Mission Towards Building Just & Inclusive Communities

Reflection on Luke 15: 11- 32

1. Equal Bread Builds an Equal Society.

Key Verse: But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger.” 17 verse.

Occupational discrimination has been still a rampant phenomenon in India, and particularly in the name of caste and gender there has been unequal distribution of wages. Unequal treatment of workers at work, some occupations are being looked down and have been attached to caste-based works and work force has been divided and ruled by the oppressive ruling class in our society.

The Parable of the Prodigal and his brother, when re-read in out times of hunger and food security, it is surrounded around food politics. The younger son in a distant land, when he was dying of hunger thinks of his father’s house, his memory cannot but think of the plentitude of food the workers enjoyed there. The house of his father was an inclusive community where there was equal food for all at that house. No matter what the identity of a person is, what the work of a person is, if they are at father’s house, whether hired ones, temporary workers, permanent workers, day labourers, his own sons and even himself, all had the privilege of enjoying food, which was served equally and justly. Probably what the father and his son ate so was it for those hired hands in that house. All sufficient food was available for all those working at father’s house. No discrimination, no exclusion, no barriers, no boundaries, no gaps and no individualism, the bread was enough and was even to spare for all those working at that house.

This parable calls us to fight against occupational discrimination in our society today. There should not be any discrimination at work. Like the father’s house in the parable our Churches and homes should be examples where equality and sufficiency is maintained to all at work. When there is equality at work, there is peace and productivity at work. Give us today our daily bread is meaningful, when there is equal bread and sufficient bread to all at work, transcending all barriers. Equal bread builds an equal society.

II. Feasting Together Builds Inclusive Community

Father said, “…And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.” 23 V

Bishop VS Azariah, in 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference in one of his speeches he said that ‘missionaries have always prayed for granting us thrones in heaven but have never given their chairs in their rooms to sit for us.’ This has been so, for most of the Christian mission engagements elsewhere, which is even practiced today. Most of us when people come in hunger, forget to address their hunger and have either prayed for those who are in hunger to be fed, or made hunger as the vulnerable situation for us to evangelize and show mercy and charity, and least of all have forgotten to feed them when they are hungry. By doing so, a hierarchical society is further made, with donor and receiver.

But the father in this parable, on seeing his son coming from a distant country in hunger, first of all addressed his hunger by ordering a grand feat of non-vegetarian dinner. Even though the son has asked for forgiveness, and expressed his unworthiness to be called as his son, long before he forgave him, he addressed the hunger of his son. By ordering a feast, father builds an inclusive community with the others over there. The father did not order to give his hungry son some left over food, nor did he give some snacks that were available instantly, nor took him to a restaurant for an individual private dinner. But the father organized a feast, where his hungry son was fed as well as the others in the community was also fed. I assume that every time a hungry person comes to this father, there would have been a feast for the whole of the community. By doing so, probably father was building an inclusive community, where the ethic was if one is hungry in the community, every one needs to feel for them and when is fed, every one in the community needs to be fed.

Therefore let our Churches and houses become the places where hunger is addressed not by mere prayers, nor by charity but by inclusivity and justice. Let us as individuals feel hungry, when one in our community is hungry, and let us make feasting for when the hungry are fed along with them.

III. Complacency A Threat to Inclusive Community

Key Verse: But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.” 29 V.

Complacency has been one of the manifestations of self-righteousness of our times, and has been a dire reality of Christian living. The ethos globalisation has always taught us to be self-content, self-satisfied and made us more individualistic and selfish, no matter what happens to the other in our own community.

In this parable, the younger son is projected as dying in hunger, the father as giving life out of hunger, and the elder son as depressed in anger. When the elder son saw and heard that there has been a feast at his home, he was depressed in anger for out of his complacent character, he replies his father in anger that he never has given even a young goat to celebrate with his friends. What was more pressing for this elder son was, when the property was divided equally between the two sons, the property where his father was, legally speaking the elder ones portion. Therefore, when his father on the return of his younger one threw a feast, it was from the elder’s portion that he cooked some beef for the community. And probably that did not taste good for the father shared from his portion. Complacency makes us not to share, and therefore frustration is shown. Complacency also made the elder one to further point down the allegations of the younger one, that he being hungry was his own making. Complacency breeds greed, and makes an individual excluded from the community living. Complacency made him to grumble that the father never gave a goat to be cooked for him and his friends.

In today’s context, it is high time that we Christians need to give up complacency in our lives. Our attitudes need to change, for sharing; caring and not alleging are all part of community and inclusive living. Let us give up our complacent nature, let our churches give up complacent nature and even let our missions give up exclusive and complacent attitudes. For today, complacency is the great threat of inclusivity. Complacency is the new aristocracy, which is a threat to inclusivity.

1. Logo Courtesy: http://www.lutheranworld.org/Images/LWF_Photos/Photos_Assemblies/Stuttgart2010/Logos/Assembly2010_logos/2010-Assembly_square-EN-448.gif 

The Bread of Life and The Bread-less Lives

Reflection on Mark 6: 30-42 : Exploring the Theme of LWF Assembly 2010           

“How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”38 V

India is home to the largest number of hungry people in the world, accounting for more than 20% of the total. [1] With rise on the inflation in the economy and with the adverse effects of climate change now being realized, food crisis has been a grave need for our times. The ratio of the food production and food consumption has been so glaring that the food produced is not enough to satisfy the needs of the common people. On the contrary huge amount of food grains are exported, which is part of the globalisation technique incorporated into developing countries. Therefore, the old famous saying once again comes to the forefront, ‘India has enough for its needs not for its greed’. With the greed of the few rich people increasing, the needs of the common people are not met. Local foods are now replaced by the fast foods and by tin foods that are imported. Organic food, where most of it is synthetic is slowly pervading the context of food today. What is the way out in the context of food crisis?

Jesus Christ in his times addressed food crisis, which has relevance for our times also. Jesus started preaching to the huge crowds that have been gathered near the shore, and had compassion of people for they were like sheep without shepherd, and began to teach several things. And when it grew late, his disciples informed Jesus to send people away to buy and eat their own food, for that was a lonely place and the hour has been already late. But Jesus immediately was conscious of their needs and attempted to solve the hunger of those people over there.

I. Jesus critiqued the culture of consumerism

When Jesus said to his disciples to give them something to eat, his disciples immediately replied, ‘are we to buy two hundred denarii’s worth bread and give it to them to eat’. Jesus by feeding the five thousand, critiqued the culture of consumerism, where buying from outside is its norm. The culture of consumerism is driven on the very value of profit, which makes the rich richer and the poor poorer and has no concern to the holistic good of the society.

II. Jesus made use of local recipes

When the disciples were more concerned about the cost of the food to be served, Jesus then enquired, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” The disciples found and said they had five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus to feed the five thousand made use of the local recipes, the bread and the fish, which were the local staple foods normally people eat.

III. Jesus organised the people into groups

Jesus then commanded the people to be organised into groups by hundreds and fifties on the green grass there, so that the food will be served equally, probably meeting the needs of the children and women with a preferential option.

IV. Jesus broke the loaves and divided the fish

Jesus then took the loaves of bread and fish and looked up to heavens seeking the help of God, the baker of bread and the maker of fish, so that these local recipes would be shared among all people over there. Jesus did this to share among all with what they have, with the available local resources.

V. Jesus would have ordered the disciples to collect the remains

Jesus would have asked the disciples to collect the remains, which they did, and collected it in twelve baskets. This is to teach people there not to waste and to eat according to the need and not according to the greed.

In our times today we as Church need to teach our congregations on food management, food sovereignty, food security, to share, to remind our people to be conscious of the people in need and to make use of the local recipes and resources to combat food crisis. Time and again our churches have romanticised this passage and have described bread and fish as spiritual food to be given to all people around, and have least been bothered about the needs of those people who are hungry and with out food. It is said that “Bible is not a cake to be taken on occasions but is a bread that is to be eaten daily”, and have been self-content with such reading of Bible every day, without living according to it. When we pray daily as “Give us today our daily bread”, this prayer reminds us that we need to be conscious to the needs of those without bread and food, and our prayer needs to be translated into actions. Let us all strive to make our ‘bread of life’ more relevant by sharing food with those that are hungry.

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[1] Times of India, Dec.12, 2008
2. Logo courtesy: http://www.lutheranworld.org/Images/LWF_Photos/Photos_Assemblies/Stuttgart2010/Logos/Assembly2010_logos/2010-Assembly_square-EN-448.gif

9th July – Mission Thanksgiving Day

In our times, when theological articulations and missiological enterprises are more explored in new vistas, in creative panoramas and in modern and post modern methodologies, it is not an over statement to express that our memory towards the contributions of significant people in the history has been slowly fading away. Our generations today subscribe to the saying ‘live the today, forget the past and forego the future.’ Personalities who have toiled for the mission of God in the past are either neglected or even forgotten from our memories.

9th July has been a significant day in the pages of the Indian mission history. Some Churches in India earmarked this day to ordain their pastors and some Churches celebrate as ‘Mission Thanksgiving Day’ on the 9th July. But I am afraid, whether the same is celebrated today in all enthuse and commitment as it was thought of. In our seminarian days, I remember on this day, we were sent to different denominational Churches to speak about the ‘mission day’, explaining the significance of the day. You may ask, what is so special of 9th July? I believe the whole Protestant Christians in India cannot forget this day, for it was on this day the first Protestant missionary to India, Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg arrived at Tarangambadi, now know as Tranquebar in South India in 1706. It was the day of the arrival of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to India through the Protestant missionaries and ever since then, the seed of Christianity, which like mustard seed grew into a huge tree, giving shade and solace to several people across the country. Thanks to all the contributions of Ziegenbalg, for his untiring and sacrificial missional engagements he had made, despite several hardships and hurdles. Ziegenbalg celebrated his 24th birthday on the very next day of his arrival in India, and I imagine probably he had to thank God for his life in a foreign land with out any friends as a stranger. However, in a span of 13 years he had had made an indelible impact in the lives of the people in India and breathed his last in 1719, at the age of 34 years. The young, the bold and the vibrant Ziegenbalg will continue to live in our midst with all his dynamic contributions. We need to thank God for the life and witness of Ziegenbalg and we all need to rededicate ourselves to participate in the widening and deepening of the reign of God here on our earth and in our times.

My only prayer is that our Christian nurtures need to include the mission contributions of Ziegenbalg in our curricula, for our children can get inspired and challenged by his efforts for the mission of God. Ziegenbalg continues to be a young icon in the world of mission, and let us all join in thanksgiving to carry forward the rich legacy of his service to the next generations. Jai ho Ziegenbalg!

For Ziegenbalg’s contributions you can visit my earlier blog found at http://thepattas.blogspot.com/2009/07/celebrating-bartholomuas-ziegenbalg.html

Book Review on "The Violent Sight on a Silent Night"

A Violent Sight on a Silent Night: Missiological Discourses in the Context of Violence against Christians by Raj Bharath Patta, Delhi: ISPCK, 2009. pages 144

Rev. Raj Bharat Patta, the writer of the book is a young ordained minister from the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and currently serves as the Executive Secretary for Commission on Dalits in NCCI. The author is an alumnus of Gurukul and his primary interest is in the field of cross-cultural and contextual theology.

The book is a painful, contextual reflection on the horrendous violence on Dalit Christians of Kandhamal district in Orissa during the advent season in the year 2007. The author had been to the affected area many times as part of the NCCI fact finding and solidarity Delegations. The book differs from most of the common Christian responses to religious violence in the manner that it does not blindly and solely find fault with any agency outside the church. Instead the author finds this time of crises in the life of the church in Kandhamal in particular and the church in India in general as an opportunity to contextualize its witness. Hence for the author, the time of persecution in the church’s life is not a time to switch to defensive strategies, but rather a time to contemporize its witness.  

                                               

The reflections on the witness of the church are dealt with in three parts; each one deals with different dimensions of Christian witness namely; Proclaiming witness, Public witness and Prophetic witness.

The section titled “Proclaiming Witness” is an attempt to draw energy from the available Christian resources to propel the church’s witness forward. This is a search for the life affirming biblical resources to stand against the impending violence. The contextual re-readings of the biblical passages are intended to inform the dalitness, marginality and liminality of the dalit Christians of Kandhamal and to instill ‘hope against hope’ in them. This section also deals with the interplay of various factors such as the business interests of the high caste business men, the age old rivalry between the dalits and tribals sustained through the carefully crafted fantastic “histories” (without any real historical grounds), male chauvinism, casteist hegemony and bad governance to engender a greater catastrophe with indescribable proportions for the Christian population. The riots emerging out of economic, ethnic and religious fundamentalism should not encapsulate the Christian community; instead the church has to give out its witness as “peace makers” and responsible citizens “fasting unto justice.”

The second part of the book is the compilation of author’s responses to the violence, intended to be read by the general public of the country, written and published during and immediately after the days of the violence. It is an invitation extended to the public, without any discrimination between their religious belongingness, to sensitize their conscience of the perilous human disaster happening at Kandhamal and other Christian pockets of Orissa. The public witness of the church must not delimit itself at organizing protest rallies and fasts, even though they bear symbolic significance in some way or other. It further urges the solidarity of responsible citizens from all walks of life to come together in condemning religious, ethnic and economic fundamentalisms, upholding the rule of the law, affirming religious freedom, acknowledging the cultural diversity of the country and asserting the basic human rights of all people. It in short is a call to strengthen the democratic foundations of the country to overcome all sorts of coercions on human freedom on the basis of any form of parochial ideology.

The third section of the book titled as the prophetic witness is again a compilation of appeals and statements on the issue by NCCI and other ecumenical partners. It is an appeal to all citizens of the country with clear conscience to join the chorus in pressing on the government to act promptly to ensure the safety of its citizens against all forms of violence. The statements and appeals are deliberately crafted in such a way to make the responses comprehensive by incorporating the aspects of solidarity, immediate intervention, emergency relief, advocacy, affirmation of hope and even protest. Most of them are attempts to update the ground reality at relief camps and forest dwellings of people to expose the false claims of the government agencies the situations are getting back to be normal. The statements also stress the need to be mindful of the livelihood issues, lack of law and order and other gross deprivations through which the people of the place were going perennially. The author being a dalit activist makes it a point to look at the issue in a dalit perspective. He looks at it as another instance of explicit violence against the dalits, in response to the efforts to assert their identity. The issue is also looked at from the women’s perspective, as women bore the brunt of the attacks. The statements in principle argues for a “common vision and united action” against all sorts of violence without differentiating it in religious, ethnic, racial or casteist lines.

The message of the book is very cogent and the proposals towards the solution of the problem are much realistic. The church should not waste its energy and resource base in simply lamenting over its unfortunate predicament. She has to turn the crisis in her witness as an opportunity to contextualize it in the changing world. The church must also be wary of the danger of falling into a tunnel vision in understanding the violence that she experiences. She has to rise up over the present sufferings to develop a broad perception of reality, which she may be able to share with all the concerned citizens of the country to resist the parochial ideological formations of any kind. The violence against the Christians should not be dealt with in isolation; it has to be linked with the struggles of the dalits, tribals, women and other subaltern sections for liberation. The author calls for an unbiased governance ensuring peace and security for the citizens, tribal-dalit interface to get rid of the frequently recurring conflicts and finally unconditional solidarity cutting across all sorts of divisions in the civil society. The simple language and the use of imageries (the use of the familiar slogan Jai mata ki to correlate with goddess Diana is an example) in re-reading biblical passages from the familiar communal discourses in prevalence are very much appealing and communicating. The reading of the book quenches the queries of the academician and the common man alike to be led by the insights to a better understanding of Christian witness in a context of abounding violence.

Reviewed by Rev. Jacob P. Thomas, who served as a missionary priest of the Mar Thoma Church in Orissa for six years, and currently is a student at Gurukul in the MTh (Missiology) program

Mothers Day Lyric 2010

అమ్మతనమే కమ్మతనముగా
నమ్మకత్వమే అమ్మతత్వమా
నమ్మకమునకు ప్రతిరుపమా
సమ్మతమే అమ్మ నీ మతమా

1 నవమాసములు నన్ను మోసిన ప్రేమ
నా మోసములన్ని భరించిన ప్రేమ
వినాసములన్నీ క్షమించిన ప్రేమ
ఆకాశమంత విశాలమైన ప్రేమ - అమ్మ నీ ప్రేమ

2 ప్రసవవేదనలో నన్ను కనిన ప్రేమ
ప్రయసభారముతో నన్ను పెంచిన ప్రేమ
ప్రయాణమంతటిలో నాతో ఉన్న ప్రేమ
ప్రసన్నమైన ప్రేమ ప్రాణమైన ప్రేమ - అమ్మ నీ ప్రేమ

౩. జగములన్నిటికి మూలమైన ప్రేమ
త్యగామంతటికి అంకురము నీ ప్రేమ
రాగమంతటికి అరంబము నీ ప్రేమ
సురాగమై సుమధురమైనా ప్రేమ - అమ్మ నీ ప్రేమ

TOWARDS A LIBERATIVE ECCLESIOLOGY: A TRIBUTE TO DR. K. RAJARATNAM

INTRODUCTION

It was said of Socrates that, he has brought philosophy from the gates of heaven to the streets of Athens, so also can be said of Dr. Kunchala Rajaratnam, that he has brought the relevance of Church for our times from the gates of heaven to the streets of India and abroad. As a theologian, over the years, Doctor[1] exercised his faith in a dynamic way in our Indian economic and socio-political situation. As an economist, as an ecumenist, as an ecclesiologist, as an ethicist, as an administrator, and as a theologian he expressed his deep commitment to the Gospel and contributed to the Church and society in India and abroad. Doctor has always affirmed that his association with theological education is from the standpoint of his life in the life of the Church, and his starting point whether to development or theology is his commitment to Church. Doctor, having received the impetus to serve the community from the Gospel and the Church, thoroughly analyzed the society and brought out the theological relevance to his times. Mahatma Gandhi’s assertion that his life was his message to humankind aptly applies to the life of Dr. Kunchala Rajaratnam.[2]

On the 7^th April 2010, when he breathed his last, a saga of a legend has come to an end and an era of faith in action has come to an end. He has left a legacy so rich and challenging that we carry forward in bringing in a transformation in our communities.  In my twelve years of association with Doctor, I had the privilege of being his student and also had the rare distinction of working as the Secretary of NCCI-Commission on Dalits, for which Doctor served as its Chairperson.  He was a walking encyclopedia and a walking gospel with full of action for the cause of liberation. “You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.” (Job 5: 26). Joining with the galaxy of friends, we thank God for the life, vision, mission and witness of Dr. Rajaratnam, for like a shock of grain he has gone to the threshing floor in its season, after living with meaning and purpose. This article is a humble tribute to Doctor, brining into light his understanding of Church, in which he believed and affirmed as a channel for change and liberation.

Doctor’s contributions contain valuable insights, covering a wide range of aspects like wider ecumenism, wider Dalit liberation, wider ecclesiology, wider feminism, bold theological education and economic equality. His writings provide a direction and method in the realm of widening ecumenical theology. However, here I shall limit my presentation to highlight five important aspects of the ecclesiology of Dr. K. Rajaratnam.

TOWARDS LIBERATIVE ECCLESIOLOGY

The Church in India has been satisfied for over years with their pietistic and visions for life after death. Doctor being committed to the Gospel and the Church, looks into the Church in India, and tries to broaden the horizons of the Church, to participate for the development of the wider society. Church as a ‘called-out’ community is not just a social and economic community, but one committed to her Lord Jesus Christ and works towards the transformation of her community. Doctor says that the Church is commissioned with a challenging and exciting task of ‘New Creation’. Much has happened through the witness and service of the Church in transforming the world into a place where God’s love is present.[3] Church is dynamic in expressing the love of God to all people. Church needs to be liberative in its vision, mission, nurture and action.

1. The Church in India becomes Static

Doctor, being a committed Churchman was bold enough to have an introspection of the Church in India and comments that she has ceased her dynamism. The Church in India has not yet come of age. He says that she has developed two layers. They are:

1.      The life of the Parish/ congregation where a two-fold ministry of worship combined with Sunday School and confirmation classes routinely exist.

2.      The Church level administrative life- Parish/congregational elections to         Synod/convention, to the Executive Councils or to other administrative bodies.[4]

Doctor further says that the materialistic dimensions of the Church with her political and economic gains are in the forefront rather than the witness and service of the Church. A mere theoretical and theological ritual assertion of the holiness of the Church, as a fellowship of forgiven sinners- in which there is neither fellowship nor forgiveness but a lot of sin, without acknowledging the reality has been a time less frustration.[5] The Church is caught up with the camouflage of corruption and court cases reflecting a negative witness to the Church. Doctor with his love for the Church, was bold in his analysis of the Church. The Church at no time is an establishment. She is a prophet and shepherd seeking to enable society to force the challenges to God’s authority and justice. Thus the Church is a process, God’s representative process for striving for Truth and Justice. This is the permanent role of the Church.[6]

2. Rediscovering the Church and her Location

Doctor says that the Church is located in the Parish/ congregation and not in the administrative and financial power structures of the Church.  The Church level administrative life is the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden, which is the congregational life. Shift of focus requires faith and commitment of the Church. He further says unless the focus is shifted from power to socio-spiritual life of the congregation as the foundation of the life of the Church, the churches will become yet another social organizations fighting for the fish and loaves that Church leadership and vast rich properties perhaps offer.[7] The Third Assembly of the WCC in Delhi in 1961 and later the Commission on Stewardship of the LWF identified in a bid to resume the Gospel from the stranglehold of ecclesiastical structures, identified very rightly, the ‘local congregation’, as the missionary Church. The Church has established a vast network of worshipping communities throughout the country in the form of congregations. For Doctor it is this ‘local congregation’, which is not only the real Church but also the nucleus to spread the good news and serve the people.[8]  Thus in a dominant ecclesiastical structures, Doctor redefines the Church as, “a group of believers living in any place- but committed to worship, praise and service of Jesus Christ and proclaiming and living Christ’s way of life, being the salt of the community – the light of the community, and serving the rest of the community through love and suffering for the sake of truth and justice in the community.”[9]  Doctor thus widens the frontiers of the Church by making her serve the community at large for the sake of justice.

3. Widening the Frontiers of the Congregation

For Doctor the eternal task of the Church is to demonstrate the power of Cross, which is the power of God, in the variety of human life situations and through that power fight the evil, which is also eternal. He further says that her task is not to exterminate evil and sin altogether from the world, but to struggle against sin and bring about new creation by the power of Cross and Resurrection.[10] In achieving such a task Doctor, launched a four-fold ministerial aspects, which will widen the frontiers of the congregation. The congregations need to exercise all the four-fold aspects in integration and not in isolation, so that she serves the wider community and makes her the powerhouse of the Gospel. The four-fold ministerial aspects are, Worship, Nurture, Evangelism and Development.[11]

The congregation gathered together as a worshipping, learning, witnessing and serving community would surely help the wider community in its pursuit for liberation. These four-fold ministries enriches the ‘Missio Dei’. Doctor envisions if about 30,000 local congregations in India are activated in the four-fold ministry, greater power of love to all the people of the country will be released, and there will exist a transformed society. The Church then will become a strong, divine and human force for God’s peace and justice for all people and creation.[12]

4.Cleansing our Churches

Dr. K. Rajaratnam delivered a prolific Keynote address at the last Quadrennial Assembly 2008 of the NCCI at Shillong on the theme, “ Together in Mission: Empowering Local Congregations.” In his address, Doctor has analysed three models of Mission, the Gandhian model, the Pauline model and the Jesus incarnate model and blended that analysis with the nature and work of the Churches today. He has at the end brought a mission package for the Churches in NCCI, in which cleansing the Churches from the corruption of commercialization and politicization was the top priority. He explains the sacred commercialization, where the theology of prosperity and arm-chaired Christianity continue to dominate.  He also further explains the secular commercialization as bribes and corruption that are permeated into the life of the Church. Doctor said, “Unless Churches clean the life of the Church, we are forfeiting the moral right to proclaim the Gospel, thus invalidating the legal rights we possess.”[13]During Jesus’ time, Jesus was bold in cleaning the temple from the den of robbers, and such a cleansing of our Churches today becomes immanent, for the houses of prayers are dominated by values of marketization and consumerism. Transparency and accountability of our Churches is the need of the hour, and Doctor’s call has tremendous relevance for our times today.

5. The Church and the Dalits

The Church today in India is basically a Dalit Church for the majority of the Christians in the Church are Dalits. According to Doctor the Church is not an exception for its indifference towards Dalits, for the minority upper classes in the Church are dominating. However the Dalits in the Church were much better than the Dalits outside the Church, with educational opportunities thrown open to them, had better social standing and indeed they were freed from the Hindu religious and social regimentation.[14] Doctor with his passion to the gospel emphasizes that it was Christianity that was the dynamite that burst the rigidity of untouchability. He opines that it was Christianity that represented the first break through as far as untouchability is concerned.[15]

5.1.The Limited Concern of the Church

Doctor, having evaluated the Church in India and its mission felt that the concern of the Church in relation to Dalits has been rather narrow. He also says that the missiological aim of the Church was aimed at conversion bringing saved souls into the membership of the Church through baptism.[16] On the other hand the NCCI and the CBCI from1950 have been going from pillar to post seeking justice for Dalit Christians regarding the constitutional reservations, for which all their efforts are in vain. Doctor thus says that the Church was wasting its time and hope in its pursuit of justice for Dalit Christians.[17] However striving for justice to Dalit Christians is always a priority of the Church today. The Church did not look at Dalit issue beyond the interests and aims of the Church. According to Doctor the Dalit issue per se, its injustice, atrocity, cruelty, sub-humanness, its poverty, hunger and misery, did not interest the Church. For the Church outside its missiological goals the ‘Dalits’ was a non-issue.[18] Thus the Church confined to her four walls and could not have a wider ecumenical dimension in relation to Dalits.

5.2.Towards A Wider Ecumenical Liberation Paradigm

The Dalits were not in favour of extension of the constitutional privileges with the Christian Dalits who are already an enlightened and educated lot. Doctor says that the UN Conference on Racism in Durban in August 2001 was the turning point. The Dalits of India who were in Durban experienced that it was mostly the Christians that were fighting for the cause of Dalits at UN Conference. The Evangelical Christians prepared to support the Dalits even as they were prepared to embrace Buddhism following the footsteps of Ambedkar, setting aside their motive of conversion to Christianity. This approach giving priority to Dalit liberation from traditional social slavery presents altogether a new challenge to Christianity.[19] For Doctor this represents a sea change in Christian approach to Dalit issue. Dalit liberation per se, liberation of all Dalits irrespective of their regional and religious identity has become the missionary objective of Christian concern. This paradigm shift, he calls as a new agenda of the Church as a visible and active preferential ministry in India.[20] The predicament of the Dalits in India is a challenge to the Church in India, especially to the Gospel of Christ in India. He further says that, “in a dehumanizing scenario, it is mandatory that the mission of the Indian churches for the 21^st century ought to be different from retaining the Dalits and Adivasis as objects of charity and mission, to making them as subjects of history and missional agenda, enlarging the Church’s traditional mission concerns from confining to Dalit and Adivasi Christians to all Dalit and Adivasis with focus on liberating the oppressed.”[21] Thus Doctor expounded a wider ecumenical liberative paradigm for the Dalits.  The Church must accept Dalit liberation as its new agenda and join hands with all forces that enable Dalit liberation.

5.3.Rationale for Wider Ecumenical Liberative Paradigm

Doctor in widening the ecumenical liberative paradigm asks how can the Church shut its eyes at the suffering of the oppressed community? When he goes on to say the Church of Christ in its missiological endeavour as ‘liberation of Dalit per se’ receives the mandate from Christ himself. He further says that the ministry and the mission of Christ is a package of liberation of the oppressed- the good news to the poor.[22] For Doctor Jesus’ methodology of liberation of the oppressed serves as the primary rationale for wider ecumenical liberative paradigm. Jesus’ package of liberation of the oppressed according to Doctor is as follows:

1.      Jesus’ birth in a manger is a spectacular identification with the poor.

2.      The Nazareth manifesto of Jesus in Luke 4:16-19 is to set at liberty the oppressed, not just the Christian oppressed only but all oppressed- the poor, the hungry, the lame, the deaf, the dumb, the sick, the naked, the prisoners- of society, of tradition, of false religion, victims of discrimination- those denied equality, human dignity and rights, indeed those denied humanity by the power of unjustified authority and the oppressed constitute in this dear land of ours at least 25% of the total population of 1.1 billion- all these segregated in dwelling places- with no water, sanitation and left to tender mercies of the oppressor for work, food, water and dwelling, 250 to 300 millions of people.[23]

Doctor calls the Church in India to liberate India’s society as a whole by liberating the Dalits and Adivasis. The Cross of Jesus to which the Church is committed has a tryst with India’s destiny. The Church with her theological strength from the Manger, the Cross and the Empty Tomb, must commit itself to the service of the poor.[24]  Thus Doctor paves the way towards a wider ecumenical paradigm of liberation to the Dalits and Adivasis.

5.4. Acts of Apostles vis-à-vis Acts of the Church

Dr. K. Rajaratnam, as a Chairperson Commission on Dalits and Adivasis, of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) initiated the congregational empowerment of 50 pilot congregations in India for Dalit liberation. In one of his addresses in the follow up workshop on congregational empowerment, he has asked the participants, what is their favorite book in the Bible? One answered Psalms because it has many prayers, one answered Isaiah because he speaks of justice, but Doctor said, his favorite book in the Bible is “Acts of Apostles.” The reason he said was this book contains “actions”, activities that were done. So he emphasized the need for actions, making our faith into actions, making our preaching into action. He questioned, how many of our church reports, executive committee meetings minutes, diocesan minutes, synod meetings minutes, parish church council meeting minutes match with the Acts of Apostles? May be not even one. So it is high time for the local congregations to act, record the acts of liberation of Dalits. Actions speak louder that words, and so the preaching of the church should be actions, and particularly acts of liberation to the Dalits. Jesus was all along involved in doing actions, rather speaking mere words.  The Cross is the highest act any one can do, and it was Jesus who suffered and died on the Cross for the sake of liberating us. Therefore the local congregations’ agenda should be the agenda of Jesus. In setting people at liberty, Jesus has to oppose and confront the socio-religious and political structures and hierarchies of his day. And so should be the role of all the true disciples of Jesus. Jesus did not have any reservations in healing the people; he healed all those came to him, so also should the local congregation strive for the liberation with out any reservations and boundaries. Ultimately in his struggle for justice and liberation, Jesus has to be rewarded with the brutal Cross, and so also the local congregation may receive the Cross as a reward in their work for liberation of Dalits, but let the local congregation be bold and courageous. For Jesus himself said that in your struggle for justice, you might have many false allegations laid on you, you may be persecuted, so let the local congregation make Jesus and his agenda as the agenda, and continue to work for the liberation of Dalits, said Doctor. He further emphasized, that the congregation should be ready to take up the Cross, since the means itself become the ends of the church. He said that without addressing the Dalit issue one cannot have an agenda. Today the priorities of the congregations are different, and yet times even with out a mission agenda. He stressed that Jesus’ agenda, Nazareth manifesto cannot be neglected, for it acts as an apex for Christian action and faith. He urges the local congregations to be sensitive the voice of the Dalits, not just the Christian Dalits, but Dalits per se, to form an agenda of the church, which will be in line with the Jesus ideology. He has given the clarion call for the local congregations to work both in season and off-season for the liberation of the Dalits in their particular contexts.[25]

CONCLUSION

Dr. Kunchala Rajaratnam with his adventurous faith, bold theological vision and commitment to service has contributed deeply untiringly for the cause of Church and society.  His ecclesiology surely provides a method, meaning and direction to the Church in India at this present juncture and makes the Church to commit herself to strive for liberty to all that are oppressed specially the Dalits in their contexts. Therefore according to Doctor, the Church in India has to play a prophetic role and should strive towards a just society.  The Church today needs to rise from its slumber and needs to address the challenges of Dalit oppression. The Church should give up all its petty politics aside, and need to re-look to her call and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. If the Church is not able to be the channel of liberation, it ceases to be a Church, and all the rituals and the activities of the Church will just be materialistic with out meaning and relevance. Three dimensions of Doctors’ ecclesiology are of prime relevance. 1. An introspection of our Church, to be bold in analyzing our Church and to accept our shortcomings in the light of the Gospel. 2. To rediscover Churches mission and witness in the context of marginalisation and exclusion. 3. To strive consistently for justice, equality and liberation of Dalits and make local congregations to be the channels of liberation in their contexts. Doctor believes that the Church is a strong enough force to confront the evils in the society. The Church should be conscious of its role, as God’s chosen instrument, to establish God’s Kingdom, undeterred by the power and might of God’s foes. The Church must become more obedient to God’s call to face suffering for God’s cause.[26] I pray our Church in India shall become vibrant in extending the Reign of God here on earth.  Men may come and men may go, men like Rajaratnam will go on forever with their imprints of rich Christian heritage and legacy.

Rev. Raj Bharath Patta,

Executive Secretary,

NCCI- Commission on Dalits

---

[1] Dr. K. Rajaratnam was mostly revered and called as Doctor

[2] Prasanna Kumari, “Foreword,” in Empowering Society, edited by Prasanna Kumari Vol 2 (Chennai:GLTCRI, 1995) P.xi.

[3] K.Rajaratnam, A Missionary Congregation (Madras: UELCI, 1993), P.1.

[4] K.Rajaratnam, A Missionary Congregation (Madras: UELCI, 1993), P.1.

[5] K.Rajaratnam, “A Vision for the Church in India,” in Women in Church and Society, edited by Prasanna Kumari (Chennai: GLTCRI, 1999), P.130.

[6] K.Rajaratnam, Ethics in a New Economic Order (Madras: CRENIEO, 1995), P.41.

[7] K.Rajaratnam, A Missionary Congregation (Madras: UELCI, 1993), P.3.

[8] K.Rajaratnam, “A Vision for the Church in India,” in Women in Church and Society, edited by Prasanna Kumari (Chennai: GLTCRI, 1999), P.133.

[9] K.Rajaratnam, The Local Congregation (Madras: UELCI, n.p.), P.1.

[10] K.Rajaratnam, “A Vision for the Church in India,” in Women in Church and Society, edited by Prasanna Kumari (Chennai: GLTCRI, 1999), Pp.130-131.

[11] K.Rajaratnam, A Missionary Congregation (Madras: UELCI, 1993), Pp.4-11.

[12] K.Rajaratnam, “Foreword,” in Mission Today Challenges and Concerns, edited by Abraham P.Athyal and Dorothy Yoder Nyce (Chennai: GLTCRI, 1998), P.viii.

[13] K. Rajaratnam’s Keynote address at the XXVI Quadrennial Assembly of the NCCI held at Shillong during 30^th April to 5^th May 2008. Pg. 14

[14] K.Rajaratnam, “The Indian Christian Church and the Dalits of India- A New Agenda of the Church in India: Dalit Liberation,” NCC Review 122/3 (April, 2002):P.291.

[15] K.Rajaratnam, “Contemporary Reflection on Global Oppressed Communities: A Multi-faith Approach,” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies 12/1&2 (2003): Pp.6-7.

[16] K.Rajaratnam, “Contemporary Reflection on Global Oppressed Communities: A Multi-faith Approach,” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies 12/1&2 (2003): P.7.

[17] K.Rajaratnam, “The Indian Christian Church and the Dalits of India- A New Agenda of the Church in India: Dalit Liberation,” NCC Review 122/3 (April, 2002): P.294.

[18] K.Rajaratnam, “The Indian Christian Church and the Dalits of India- A New Agenda of the Church in India: Dalit Liberation,” NCC Review 122/3 (April, 2002): P.294.

[19] K.Rajaratnam, “Contemporary Reflection on Global Oppressed Communities: A Multi-faith Approach,” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies 12/1&2 (2003): P.8.

[20] K.Rajaratnam, “Launching of Dalit Liberation Movement,” Report Presented to NCCI Executive Committee, New Delhi 25^th-26^th November 2004.

[21] Declaration and Recommendations of Pre-Assembly National Conference on Dalit and Adivasi Concerns in NCC Review126/2 (February, 2004): P.85.

[22] K.Rajaratnam, “Contemporary Reflection on Global Oppressed Communities: A Multi-faith Approach,” Gurukul Journal of Theological Studies 12/1&2 (2003): P.8.

[23] K.Rajaratnam, “Tryst of the Cross with India’s Destiny,” presented at XXV Quadrennial Assembly of NCCI, Tirunalveli, 10-13 February 2004. P.2.

[24] K.Rajaratnam, “Towards A Just Society,” NCC Review 117/7 (August, 1997): P.501.

[25] K. Rajaratnam’s Key note address at the follow up workshop on “Local Congregation as the Locus of Dalit Liberation” held at Chennai on 23-26 June 2006.

[26] K.Rajaratnam, “Communicating the Gospel in the Context of Globalisation, Religious Fundamentalism and Nationalism- the Indian Context,” in Communication of the Gospel edited by Samuel W.Meshack and Eberhard von de Heyde (Chennai: GLTCRI, 2002), P.5.

Lenten Campaign for Equality & Justice 2010

National Council of Churches in India- Commission on Dalits have initiated a Lenten Campaign for Equality and Justice 2010, during this season of Lent. This campaign is a call to all those observing Lent to 'fast unto justice'. Specifically advocating for the Dalit Christian Rights and committing to eliminate manual scavenging by 2010 are the two calls given in this campaign. Join in this campaign, bring awareness about these concerns, talk about these concerns during our homilies and prayers and network with other faith based agencies to ensure justice.

1. A Lenten meditation on Fasting is posted on
http://www.nccindia.in/resources/view.htm?no=132
2. Lenten meditation on the first word of Christ from the Cross is posted on
http://www.nccindia.in/resources/view.htm?no=134

Let this season of Lent challenge us to bring equality and justice in our societies.