Invitation for Indian Christian Day (ICD)
Why Indian Christian Day? We have a marvelous opportunity to amplify the impact that Christians and their congregations, parishes, and ministries have made and continue to make as followers of Christ, both across the subcontinent of India and within our global community. I cannot imagine an India, or any nation, that has not benefited from the faith, sacrifice, and love shared over more than 2,000 years because of the prophetic life of Christ. Christianity as a movement was first introduced by St. Thomas and his companions in the southern region of the Indian subcontinent around 50 AD. These first Christian communities were established in Kerala in the first century, and some are still in existence today. Over the centuries, a tapestry of Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches took shape across India to worship, witness, and serve the good news to humanity. I believe that generationally, Indian Christian contributions in quality and quantity have exponentially transformed personal and social lives far beyond our numbers because we are called to see the image of God in one another—human flourishing comes when we cross boundaries of politics, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Why celebrate Indian Christian Day now? “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone
Sikh Assembly of America 1984 Genocide Exhibit
Sikh Assembly of America 1984 Genocide Exhibit US Capitol, Washington, DC Statement by Rev. Neal Christie, Executive Director, FIACONA Five years ago, on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak’s birth the ecumenical World Council of Churches representing 352 global, regional, and sub-regional, national and Christian churches, initiated a formal encounter between Christians and Sikhs; it was especially appropriate engage in this dialogue while commemorating the life and work of Guru Nanak and generations of Sikhs alongside generations of Christians. We are reminded each passing day in poignant ways of the growing need for lasting and sustainable peace when faced with the rise of xenophobia, intolerance, violent extremism and populist ethnonationalism in the forms of Hindutva that finds legitimacy alongside other forms of ethnic nationalism. We attest to the urgency of faith communities globally to redouble our efforts to reimagine new models for building peace together because we cannot afford the luxury of thinking and working as isolated entities. Rather, recognizing the interdependent nature of our common existence, the time is ripe for us to think and act collaboratively, confronting and overcoming any divisive tendencies among and within us. In a world sharply divided by hate and fear distrust and disunity the best way for religious
