National consultation to intensify struggle for Dalit liberation

A national ecumenical consultation is being planned to highlight the struggles of Dalit Christians and to impel churches to witness in the context of growing caste based discriminations.

The event tentatively fixed for October 22-25 in New Delhi will bring out theological directives in dismantling caste-based discrimination and will find creative ways to implement those directives within and outside the churches.

"Over the years affirmative actions by churches in addressing caste and its ramifications at the national level have not been really coherent and consolidated, for some churches are not interested in Dalit cause, some perceive Dalits as objects of mission and some perceive Dalit work as a mission of Charity," says Rev. Raj Bharat Patta, head of the Commission on Dalits, NCCI.

Therefore, there is a need for a "united, ecumenical and affirmative action" by the churches in conjunction with other movements and community-based organisations. Besides this, says patta, there is also a need to re-look at the mission strategies of the churches in addressing Dalit concerns at the local congregation level and at the church level.

The three-day consultation will be held on the theme 'Churches' Response to Caste based Discrimination'. About eighty church leaders, theologians and social activists are expected to take part in the event organised by the National Council of Churches in India.

While day one would delve on the need for churches to witness in the context of growing caste based discriminations, day two will discuss the frontiers of mission highlighting the Dalit struggles. The last day will be on "churches' prophetic role and response to the struggles".

Stressing on the need for such a consultation, Patta pointed that the saga of caste based discrimination, both within and outside our Christian churches continued to "challenge our Christian faith and witness."

"Over the last two decades the development of Dalit liberation theologies have helped in sensitising our churches in taking Dalit liberation as the agenda of the churches mission engagement," he said, adding "it is time now to proclaim boldly that churches can no longer tolerate caste and caste based discriminations."

He also notes that church has not been an exception in fanning caste-based identities and practicing discrimination."Hardly there is any homily about the injustice of practicing caste in our churches today. Caste alignments and conglomerations play an important role in Church elections."

"The ethical calling and living of the Church in India has not been lived up due to the forces and practices of caste within its fold. The witness of the Church amidst the Dalit realities is at stake and calls for an urgent attention," he says.

The national ecumenical consultation therefore will affirm that caste system, the continued violence and discrimination against Dalits is contrary to the will of God and that the calling of the Church is to stand against injustice wherever it may occur.

It will also re-visit the mission strategies and mission theology in addressing Dalit cause and will bring out a theological statement that calls churches to stand against caste based discrimination.