National Council of Churches in India

Last updated
National Council of Churches in India
Formation1914, [1] India
Type NGO
Purpose Ecumenism
Headquarters Nagpur
Location
Region
India
Services National Council of Churches Review (Journal)
Membership (2015)
30
Official language
English
Secretary General
Rev. Asir Ebenezer, [2] CSI
President
Dr. Geevarghese Mar Yulios [2] (Malankara Orthodox Church)
Vice President
Rev. Pakiam T Samuel [2] (Church of South India)

Mrs. Basanti Biswas [2] (Methodist Church in India)

Sheron M M Dass [2] (Mennonite Church in India)
Subsidiaries 30
Affiliations World Council of Churches, [3]
Christian Conference of Asia,
South Asian Council of Churches, World Communion of Reformed Churches,
Council for World Mission,
Lutheran World Federation,
World Association for Christian Communication
Website http://ncci1914.com

The National Council of Churches in India is an ecumenical forum for Protestant and Orthodox churches in India. [4] It provides a platform for member churches and organizations to act on common issues relating to Christianity in India.

Contents

History

The Council was established in 1914 as the "National Missionary Council." In 1923, the Council constituted itself as the "National Christian Council of India, Burma and Ceylon," with the British ecumenist William Paton as its first general secretary. [5] The Councils of Burma and Sri Lanka separated, and in 1979 the Council transformed itself into what is known as the "National Council of Churches in India."

Description

Today, it is an Inter-confessional autonomous Council and an ecumenical expression constantly initiating, promoting and coordinating various forms of ministries of Witness and Service in the wider community and society. [6] The Council also serves as a common platform for thought and action and as such it brings together the Churches and other Christian organisations for mutual consultation, assistance and action in all matters related to the life and witness of the Churches in India. The NCCI is committed to the Gospel values of Justice, Unity & Peace. [6]

The Council embraces, promotes and coordinates various kinds of activities for responsible life and witness, for upholding human dignity, for ecological and economic justice, for transparency and accountability, and for equity and harmony, through its constituent members and in partnership with civil society, NGOs, People’s Movements and well wishers at local, national and international levels. [6]

The member churches and the regional councils are the primary members of the council. The Assembly which is the supreme body meets every four years. The Executive Committee meets annually to oversee the work of the Council and also appoints the Working Committee which meets twice in a year to guide and monitor its activities.

Concerns

For operational efficiency, the NCCI works through four thematic concerns related to the objectives of the organisation, as well as the agencies and autonomous bodies that have evolved from the NCCI

In addition to the Concern of the NCCI, the following organisations have evolved out of the NCCI and operate independently,

List of General Secretaries

(Period, Name of the General Secretary )

Members

The NCCI has a membership from the Protestant and Orthodox Church societies as well as national organisations and the internal wings of the NCCI.

Church societies

Church societies: [11]

Other national societies

Other national societies: [12]

Regional Councils of Churches

Regional councils of churches: [13]

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{{Infobox Christian denomination | icon = | icon_width = | icon_alt = | name = The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image width = | alt = | caption = | abbreviation = STBC | type = | main_classification = Protestant | orientation = Evangelical | scripture = Bible | theology = | polity =Congregational | governance = General Council | leader_title = President | leader_name = Chilaka Nissi Praneeth | leader_title1 = Add General Secretary | leader_name1 = C.D.Prakash Rao | leader_title2 = Associate Secretary | leader_name2 = G.Joseph | leader_title3 = Director for Evangelism | leader_name3 = Rev.J.Vijay Kumar | fellowships_type = | fellowships = | fellowships_type1 = | fellowships1 = | division_type = | division = | division_type1 = | division1 = | division_type2 = | division2 = | division_type3 = | division3 = | associations = | area = Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and [[Telangana][SPl GPA Holder Rajkumar Rodricks from Telangana to protect Missionary Properties]] | language =Telugu | headquarters = Markapuram | origin_link = | founder = American Baptist Foreign Mission Society | founded_date = | founded_place = | separated_from = | parent = | merger = | absorbed = | separations = | merged_into = | defunct = | congregations_type = | congregations = | members = 740,000 | ministers_type = | ministers = | missionaries = | churches =830 | hospitals = | nursing_homes = | aid = | primary_schools = 14 | secondary_schools = 14 | tax_status = | tertiary = | other_names = | publications = | website = | slogan = | logo = | footnotes = }}

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K. Devasahayam was President of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1965 to 1969.

Ryder Devapriam was systematic theologian who taught during the 1960s and the 1970s at the Andhra Christian Theological College, a Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad, affiliated to the nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

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References

  1. Leonard Fernando, G. Gispert-Sauch, Christianity in India: Two Thousand Years of Faith, Penguin/Viking, New Delhi, 2004, p.176.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 NCCI, About us
  3. NCCI networks
  4. "NCCI". NCCI. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  5. Jackson, Eleanor M. "Paton, William (1886-1943)". Boston University, History of Missiology. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "Introduction". NCCI. 2016-07-27. Retrieved 2017-05-04.
  7. Ministries, National Council of Churches in India
  8. NCCI Affiliates and Network - Relates agencies
  9. NCCI autonomous bodies
  10. UCA News, National Council of Churches Has Well-known Theologian as New General Secretary, India, January 12, 2005.
  11. NCCI Affiliates and Network - Member Churches
  12. NCCI Affiliates and Network - All India Christian organisations
  13. NCCI Affiliates and Network - Regional Christian Councils