PRIORITIES OF THE TH NCCI — YOUTH CONCERN Encouraging young people to be part of the National U Turn Ecumenical Movement. Networking with the Local Commission on YOuth - National Council of Churches in INdia and International Ecumeni- VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2016 cal partners for sponsorship and partnership. Connecting the member churches and the local youth movements with the Commission on Youth Albert Camus, a French phi- peace sons [sic] bury fathers, there, it is ours; but we must through organizing pro- losopher, author and journal- but in war fathers bury sons.” take hold of it. It is interesting grammes both at regional ist once said that “Peace is It takes a person to wonder that He says "I give you and national levels. the only battle worth waging.” how the world has really peace," then He says, "Do not The world seems to have come to understand the fact let your heart be troubled." Strengthening direct part- waging an unending war that the peace is our rightful The peace He gives has to be nerships with youth fellow- physically, in pursuit of peace inheritance. It is fundamental received and applied in our ships of the member yet unaccomplished. The and ultimate that cannot be lives. If we lay hold of the churches and Commission infamous colonial ideology of taken away from us by any promise of the very peace of „Pax Romana‟ (c. 27 B.C.E. to circumstances. Nevertheless, Christ, we will have calm, on Youth and encouraging 180 C.E.) that enforces peace how does the world give untroubled hearts, regardless them to create ecumenical through subjugation and con- peace? Does the struggle for of external circumstances. platforms for young people quest in favour of Roman world peace inclusive? This is Pax Christi, a peace of Christ to Promote grassroot ecu- Empire continues to hang what Jesus means by it and that is just and inclusive to all menism. back somewhere in the saga said “I do not give to you as human kind and the whole of world peace buildings. the world gives.” creation. Identifying Young people to A peace without liberty, free- There is a need to allow our May the peace of Christ, the engage them in a process of dom and independence slow- hearts and minds to seek and Prince of Peace, which he has articulating their faith and ly seeps in to become the to be engulfed in the peace given to inherit be upon us understanding about God. epitome of world peace. The that Jesus gives in the midst all. Amen biased and instability of of troubles and turmoil. Jesus Jianthaolung Gonmei, Execu- peace given by the world in shows us the proper re- tive Secretary – Commission fact let more people sacri- sponse to his promise of on Youth, NCCI ficed, especially the young peace, "Do not let your heart INSIDE THIS lives at its prime time. As be troubled, nor let it be fear- ISSUE: Greek historian Herodotus of ful". We ought to be able to Halicarnassus rightly said “In lay hold of this peace. It is Workshop on ‘Youth 2 for Peace; Workshop on ‘Faith 3 and Human Sexuality” First of all I give all glory and honor to our living The next day we went to a centre Called God for his guidance in our field trip, at the outset “Kritadnyata Ecumenical Leader- 4 I would like to thank Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad the V i d y a r t h i ship Formation General Secretary of NCCI for giving us the oppor- Griha” which Poem ‘Youth for 4 tunity for this trip and also I would like to thank all is centre Peace’ the Executive Secretaries of NCCI for allowing us cum shelter the interns to go for this trip. We, five interns of s p e c i a l l y NCCI reached bootibori on 26th August at 4:30 meant for pm, we met Mr. Rajesh Jadhav of VCLC who those stu- briefed us about the activities which we are going dents whose to do. After the briefing we were taken to a place parent are not economically well established. We called „Tembari‟ where we spend our night in one spend our day by interacting with students and of the laborer house named Mrs. Kamla bai who the care taker of the centre Mrs. Usha. works in plywood factory as a daily wage labor In the afternoon we had the opportunity to interact getting wage of Rs. 150 for eight hours in a day. Cont. pg.. 2 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 P A G E 2 Dr. Bankar who is the director and founder of this centre. In the material sus- the evening we went to a village called ‗Saat Gaon‘ where we tenance of spend our night in one of the laborer house named Mrs. ‗Money‘ which Sushila Bai who works in a farm as a daily wage labor earn- has deeply root- ing Rs. 170 for eight hours in a day. The next day 28th August ed within the life we left to see the Dam where around 7 villages were dis- of many laborers placed and around 8 villages were submerged under the wa- which has also ter due to the construction of the dam and in the afternoon made many la- we returned safely back to NCCI campus. borers to fall into the pit of poverty The whole mo- and depravity. Beside this, there seems to be a huge gap of tive of this trip recognition and upliftment between the male and female la- for the interns bor groups, a male labor earns Rs. 300 in a day for eight was to grasp the hours were as a women labor earns only Rs. 150 in a day for opportunity and eight hours which clearly shows the deep contrast between fit into the the understanding of development within the labors. Grass- streams of the root mission paradigm which talks about Education on hu- lives of the la- man sustenance via gender equality and life maintenance via bors, however in leadership, socio lifestyle education and economy and eco- this exposure logical concerns is in the need of the hour which may create trip although an impact for the laborers to live their life in such a way with the given opportunity it was not possible to wholly know where they can take care of themselves and stand together and fit into the lives of the laborers but nonetheless it was for their basic rights and demands with gender equality. indeed an eye opener to see the status quo of how people strive to live their daily life in midst of poverty and intricacy. V. Shitovi Sema The economic status quo be it in social, religion, political and Intern Youth Commission economy the laborer seems to project that the only source 29th Aug, 2016. from which the labor society can be uplifted is only through A one-day workshop on Relevant (Diaconal) Mission for gurated the Workshop. Mr. :Kasta Dip, Director, India Peace Youth under the theme ―Youth for Peace‖ was held on 23rdJu- Centre, shared the greetings with a call to the youth to be the ly 2016, at Church of South India(CSI)Parish Hall, Aruppukot- ambassadors of peace in addressing the issues that ruin tai, Virudhunagar District, Tamilnadu. National Council of peace in our societies. Churches in India (NCCI) - Commission on Unity, Mission and Evangelism and Commission on Youth, Conflict Trans- Mr. Jianthaolung formation and Peace Building Program of United Evangelical Gonmei, Executive theran Churches in India (UELCI), Christian Service Agency Secretary, Commis- (CSA) and Congregation Accompanied Reformed Diaconia In sion on Youth,led Action (CARDIA) and Dept. of Communication of CSI Dio- the devotion on cese of Madurai and Ramnad jointly organized this workshop. ―Blessed are the Peace Mak- There were over 175 boys and girls from 10 grassroots con- ers‖ (Matthew 5:9). gregations who participated. Rev. Vinolin Caleap, Director, He emphasized Christian Education Department of the CSI-DMR welcomed three points: Peace- the gathering. Breakers, Peace Fakers, Peace Makers. He further chal- lenged the youth to be effective instruments of Peace in the Cont. pg.. 4 Rev. Jothinayagam, the Chairman of the Local Council inau- society. Cont. pg.. 3 U TH TURN: CONNECT CREAT E CHANGE, AUGUST - SEP TEMBER 2016 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2 P A G E 3 Rev. R. Christopher Rajkumar, Executive Secretary, Commis- to know our role and function. If we fail, the entire life of our sion on Justice, Peace and Creation, led a workshop on church would be a failure. This session challenged and en- ‗Contextual Scanning through various cross-learning activities. couraged the youth to stand for justice and peace with love in This session action. facilitated the participants to Reported by: have a better Conflict Transformation and Peace Building Programme of the understanding of United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, their neighbor- Commission on Justice, Peace and Creation and hoods and what Commission on Youth of the National Council of Churches in the injustices are India, that ruin peaceful and harmonious Christian Service Agency and living of communities. Further he challenged the participants CSI Diocese of Madurai – Ramnad by saying the ‗youth are the heart‘ of the church, so we need (Brief Report) pants also realized that though HOMOPHOBIA IS TRANS- LATED IN BIBLE, yet the BIBLE IS NOT HOMOPHOBIC! There was fifty participants from The participants also read and analyzed biblical texts that are 15 Theological often used against homosexuality, e.g. Genesis 19, Ezekiel Seminaries and 5 16:49, Leviticus 18 and 20, Romans 1:26-27 1 Corinthians 6 Churches and and 1Timothy 1:10.