National Seminar on Dynamic Models of Ministry and Mission
(A Seminar to commemorate 100 years of D
T Niles)
January 27-29, 2010
The Indian
School of Ecumenical Theology,
Ecumenical Christian Centre convened a seminar on Dynamic Models of Ministry
and Mission
The participants came from all over
India (Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, and
Tamil Nadu) representing the Malankara Christian Church, Mar Thoma, CNI, CSI,
Methodist, CBCNC (Baptist), IPC, Mennonite Brethren, Brethren, and Lutheran
(SALC and TELC).
Rev, Reji Samuel , co-ordinator welcomed the participants and introduced the program. The seminar discussed and evaluated
different Dynamic Models of Ministry and Mission
The Eco-friendly worship led by Rev. J.
R. Paul Singh enabled us to understand relationship of the human and nature.
The participants of the seminar met in
the deliberations and group discussions that revolved around eight major
presentations.
Presentations
on following topics were conducted.
Ø ‘D T Niles
Ø ‘Inculturation of Christian Worship in South India : Possibilities’ by Dr. Santhosh Kumar.
Ø ‘Assessment
of Mission in India ’
by Dr. Siga Arles
Ø ‘Retrospect
and Prospect of Ecumenical Relations’ by Dr. Siga Arles
Ø ‘Relevance
of Indigenous Missions today’ by Dr. A. Selvaraj.
Ø ‘Church
Models and Liturgical / Worship patterns’ by Rev. Reji Samuel.
Ø ‘ACTS Model:
A New perspective of Lay involvement’ by Dr. Ricky Gnanakan and Mr. Santhosh
Gnanakan.
Ø ‘House
Church Movement and the use of Modern Technology’ by Rev. Danny Sathyadass.
The above presentations called us to
discuss the following issues.
a. To take stock of the present
day preaching from the pulpits and evaluate them with D T Niles perspective (as
Rev. Dr. M. Mani Chacko, Director of ECC, in his inaugural address and Rt. Rev.
Dr. Suryaprakash, Bishop of Karimnagar
Diocese, CSI in his keynote address quoted what is said about D T Niles) that
“He went to the Bible not to pick up a verse but to think with the biblical
writers.” So that we can forge a united strategy for action as a response to
dynamic models of ministry and mission.
b. To clearly search for the
stand of the Churches in India
c. To discuss the urgency of
search for Christian unity through inculturation as Rev. Dr. Santhosh Kumar in
his paper ‘Inculturation of Christian Worship in South India: Possibilities’
pointed out that – different denominations Christianize Christian over and over
again and hasten to establish and enlarge their own kingdoms fighting each
other in the name of authenticity (claiming to be ‘the legitimate way’ leading
to ‘the only way’)
d. The challenge of ecumenism we
face today is two-fold - building a real unity among us Christians - and
building societies that respect cultural and religious pluralism.
e. To work out models to put
forward the Churches in India
f. To rededicate the Churches to
struggle for the Ministry and Mission issues put as a challenge to the Church
in India
g. To consider the insights from
the presentation on ‘House Church Movement and the use of Modern Technology’.
We , the participants from different
Churches, at the National Seminar on Dynamic Models of Ministry and Mission at
ECC, Bangalore from 27-29 January 2010, convened by the ISET-ECC to commemorate
100 years of D T Niles, have taken a serious and a positive look at the
challenge of relevant models of Ministry
and Mission. Having analyzed the pluralistic context of our country and having
discerned the fact that Christian community is a divided community, we reaffirm
our faith and pledge to work towards a relevant, sensitive, and holistic
community.
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