WCC conf. urges Indian churches to fight caste discrimination

An international church anti-racism conference held in Doorn, near Utrecht in the Netherlands, has called on Indian churches to confront caste-based discrimination and work for the empowerment of the Dalits.

The Churches Against Racism conference, organised by the World Council of Churches (WCC) with the Council of Churches in the Netherlands, brought together some 50 church leaders, activists and theologians who committed to being instruments of change in a concerted effort to tackle racism.

In a joint statement, the delegates called the "WCC to urge the Indian churches to address the issue of caste discrimination as a key priority."

They condemned Dalits being treated as "untouchables" in India and asked WCC to "renew and refocus its priorities so as to initiate a new churches' movement to address racism, casteism and related forms of exclusion in the new context of global economic and environmental crisis, and also resurgent nationalism."

The participants also looked at the problems faced by migrants and minority groups such as the Roma in Europe, discrimination based on the colour of one's skin and the disregard for land rights of indigenous peoples.

They agreed to "consciously reflect on the ways in which we perpetuate exclusion and racist discrimination through misuse of Scripture, and through traditions, attitudes and practices of exclusion – and should seek to cleanse the church of these tendencies."

Recently, around 95 representatives and leaders of various churches and organisations worldwide affirmed their solidarity with the Dalits during the 'Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits' in Bangkok, Thailand.

At the March 21-24 event, Bishop Dr. Vedanayagam Devasahayam of the Church of South India, Madras Diocese pointed out that some churches in India practice discrimination of Dalits as well.

"We want the Indian church to declare its identity as the church of and for the Dalits, in order to work towards their liberation," said Devasahayam. " We also want the Indian church to encourage the expression of the Dalits' culture in church life, worship and theology."

Organised by the WCC and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in partnership with the Christian Conference of Asia, the conference aimed to reiterate the solidarity of the global ecumenical movement with the national and international movements and initiatives for the Dalits' cause.