Missionaries of the World

Member churches of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in India have expressed deep concern over discrimination faced by Christian and Muslim Dalit communities there, demanding protection of the right to freedom of religion in a meeting with Prof. Dr Heiner Bielefeldt, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief who is currently visiting India on invitation from the civil society organizations including the Indian Social Institute and Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi.

Pope Francis created nineteen new Cardinals on Saturday, the Feast of the Chair of St Peter the Apostle. The newly created Cardinals received the insignia of their office – the red biretta and the cardinal’s ring – in a streamlined ceremony conducted entirely in Latin. St. Peter’s Basilica was filled with nearly 200 members of the College of Cardinals and those who had gathered to witness the event. During that time, the Pope urged the prelates gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica to serve the Church fearlessly.

The president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) and International President of Mother Teresa Children’s Foundation - Dr. Sajan K George has been awarded the Mar Osthathios Puraskaram Award for "his generous assistance offered to all centers of mission and commitment as social activist". The award was presented by His Beatitude Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Primate of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He provides support and assistance to minorities in India who are discriminated against and persecuted.

Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is elected on February 11, 2014 as the President of Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI) in the plenary session held at Pala, Kerala. Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) wishes Cardinal best of luck and prays that his eminence new position shall be a great blessings in the lives of many people. Archbishop Andrews Tazhath was also elected as Vice President I, Archbishop Felip Neri Ferao was elected as Vice President II and Archbishop Albert D’Souza was elected as Secretary General.

"Attacks against Christian Pastors in the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh are on the rise and a source of concern. These acts of violence are unmotivated. With the excuse of 'stopping conversions,' they target this community," said Sajan George, President of Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). He also said that both State and the Union Governments, as well as the National Commission for Human Rights should monitor Hindu Vahini, a Hindu fundamentalist group, which has been responsible for several attacks in recent months.

A delegation of Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC), which is a state-level apex body of Archbishops, Bishops and Heads of mainline Churches and major Christian Denominations representing the Christian Community in the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh had a meeting with Chief Minister of the State, Kiran Kumar Reddy at Hyderabad on January 31, 2014. The delegation was led by President of APFC, Archbishop Thumma Bala. The delegation included Moderator of Church of South India - Most Rev. Dr. D. Dyvasirvadam, Executive Secretary of APFC- Fr Dr Anthoniraj Thumma, Coordinators Fr Maddu Bala and Rev. Kurunadihi and others submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister on the issues of the Christian Community in the State.