Ecumenical meet brings revival among Christian youths

The year 2010 could not have started any better for Christian youths in India. Hundreds of youth leaders from different states have gathered in Kolkata for spiritually renewing and reviving through the National Ecumenical Youth Assembly (NEYA) meet that is currently underway.

The youths from diverse denominations and traditions were convened by the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) which is commemorating the World Missionary Conference held in Edinburgh 1910 by identifying new and creative perspectives in the direction of ecumenical mission in the 21st century.

Dr. Mathews George Chunakkara of World Council of Churches (WCC) was the chief guest of the four-day event that welcomed top general secretaries of SAARC countries, ecumenical leaders and theologians. "Come, Let's Be Friends" is the theme of the Jan. 6-10 meet.

Briefing on NEYA, Rev. Vineeth Koshy, Secretary of NCCI Commission on Youth, said, "The gathering serves as a platform for our Indian Christian youths to spiritually revive and be better and useful instruments in God's hands."

"With less young people participating in church and ecumenical movement, there is a strong need to raise leaders and nurture them to contribute to the mission and the country," he told Christian Today. "So during the four days we will study on the need for friendship with God, nature and humanity, as the coming century is a century of friendship."

NCCI's Commission on Youth identifies friendship as a new and inclusive paradigm of relation to ecumenism. It believes that friendly relation alone will bind and unite humanity together.

In his homily, Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Coorilos of Mumbai underlined the need to "promote friendship by loving and caring humanity amidst the violence, terrorism, fundamentalism, hate and division in India."

He urged youths to "have a deep encounter with God through Christ whose presence in our life can dynamically transform us and bless us with a great future."

President of NCCI, Bishop Taranath Sagar, in his address, said, "We need to remove the barriers of race, color and class, and preach friendship and unity taught by Christ. Even Christ called us friends."

He continued: "We always say future belongs to youths. I want to rephrase this by declaring that it is the present that belongs to youths. Waiting for the future makes us lazy and isolated. This is the time and we must begin serving God."

Dr. George Chunakkara, Director of Commission of International Affairs, WCC, gave the keynote address on the inaugural day.

In his message, he pointed how ecumenism is being greatly affected by lack of leadership and strength which he said is pushing the world to chaos and missteps.

Dr. Chunakkara stated that today the ecumenical movement all over had deteriorated and an event such as NEYA was a step towards its revival.

"The 20th century has seen unprecedented violence. Violence perpetrated against man from man. In this rapidly developing world, we undoubtedly need better relationships," he said.

He deciphered ecumenism as friendship. And in true friendship, he said, there is care and love. "Without friends, life becomes monotonous, narrow and fragile. Christ by calling us friends has placed us in intimate relationship with God."

During his keynote address he explained in detail on the crux of NEYA deliberations that is Friendship with God, Friendship with Humanity and Friendship with Nature.

Elaborating on the need for friendship with God, he said, "The adventurous life of Abraham and David is a classic example of friendship with God. God's intentions were revealed to Abraham and he humbly followed it. This is beautiful."

To conclude, Dr. Chunakkara reminded the youths of Christ's crucifixion which he said was an ultimate example of love and friendship.