories and reprovision if there is a discrepancy? [This does reprioritise expenditures and revenues, taking into account the not mean spending equal amount on men and women but to different needs and priorities of women and men. check if the spending is adequate to address the needs women One needs to look beyond the budget sheets – ensuring and men] budgetary allocations address the different needs of women & Provisioning in the Budget Document: men and assess their impact on gender equity. Provide adequate provisions to meet the directions of the This does not mean creating separate budgets for women, nor organisation's gender policy. For example in terms of child-care does it mean boosting spending on women's programmes alone facilities, paternity and maternity leaves (and alternate but helps to understand how to adjust our priorities and arrangements thereto). reallocate resources to live up to commitments of achieving Provide for advocacy initiatives towards increasing women's gender equity. access, control and ownership of resources. Gender sensitive budget guidelines will improve effectiveness Budget for sensitising men and mobilizing their support towards and efficiency of any organisation's overall budget. gender balance. Preparation Stage: Budget for staff capacity building on gender issues. Are women consulted in the preparation of a budget with regard Allocate resources to allow departments/ teams/ local units to to addressing their needs? address the needs of both men and women Has a survey been carried out to understand how women and Allocate adequate resources to provide secure transport facilities men benefit in differing ways from policies and budgetary for late hours, and security measures along with facilities for allocation? women staff travelling in the field. Have policy makers been given input (based on the above survey) Provide for items that cater to and pay for flexible work hours, on differing priorities between men and women in terms of work-from-home options and other work related concessions expenditure? and relaxations for women staff depending on situations and Have reviews been carried out to assess functioning of structures, requirements. problems related to gender imbalances among staff and work Provision to ensure equal opportunities among men and women environment and steps taken to address these? staff for personal growth, in promotion benefits, training and Have steps been taken to address any imbalance in resource working conditions.Provision for necessary financial support allocation? and guidance to vulnerable women identified during budget Are there mechanisms to create transparency and accountability planning. to check actual spending in terms of gender? Ensure all educational institutions evolve gender sensitive Has a gender audit been carried out to assess how “actuals” Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disbursal of represented in a budget have addressed the needs of women and scholarships and any other items of expenditure. men separately and jointly Provision to develop family friendly infrastructure for childcare Has strategic orientation on gender responsive budgeting been facilities in offices/church premises in order to ensure that

J u n e 2 0 1 8 31 parents can bring their children to work/ church offices if Explain adequately to both women and men the ways to access necessary. provisions. Extend budget provisions to dioceses/ subsidiary units in Explain the built-in gender friendly modes of accessing financial organizing training programs, conducting gender studies, provisions and entitlements to all staff including mechanisms in preparing resource material, providing documentation support place for women to escalate the issue if they are unable to etc. access any financial entitlement or provision due to them. Extend resources to support diocesan projects/ campaigns Create awareness and sensitivity by processing information and and/or local units in developing their own gender policies, publishing Information, Education & Communication (IEC) strategies and programs. materials that are clear and prominently displayed or regularly Budget provision to strengthen linkages with other agencies/ disseminated. associations/ networks/ consortiums to work on various women Share Gender reports with CSI Donor agencies / network issues. members and overseas partners and also facilitate similar Resource support and express solidarity with dioceses/ projects/ processes within the dioceses, institutions and/or sub-units to institutions at field level in taking up issues of discrimination or promote gender sensitivity. harassment against women. Analyse gender based roles and work patterns and Avoid Provision for recruiting adequate women staff to ensure balance allotting work based on gender rather than on skill. [For example, also at senior levels with an objective of achieving a numerical as work related to food preparation, serving, garlanding, care- well as qualitative gender balance in all posts at all levels. giving etc alone being assigned to women as against men] Practice (execution/implementation): Practice equal wages for equal work for both men and women Make transparently available and explain in easily understandable Resource sharing to take place only with organisations, agencies terms the budgetary provisions and entitlements available to all and local units which subscribe expressly to gender equity and staff – both women and men. gender justice. Dept. of Christian Education, CSI Synod Christian Education Pedagogies for Missional Congregations The synod department of Christian thorough analysis of prejudices behind learning counselling skills to meet out to Education welcomed 60 Christian the adult reading of the Bible exposed the pressing issues faced by children. educators and Sunday school teachers the need to do an intentional reading of Rev. Dr. Jayachitra L, the director of the from Dornakal diocese for a three-days’ the Bible from the viewpoints of children. department of Christian Education, and training programme at CSI Synod Centre, The participants prepared Bible lessons Ms. Suhasini Cecil elaborated on the Chennai from 21st to 23rd May, 2018. by re-reading the select Bible passages various kinds of violations of child rights The synod department of Christian from the lived experiences of children. in the society and church and trained the Education organized this training They demonstrated through innovative participants to strive towards ensuring programme, named “Christian Education methods of teaching re-creating safe learning environment in churches. Pedagogies for Missional Congregations” classrooms and transforming the whole Rev. Dr. D. R. Sadananda, the General sponsored by CWM, Singapore. approach to the Bible narratives. This Secretary of CSI gave an inspiring message session has enabled teachers to come The training programme started with in the closing session highlighting the out of their adult biases in reading and Rev. James Cecil Victor, director, synod tremendous scope of instilling Christian interpreting the Bible and to focus on department of Pastoral Concerns, values in children for the growth of the identifying children’s experiences in the narrating the basic principles of Christian church in the Indian scenario. He Bible passages and the contemporary education pedagogies that are relevant challenged them to go back to their context of living. to promote missional congregations and respective congregations to function as Sunday schools. Rev. Dr. Rohan Gideon, Mr. Syraskumar, a Counselling trainer the ambassadors of Synod Christian Assistant Professor of Theology, United lead through a moving session on the Education goals of capacity building for Theological College, Bangalore, need to understand children’s emotional teachers of Christian education and conducted a short workshop on reading and psychological needs in Sunday training children towards wholistic and interpreting the Bible from children’s Schools. They trained the participants to Christian education. perspectives. This has challenged the understand basic principles of counselling Rev. Dr. Jayachitra Lalitha, participants to recall and relive their and applying them appropriately in Director, Dept. of Christian Education, childhood aspirations when they read Sunday school education. Many CSI Synod and interpreted the Bible as children. A participants expressed the urgency of

32 J u n e 2 0 1 8 CSI SEVA Learning, Enriching and being Enriched – CSI SEVA and its Interns

The hottest months of April and May in Chennai saw a steady stream of interns in CSI SEVA. They came from different regions, academic streams and backgrounds, and they both learnt and enriched the work of CSI SEVA. Interns from Theological Education: Understanding the differences and similarities in the ways of worship and liturgical traditions in various Christian denominations and how these enrich one's ministerial formation formed the crux of the visits by five interns to different denominations to observe, understand and learn. They visited Jacobite Syrian Orthodox church, Marthoma Church and Apostolic church of the Pentecostal Mission. The challenges of persons with disabilities, the theological questions that the issue of disability poses and the Socio-political consciousness that popularised so that rural, Dalit and need to review how theological informs our political participation is our Adivasi women who made them are able education deals with disability studies responsibility and needs to be to benefit from the marketing. formed the focus of learning by interns as undertaken from the perspective of they participated in the “Colloquium on Understanding the challenges and being citizens of India who happen to be Disability Discourse in Theological coping mechanisms of migrant workers of Christian faith. This is the awareness Education”. This colloquium was a joint became the focus of their study when the interns imbibed when they participated program of CSI SEVA's DISHA program interns met with migrant workers in parts in a meeting of NGOs, social activists and along with the Senate of Serampore of Chennai and interacted with them. concerned citizens of North Tamil Nadu University (SSU). As the interns put it: They reported back that although these region who came together to brainstorm migrant workers formed the fabric of “ W e u n l e a r n t o u r t r a d i t i o n a l about emerging issues and the need to their everyday lives, they had not noticed understanding about how disability is set the agenda to inform their political them until now when they were asked to viewed and understood that disability is participation in the coming years. This undertake such a survey as part of this part of diversity. We learnt how to meeting was organised by SEVA staff Mr. internship, and this has opened up their interact with persons with disabilities and Daniel Solomon Raja, JEDP Resource eyes to be more conscious of such how to read the bible from the Anchor for North TN region. different kinds of people in our midst. perspective of persons with disabilities. After an orientation on Planning, The interns were also tasked with This has widened our view of how Monitoring & Evaluation (PME) tools, the understanding and selling the LIC micro- theologies need to be articulated from interns were introduced to the brand and insurance policy for the poor which is the perspectives of those in the margins line of products of CSI SEVA's “Women disbursed through SEVA and came to and that their inclusion is not part of DARE” (Dalit Adivasi and Rural understand the challenges of affordable charity but their right and our Entrepreneurs) by SEVA Programme social security for the poor in India and in responsibility”. Executives Mr. Paul Christopher and Mrs. keeping them within this safety net even The interns actively participated in the Aruna Stephen. They then undertook after they were helped to purchase such colloquium and organised the worship sales of these products to understand the policies. on one of the days of the Colloquium as difficulties of selling as well as to analyse Through their interaction with the well. ways in which these products can be Gender Equity Enabling Timetable (GEET)

J u n e 2 0 1 8 33 programme executive Ms. Glory Thomas each day's newspapers under various CSI SEVA. The three-day camp was and other women in SEVA, the interns themes. They then had a session of organised for both women and men to gained insights on gender issues and the analysis of some of the issues and learnt identify new potential players and teach importance of working in partnership as how to use various tools of analysis to them basic skill and new techniques in women and men, and later shared: “I understand the underlying causes of wheelchair basketball and was attended belong to a traditional church where we human rights violations in our context. by 29 participants. Braving the high do not give any importance to women. temperatures, the four interns along with Oriented to the 6 resource hubs of the But here many women are working SEVA Program executive Merlin Jochebeth JEDP and their focal themes, the interns together with men – which is a learning enthusiastically assisted the participants in doing Masters in Social Work from St. for me.” every way from transportation of wheel Joseph's College, Bangalore, collated chairs to assistance during the camp – all One of the interns summed up his online resources on these themes to of which was duly praised by Dr. Aiswarya experience as an intern in SEVA saying assist the JEDP Resource hubs of CSI Rao of Dorcas Shelter for WwD when she t h a t S E VA h a d t a u g h t h i m t o : SEVA. The six themes are: 1. Food, said “SEVA interns were amazing. We “Acknowledge the unacknowledged; hunger, land & Life-giving agriculture; 2. couldn't have done without them!” Interact with the un-interacted and L a b o u r , u n e m p l o y m e n t , H u m a n Accompany the unaccompanied!” Resources 3. Peace & Communcal The interns got a taste of the wide range harmony 4. Political Consciousness and of SEVA's work in the five Southern states The five interns from Gurukul Lutheran Human Rights 5. Ecology & Climate when they assisted Program Executive theological College & Research Institute Justice 6. Migration. The students Praveen Daniel in sorting and typing w e r e : M r . J o s h u a V . J , M r . R . received an orientation to Planning, various project proposals which were the Sadhanantham, Mr. Dinakar K., Mr. Krupa Monitoring & Evaluation (PME) tools by outcome of the project planning and Nageswar Rao and Mr. Raja. Mr. Isaac Jebaseelan, Consultant for application workshop with project Interns from Human Rights and Social Research & Documentation, CSI SEVA. officers of CSI SEVA from all the five Work: Collating the different types of states. To understand that persons with human rights violations rampant today, disability also pursue active sports was a The interns along with an intern from analysing these from a human rights revelation of sorts for the girls who Madras University department of framework is an important perspective in as s is ted the S um m er Cam p for Christian Studies, participated in the CSI SEVA – To hone their skills in this wheelchair Basket Ball organised by the consultation on “Rethinking Ecclesia” regard, students of MA Human Rights Dorcas Shelter for Women with from the perspective of Prophetic from the Ethiraj College for Women, Disabilities (WwD) under the aegis of D i a k o n i a . T h i s w a s t h e f o u r t h Chennai, were asked to document the Tamil Nadu Wheelchair Basket ball consultation in a series of consultations incidents of human rights violation in Association and partially supported by on “Borderless Church” – an effort at introspection by the CSI regarding its life, witness and work in the 70th year of its existence. In this consultation jointly organised by SEVA and CSI Synod Youth department, they were introduced to a variety of work by social action groups involved in life affirming work related to the urban poor, issues of Adivasis, disability rights, human rights and challenges of trans people and those with other sexual orientations. This gave them a glimpse of the kind of “ecclesia” that CSI is also working towards being and becoming. Understanding the stigma around manual scavenging and the challenges in making those involved in this occupation speak up was the next challenge the

34 J u n e 2 0 1 8 like Thozhan and Thozhi. They also had an exposure to the work of Dorcas Shelter for Women with Disabilities. The Madras University interns and the Gurukul interns visited a Baptist church along the banks of the river Cooum to see firsthand the public witness of a Baptist church in Chetpet, Chennai, where the church has managed to stall the eviction of people who were to be displaced because of an overhead transport corridor that had been planned. The MA Christian Studies interns from Madras interns took up along with SEVA staff Ms. peers as well so that this resource in CSI University were: Mr. Sudarsan and Ms. E. Merlin and Mr. Cruz Nesakumar. They Library will be used widely. Glory Arul Mani. engaged in a survey at Puthunagar in The MA Human Rights interns from Rev. Asir Ebenezer, Director CSI -SEVA, Mr. Arakonam, regarding issues and Ethiraj College, Chennai were: Ms. Asha Prem Madhukar (Coordinator, Projects), challenges of people involved in manual and Ms. Shiny and the Masters in Social Ms. Jessica Richard (Coordinator, scavenging. Work interns from St. Joseph's college, Campaigns & Advocacy) and Mr. Isaac Realizing the importance of proper Bangalore, were Ms. Esther and Ms. Jebaseelan (Consultant, Research & documentation skills, the interns were Sanjana Documentation) coordinated the various tasked with assisting in the categorization groups of interns throughout the months Interns from Christian Studies: Apart and sorting of the feminist theology from April to June 2018. from participating in the Prophetic collection of books that CSI Center Diakonia consultation, the interns from SEVA has also hosted interns from Tamil recently acquired from Asian Women's Department of Christian Studies, Madras Nadu Theological Seminary, United Resource Centre for Culture & Theology University, also involved in survey of Theological College, and Madras School (AWRC). This introduced them to the some project areas of the CSI and for Social work over the past year. CSI wealth of written resources available in assisted in need assessment in these SEVA acknowledges all the interns who various topics related to gender, areas. They also carried out a survey willingly and productively participated in women's studies, feminist theology and among people involved in manual and enriched the work of SEVA and all the social activism across Asia. It is hoped scavenging in the area around the SEVA staff who shared their knowledge they will in turn be able to use this Stanley hospital, Chennai. To understand and expertise with the interns. reference library for their own future the work among Transpeople, they research and popularise it among their - Team SEVA visited NGOs that work on trans issues

J u n e 2 0 1 8 35 Dept. of Communications, CSI Synod CSI General Secretary and WF President Attend WCRC Executive Committee in South Korea

WCRC, in her first address to the new Executive Committee of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, said, “We are grateful for God who brought us here in Seoul at this time where all efforts toward peace have started to bear fruits.” Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson, the General Secretary, presented his report to the Executive Committee, “giving thanks to Rev. Dr. Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda, Focusing on growing together in the Living God for the rich and deep the General Secretary of the Church of communion, the Executive Committee witness and work of our member South India (CSI) Synod, and Dr. Susan meetings had deliberations on the churches, our officers group, our staff Thomas, the President of the CSI Synod following aspects: and our many networks and working Women’s Fellowship, attended the groups who have sought in the past year Ÿ Strengthening and empowering the Executive Committee meeting of the to live out our identity as a global work of the regions World Communion of Reformed koinonia, called to communion and Churches (WCRC), which has been taking Ÿ Communicating through new media committed to justice. place at the Korean Presbyterian Church to more people more regularly Centennial Hall in South Korea from 10th This is the first meeting of the new Ÿ Reporting to the Executive Committee to 16th of May 2018. Rev. Dr. Sadananda Executive Committee, elected during last throughout the year presented the vision statement of the summer’s General Council in Leipzig, WCRC and Dr. Susan Thomas is on the Germany. Besides conducting their Ÿ Promoting the WCRC to the world drafting committee. Dr. Susan Thomas business, the Executive Committee will Ÿ Strengthening relations with key extended the greetings of the CSI and deepen the WCRC’s involvement in the partners WCRC to the Korean churches in a Korean peace process by holding a worship service at Young Aham Church. prayer vigil in the Demilitarized Zone CSI Synod Communications with inputs (DMZ), worshiping in local churches and from WCRC Communication Department. Rev. Dr. Najla Kassab, the President of the hearing from Korean church leaders. Dept. of Mission & Evangelism, CSI Synod MISSION-SEVA Exposure Visit to Adivasi-Tribal Settlement in East Kerala Diocese As part of exploration and exposure leaning and Mr. Cruz Nezakumar, Rev. Maxcin John, considerable support into sustainability of various talents and capacities of Adivasi- and Rev. George Joseph (Mission and self-reliance. Tribal People, an exposure visit had been Coordinator, EKD) have participated. The Department is grateful to Rev. Asir organized on 18th May 2018 in selected The team met people into Bamboo crafts, Ebenezer (Director, SEVA) Rt. Rev. Dr. K. G. Adivasi-Tribal Settlements in East Kerala as well as with good knowledge of herbal Daniel (Bishop, EKD), and Rev. V. S. Francis Diocese, i.e. Mettinampara, Elamplassery, and traditional medicines. They got (Mission Director, EKD) for the support. . Kurathikudi and Fifteenth Mile. opportunity to meet who are talented in Department of Mission and Evangelism has We do strongly believe this exposure visit arts and sports. These people earnestly accompanied SEVA Department, CSI Synod will produce sustainable results in the aspire to have projects to improve their for the exposure visit which was initiated and days to come! possibilities as well as potentialities. supported by CSI SEVA Department in Much hopefully, they do strongly believe Rev. Maxcin John, connection to the Women- DARE Project. that they could able to develop by Director, Dept. Mission & Evangelism, Mr. Prem Madhukar, Mr. Issac Jabaseelan themselves with the value based CSI Synod.

36 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Dept. of Communications, CSI Synod Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Chandrasekaran is the New Bishop of the Trichy-Tanjore Diocese of the CSI

Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Chandrasekaran has been representatives from theological the Church of God, in the name of Father consecrated as the new bishop of the colleges, members of the neighbouring and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Trichy-Tanjore Diocese of the Church of dioceses, and leaders and members of congregation responded with a loud South India. He is the sixth Bishop of the other denominations witnessed the ‘Amen’ and sang the doxology. Diocese. consecration service. Then the newly consecrated Bishop was The consecration service was led by Most During the installation, Rev. Dr. D. led to his Episcopal chair. The lay officers Rev. Thomas K. Oommen, the Moderator Rathnakara Sadananda, General of the Diocese, representatives of the of the Church of South India, on 28th of Secretary of the CSI, read the instrument laity and representatives of the Deacons May 2018 at St. Luke’s Church, Bishop o f e l e c t i o n a n d s e l e c t i o n . T h e and Presbyters and women workers Heber College in Trichy. Rt. Rev. Dr. congregation gave its assent. The promised all due obedience to the new Vadapalli Prasada Rao; the Deputy Moderator then led the consecration and Bishop. Moderator, Rev. Dr. Daniel Rathnakara installation of the Bishop-elect. There Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Chandrasekaran has been Sadananda; the General Secretary, Rt. was a solemn examination of the Bishop- elevated to this high office after a long Rev. Prasana Samuel (Bishop, CSI elect, followed by the congregational and effective ministry in the diocese in Karnataka Central Diocese), Rt. Rev. S. E. hymn inviting the presence of the Holy various capacities. Bishop is sixty-one C . D e v a s a h a y a m ( B i s h o p , C S I Spirit. The Moderator and the officiating years old; married to Mrs. K. Rosalind and Thoothukudi- Nazareth Diocese) Rt. Rev. Bishops laid their hands on the head of blessed with two sons: Mr. Theophilus – M. Joseph (Bishop, CSI Madurai- the Bishop-elect and prayed that God working as Software Engineer in Brussels, Ramnadu Diocese), The Rt. Rev. Dr. J. J. ordains and consecrates him Bishop in Belgium and Mr. Benjamin Amalan – Christdoss (Bishop, CSI Tirunelveli God’s Church. The Moderator then working as an officer in YES Bank, Diocese) Rt. Rev. Jayaraj George Stephen presented the newly consecrated Bishop Chennai. Bishop started his ministry as (Bishop, Madras Diocese), and Rt. Rev. with the Bible and the Pastoral Staff, the the pioneering missionary in Pachamalai James Srinivasan (Rtd.) assisted the symbol of the good shepherd, while the Tribal Mission, Salem District. He has his Moderator in the Communion service. Bishop was adorned with the Saffron doctorate from the Tamil University, Bishop M. Joseph gave the consecration Stole. The Deputy Moderator placed the Tanjore. sermon. Adv. Robert Bruce, the Hon. Episcopal Ring on his finger, a token of Treasurer of the Church of South India pledge and fidelity. The Bishops then May God bless him to lead this great and the Diocesan leaders also gave the welcomed the new Bishop to the council diocese of the Church of South India with leadership in the consecration service. of the Bishops by giving the right hand of zeal and enthusiasm. People from various walks of life, the fellowship. The Moderator then declared missionaries, heads of institutions, Rt. Rev. Dr. D. Chandrasekaran Bishop in

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J u n e 2 0 1 8 37 Dept. of Communications, CSI Synod Rt. Rev. George Cornelious T. is the new bishop of the Krishna Godavari Diocese of the Church of South India

Rt. Rev. George Cornelious T. has been representatives from theological Rt. Rev. George Cornelious T. as the consecrated as the new bishop of the colleges, members of the neighbouring Bishop in the Church of God, in the name Krishna- Godavari Diocese of the Church dioceses, and leaders and members of of Father and of the Son and of the Holy of South India. He is the seventh Bishop other denominations witnessed the Spirit. The congregation responded with of the Diocese. consecration service. a loud ‘Amen’ and sang the doxology. The consecration service was led by Most During the installation, Rev. Dr D. Then the newly consecrated Bishop was Rev. Thomas K. Oommen, the Moderator Rathnakara Sadananda, General led to his Episcopal chair. The lay officers of the Church of South India, on 29th of Secretary of the CSI, read the instrument of the Diocese, representatives of the May 2018 at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, o f e l e c t i o n a n d s e l e c t i o n . T h e laity and representatives of the Deacons Machilipatnam. Rt. Rev. Dr. Vadapalli congregation gave its assent. The and Presbyters and women workers Prasada Rao, the Deputy Moderator, Rev. Moderator then led the consecration and promised all due obedience to the new Dr. Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda, the installation of the Bishop-elect. There Bishop. General Secretary, Rt. Rev. A. C. Solomon was a solemn examination of the Bishop- Rt. Rev. George Cornelious has been (Bishop, CSI Medak Diocese), Rt. Rev. elect, followed by the congregational elevated to this high office after a long Mohan Manoraj (Bishop, CSI Karnataka hymn inviting the presence of the Holy and effective ministry in the diocese in Southern Diocese) Rt. Rev. Pushpalalitha Spirit. The Moderator and the officiating various capacities. Bishop is fifty-seven (Bishop, CSI Dornakal Diocese) Rt. Rev. Bishops laid their hands on the head of years old; married to Mrs. Joshuva Dr. Reuben Mark (Bishop, CSI Karimnagar the Bishop-elect and prayed that God Kumari Dasari and blessed with one son; Diocese), Rt. Rev. Dr. Oommen George, ordains and consecrates him Bishop in Dinesh Cornelious – studying Bachelor of and Rt. Rev. Dr. Dyvasirvadam (former God’s Church. The Moderator then Divinity at ACTC, Hyderabad, and a Moderator and the former bishop in presented the newly consecrated Bishop daughter; Monica Cornelious, working in Krishna- Godavari) assisted the with the Bible and the Pastoral Staff, the Infotech, Hyderabad. Bishop started his Moderator in the Communion service. symbol of the good shepherd, while the ministry as the Bishop’s Secretary and The Deputy Moderator delivered the Bishop was adorned with the Saffron served in various parishes. He was the consecration sermon. Adv. Robert Bruce, Stole. The Deputy Moderator placed the Director of the Christian Education and the Hon. Treasurer of the Church of South Episcopal Ring on his finger, a token of the Youth Department of the Diocese. India, the Diocesan leaders also gave the pledge and fidelity. The Bishops then leadership in the consecration service. welcomed the new Bishop to the council May God bless him to lead this great People from various walks of life, the of the Bishops by giving the right hand of diocese of the Church of South India with missionaries, heads of institutions, fellowship. The Moderator then declared zeal and enthusiasm.

38 J u n e 2 0 1 8 Youth DARE to DREAM Volunteering Program at Rohingya Refugee Settlement at Chennai

Awareness session on Community Health and Women's Health for the Women of the Rohingya Refugee Camp in Kelambakam

39 First week of every month

RETHINKING ECCLESIA Being and becoming Christ communities: towards a borderless church 4th consultation – ”Prophetic Diakonia Perspective”

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