27th Quadrennial Assembly of NCCI from Thursday

Bangalore, April 24: The 27th Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) will be held from Thursday, April 26, on the theme 'Gospel in a groaning World'

Bishop Dr. Taranath S. Sagar, President of NCCI, the apex body of the Protestant and Orthodox Churches in the country formally announced this at a press meet on Tuesday. The Assembly will be held at the St. John's Medical College Auditorium, Koramangala.

Dr Sagar said around 500 delegates from across the country as well as outside are expected to participate in the two-day assembly, where a host of issues, including those concerning Dalits, Tribals, children, women, youth, interfaith dialogue, state policies on minority rights etc., will be discussed.

He said the assembly would start with the keynote address of Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tviet, General Secretary of World Council of Churches on April 26 at 9 am. On the same evening, the Methodist Church in India has organized a public reception at the Baldwin Girls School, Richmond Town, where Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj is expected to participate.

He said there will be special focus on several issues, namely, government evolving pro-people attitude while designing development plans; representation to Protestant and Orthodox Churches in decision making bodies of government; passing of the Lok Pal, Dalit and Women Reservation bills without any delay etc.

Dr Sagar said the Assembly will send a memorandum to the central government to repeal and revoke the National Security Act, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Unlawful Activities Act, the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act and the Chattisgarh Special Public Safety Act to free people from exploitation and domination.

He said that NCCI, founded in 1914, is now in the 98th year and has been an icon of unity in the country.

The NCCI comprises 30 Protestant and Orthodox Churches, 17 Regional Christian Councils, 17 All India Christian Organisations, seven related agencies and three autonomous bodies that represent over 14 million Christians in the country. The Council works together with Catholic Bishops Conference in India and the Evangelical Fellowship of India on issues of common interest and of common concerns through National United Christian Forum.