Indian Churches launch national ecumenical federation

BENGALURU, Karnataka (Indian Catholic News) — Catholic bishops and leaders of several Christian denominations have launched the National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI), describing it as a new national ecumenical body intended to present a united Christian voice and address challenges facing Churches across the country.

The federation was formally launched during the Fourth National Ecumenical Bishops’ Fellowship Meeting held May 8 at St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bengaluru, according to a press release issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India’s Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism.

The NFCI was established “to be a national ecumenical body of Churches, an umbrella organisation and apex body of Christ’s disciples in India,” the release said. It added that the body “will represent the Churches by presenting a united face of Christianity and serving as the single voice of the Christian Community to the Nation.”

Church leaders said the creation of the federation came amid growing concern over “violent attacks on pastors and faithful, stringent anti-conversion laws in some States, and the attempts to takeover Church properties through the amendments of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and the proposed Christian Welfare / Property Board.”

The release said the “urgent need for a united front to face such issues was strongly felt” and that “the immediate launching of the National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI) become inevitable.”

Concerns over challenges facing Christians

Organisers said discussions on the federation had been underway for two years before Church leaders formally approved its guidelines during the Bengaluru meeting.

The NFCI also seeks to fill what organisers described as a gap in India’s ecumenical structures.

“Though there are a few national level forums and councils of Churches, none of them is comprehensive inclusive of all the Churches,” the statement said. “Besides, there is no all India platform exclusively for the Bishops and Heads of Churches, which need the NFCI fulfills.”

About 45 participants attended the gathering, including archbishops, bishops, Church heads and delegates from various Christian denominations.

The meeting began with an ecumenical prayer service for Christian unity using resources jointly prepared by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches.

Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, delivered the welcome address and “highlighted the pressing concerns of the Christian Community and insisted upon the unity of the Churches to address them effectively,” the release said.

Leadership elected for new body

Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai, Chairman of the CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism, delivered the inaugural address, quoting “various eminent ecumenists and scholars on the need to reach out and unite with others to attain better understanding of truth and to achieve a task.”

An ecumenical dialogue session was moderated by Archbishop Joseph D’Souza, President of the Good Shepherd Church in India and the All India Christian Council.

Following approval of the federation’s guidelines, Church leaders elected the NFCI leadership.

Cardinal Poola was chosen as Chairman of NFCI. Archbishop D’Souza, Bishop Kallarangatt, and Bishop Vincent Vinod Kumar of the Church of South India were selected as conveners.

The formal launch concluded with “a prayer of dedication” led by Akhlesh Edgar, general secretary of the Council of Evangelical Churches in India.

Push for Christian unity

Organisers said the federation would serve as “a platform for ecumenical dialogue on the pressing national issues and concerns of the Christian Community in India in the current scenario.”

The statement added that the NFCI “will promote fellowship and fraternity in the Lord Jesus Christ among the Bishops and Heads of Churches at the national level” and “will strengthen the ongoing ecumenical movement in India.”

The formation of the federation was described as “a significant step towards Christian unity, a milestone in the ecumenical journey, and new chapter in the fraternity and solidarity of the Churches in India.”

Read the full text of the press release.