Latest News-upto_dec2012 |
Inter- Religious Christmas and New Year Celebration Held in TiruvallaAn Inter-Religious Christmas and New Year Celebration was organized in Tiruvalla on December 28, 2102 at Believers ' Church Youth Auditorium, Tiruvalla. Mr. P. J. Kurian M. P (Deputy Speaker of Rajya Sabha) inaugurated the celebrations. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Mathew T. Thomas M.L.A. Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mor Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan, Honorable Imam Thangal of Thiruvalla Juma Masgid,and Kumari Suja Behin of Brahmasree Vidyalayam delivered messages representing various religious traditions. Mr. Anto Antony M.P inaugurated the charity programs of the new inter-religious initiative in Tiruvalla. Hundreds of people from various walks of life, representing the wide spectrum of Tiruvalla attended the meeting. Ms. Sheela Varghese, chairperson of Tiruvalla Municipality brought greetings? Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, chairperson of the organizing committee welcomed the gathering. Mr. M. P. Gopalakrishnan, working chairman of the committee introduced the aims and objectives of the inter- religious initiative and Mr. M. Salim, General Convener of the event proposed vote of thanks. The meeting was followed by a love feast.
"Padabhedam" selects Mor Coorilos Geevarghese an one of the 25 most influential people for the future of KeralaKozhikodu: "Padabhedam", one of the leading progressive magazines in Kerala has identified 25 most important people for the future of Kerala. The 25 leading personalities have been chosen from various fields such as sociologists, political activists, intellectuals, artists, theologians, writers and so on. A special issue of Padabhedam featuring the 25 persons and other articles has been released by the noted writer and social activist Mahasweta Devi at a function in Kozikodu on December 22, 2012. The persons who have been chosen as the most influential personalities for Kerala's future include M. P Parameshwaran, Dr. T.T. Sreekaumar, Dr. J. Devika, Fr. Boby Jose Kattikadu and others.
WCC nominates Mor Coorilos Geevarghese as member of the "Ecumenical Panel on a new Financial and Economic Architecture"Geneva: Rev. Dr. Olav Tveit, the General Secretaray of the World Council of Churches has nominated Mor Coorilos Geevarghese to the newly constituted "Ecumenical Pannel on a new Financial and Economic Architecture". The new Ecumenical Pannel has been constituted jointly by the World Council of Churches (WCC), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), Council for World Mission (CWM), and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). The Pannel will prepare a strategy on how to implement the proposals from the recently held Global Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The Pannel consists of renowned economists, theologians, Ecumenical leaders, civil society leaders, ecological activists, business leaders etc from different parts of the world. Mor Coorilos, the Metropolitan of Niranam diocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church, has also been a member of the WCC Advisory Group on Economic Matters (AGEM). Mor Coorilos also serves the WCC as Moderator of it's Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME).
Mor Coorilos Visits Mor Barthalomews Nathaniel in SharjahSharjah: Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese and Patriarchal Vicar for Malankara Congregations in Sharjah, Rasal Khaima and Al-Ain visited the newly consecrated Mor Barthalomews Nathaniel, Archbishop of Gulf Region at his residence in Sharjah. Mor Coorilos along with Fr. M. J. Daniel, Vicar of Al-Ain church and Fr. Anish Varghese of Sharjah Church, Mr. Binto Paul and Mr. Thomas Thiruvalla conveyed greetings on behalf of Sharjah, Al-Ain and Rasal Khaima churches to the new Metropolitan. The delegation was warmly received by Archbishop Mor Barthalomews.
WSCF-AP Regional Committee Meets in Bangalore: Mor Coorilos Delivers Keynote AddressBangalore: The Regional Committee Meeting of the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF)- Asia Pacific Region is being held at SCM headquarters, Bangalore from 26-31 October 2012. Dr. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Chairperson of SCM India delivered keynote address on the opening day. The theme of the RC meeting this year is "Students Seeking Engaging and Restoring Justice and Peace". Ms. Sunita Suna, Regional Secretary of WSCF-AP and Rev. Raj Bharat Patta, General Secretary, SCMI are the chief organizers of the Meeting. About 30 students and senior friends from various Asian and Pacific countries are participating in the meeting.
SCM NEI Celebrates Platinum Jubilee: Mor Coorilos Delivers Key Note AddressMizoram: The Student Christian Movement in North East India celebrated its Platinum Jubilee on October 16 in Mizoram. A thanks giving service was organized at the Aizawl Theological College, Mizoram to celebrate both the 75 years of SCM life and witness in North East India and the 100 years of SCM in India. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Chairperson of SCM India delivered the keynote address on the theme "Witnessing to Christ in a Pluralistic Context". Rev. Raj Bharat Patta, General Secretary of SCMI and Dr. Anandan, Hon. Treasurer of SCMI also participated in the celebrations. About 60 senior friends and students from various parts of the North East attended the function.
Mor Coorilos Inaugurates Bus Washing Program on Gandhi Jayanthi DayTiruvalla: Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese, inaugurated the Gandhi Jayanti celebrations of Bethel Ashram, Tiruvalla by washing a KSRTC Bus at Tiruvalla Station. Sisters and inmates of the convent washed several KSRTC buses. Mr. Joseph Chacko, Mr. Ismail Parackal, Mrs. Bhanumathi, Ms. Rahamathulla, Mr. Roy Jacob etc took part in the program.
Mission with humility, justice and inclusivity - an interview of Mor Coorilos
In a world where understanding of Christian mission is changing rapidly, Bishop Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) explains what new visions the WCC mission statement will bring to the churches.
Coorilos spoke about the mission statement in an interview in Crete, Greece, where the statement was adopted by the WCC Central Committee in September this year.
What is the new mission statement and what does it aim to achieve?
The new WCC mission statement “Together towards life: Mission and evangelism in changing landscapes”, prepared by the CWME, is about seeking vision, concepts and directions for a renewed understanding and practice of mission and evangelism amid changing global landscapes.
Since the integration of the International Missionary Council with the WCC at the New Delhi Assembly in 1961, there has been only one officially approved WCC mission affirmation in 1982. As the global landscape has radically changed since then, a fresh look at the global situation and its implications for mission and evangelism became imperative.
The statement aims at stimulating creative mission reflection and encouraging discernment of action by member churches and related mission agencies of the WCC. It is also expected that the new affirmation will promote a renewed appreciation of the mission of the Trinity (missio Trinitatis), especially the “mission of the Holy Spirit”, the “life-giver”. Differently put, it aims at articulating a fresh understanding of a prophetic missiology that affirms “life” in its fullness, in relation to justice, inclusivity and integrity of creation.
What impact will the mission statement have on the life of the churches?
The new mission affirmation, we hope, will impact the life of the churches in a significant manner as it seeks to address the changed and the changing ecclesial landscape of global Christianity since 1982. Some of the changes that are addressed include a shift of the centre of gravity of world Christianity from the global North to the global South and East, the sweeping influence of neo-liberal economic ideologies, the impact of migration, new forms of oppression of people and the environment, new ways of being churches and the phenomenal rise of Pentecostal and charismatic churches.
This statement will help member churches to make sense of their ecclesial and social milieu from contemporary missiological perspectives. The new mission statement, being creation (life) centric, will challenge churches to assume the role of a "servant" (instead of "master") of God's mission, and NOT to conceive of mission in colonial, expansionist and triumphalist terms. It will also have implications for the way evangelism is practiced by churches as the new mission statement advocates "authentic evangelism" which promotes values of humility, hospitality, justice, inclusivity and the dialogue of life.
The statement has been translated in many languages. The CWME will also prepare study guides that can be used for training missionaries and evangelists by member churches, affiliated bodies and mission agencies. In fact, we are encouraged by the enormous attention the new mission statement has already received from various quarters, including member churches.
The CWME will also ask member churches and affiliated mission bodies to share in ways of reflecting and implementing the statement in their local contexts. The reflections and follow up actions on the statement will be shared in the International Review of Mission before the Busan Assembly.
Why is emphasis on "mission from the margins" important?
The section "Spirit of liberation: Mission from the margins" figures at the very centre of the new mission statement. This is hugely important as "mission from the margins" is indeed one of the defining features of the statement. What makes the new mission statement distinct is the affirmation of the agency of the marginalized in mission. It is mission "from the margins", not mission "to the margins", not even mission "at the margins" where the poor and the marginalized are treated as objects of charity.
This missiology further claims that the people at the margins have a special gift to distinguish life affirming forces from life negating ones. They are placed in a unique position "to see what is out of position from the view of people at the centre". The statement advocates justice, solidarity and inclusivity as the key expressions of mission from the margins.
The prophetic dimension of the statement also lies in its outright rejection of the idolatry of Mammon in a world of free market economics. This is a missiological affirmation where the hitherto "receivers" of mission reclaim their status as agents and initiators of mission and in this sense the new affirmation is ground breaking.
What contribution does the mission statement make to the theme of the WCC’s Busan Assembly?
Well, there is so much in common between the emphasis of the new mission affirmation and "God of life lead us to justice and peace", the theme of the Busan Assembly of the WCC. The thread that binds the two is their life-centric focus. Life as promised by God in Christ, life in its fullness, presupposes justice, peace and integrity of creation.
The Busan Assembly theme and the emphasis of the new mission statement seek to advance the concept of “life” understood in this holistic manner. We believe that the assembly theme in many ways is "missional" in its call and direction. Therefore, the mission statement with its profound theological reflections on a "mission of life affirmation" is also offered as a contribution from CWME to the WCC assembly.
Mor Coorilos Inaugurates Meet in Solidarity with the Koodamkulam StrugglePathanamthitta: A meeting in solidarity with the anti-Koodamkulam Nuclear Reactor Struggle was organized in front of the Civil Station, Pathanamthitta on Wednesday Spetember 26, 2012. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese, inaugurated the meeting which was organized by the Natiional Forum for People's Rights and Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad. Mr. Kadammanitta Vasudevan Pillai, Prof. Gopala Krishnan, Adv. Prakash P Thomas and others spoke on the occasion.
Kerala SCM visit Vilappilsala under the leadership of Mor Coorilos and extends solidarity to Vilappilsala Samaram
Trivandrum: Kerala Region Student Christian Movement of India (SCM) extended it's solidarity with the historic struggle led by the people of Vilappilsala village demanding the closure of the waste treatment plant there. A team of SCM representatives led by Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, chairperson of SCMI, Dr. George K. Alex, Kerala SCM Chairperson and Mr. Lovewin Cherian, Programme Secretary Kerala SCM, visited the "Samara Panthal" (struggle front) and expressed their support, solidarity and prayers for the struggle. Today was the 625th day since the struggle began. Mor Coorilos, Dr. George Alex and student representatives addressed the gathering.
Mor Eusthathios Matta- Rohum & Mor Coorilos Geevarghese Convey the Greetings of the Patriarch of Antioch to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Crete.Metropolitan Mor Eusthathios Matta- Rohum and Metropolitan Mor Coorilos Geevarghese greeted the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and conveyed to the Ecumenical Patriarch the Apostolic regards of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka 1st Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The Ecumenical Patriarch came to Crete to address the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. Metropolitan Mor Eusthathios Matt- Rohum represents the Syrian Orthodox Church on the WCC Central Commitee and and Mor Coorilos represented the CWME as it's Moderator.
H.G. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos inaugurates "Save River Periyar" Mass Struggle
H.G.Geevarghese Mor Coorilos inaugurates "Save River Periyar" Mass Struggle at Eloor, Kochi on August 23, Thursday. Social Activist Prof. M K Prasad presided over. Poet Smt. Sara Joseph delivered key note address. Thousands participated in the struggle. Mor Coorilos, the Moderator of WCC & Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese has been associated with this struggle from the very beginning.
The Muslim Cultural Association of Tiruvalla organized an Eid-FellowshipTiruvalla: The Muslim Cultural Association of Tiruvalla organized an Eid-Fellowship at St. John's Cathedral Hall, Tiruvalla on Thursday, August 23, 2012. Mr. Ramesh Chennithala, KPCC President inaugurated the meet. Mor Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan, Brahmasree Akkeeraman Kalidasa Bhattathirippadu, Mor Coorilos Geevarghess, Bishop Thomas Samuel, Imam of Paipadu Al-Khasimi, Director Blessy and other religious and cultural leaders attended the meet. Several leaders who spoke at the function congratulated Niranam diocese of Jacobite Syrian Church for organizing an Iftar meet on August 16.
Niranam Diocese Hosted Iftar inter-religious Meet in TiruvallaTiruvalla: Jacobite Syrian Youth Association of Niranam Diocese organized an Iftar Inter- religious fellowship at St. John' cathedral Hall, Tiruvalla on Thursday, August 16' 2012. Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mor Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan inaugurated the meet. In the inaugural address, the Valiya Metropolitan appreciated the various bold and innovative initiatives of Geevarghese Mor Coorilos that promote social justice and inter-religious harmony and urged all communities to follow suit. Ms. Lynda Thomas Vanchipalam, Chairperson of Tiruvalla Municipality presided over the function. Honorable Imam of Paippadu, Isa Al-Khasimi delivered Ramzan message. The Imam expressed the sincere gratitude of the Muslim community to Mor Coorilos for his gesture of love and solidarity. Mor Barnabas Geevarghese, Assistant Bishop of Niranam diocese delivered a blessing speech. Prof. P. J. Kurian M.P and Anto Antony M.P sent their messages as they Could not attend the function because of the ongoing Parliament sessions. Several dignitaries graced the function with their presence and greetings. They included leaders such as Flim director Blessy, director Babu Tiruvalla, Mr. K. R. Pratapachandra Varma (BJP), Adv. Sanal Kumar and Adv. Prakash Babu (CPM), Mr. Eapen Kurian and George Mamman Kondoor (Congress), K. E. Abdual Rahman and Adv. Ibrahim Kutty (Muslim League), Adv. Varghese Mamman (Mar Thoma Church Trustee), Mr. Victor T. Thomas and Sam Eapen (Kerala Congress), Fr. Abraham Mulamoottil (Director, Pushpagiri Medical College), Mr. M. Salim and Lalgy (Merchants Association), Major M.J. George (Salvation Army), Mr. Sabu Idicula (Dysp, Tiruvalla), and Mr. M.P. Gopalakrishnan (Red Cross Society). About 250 people belonging to various walks of life attended the meet. Special Iftar dinner was served by the famous caterer and film producer Naushad Tiruvalla. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese welcomed the gathering and Mr. T. M. Mathew, Co-Ordinator of Youth Association proposed Vote of thanks.
NCCI Organizes a Consultation on Discrimination of Dalit and Adivasi Students in Education
Delhi : The Commissions on Dalits and Public Witness of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Just and inclusive Communities a program of the WCC together organized a consultation on "Churches Addressing the Challenges of Discrimination and Marginalization of Dalit and Adivasi Students in Education" at the YMCA, New Delhi from 13-14 August 2012. Prof. T. K. Oommen, Professor Emeritus, JNU delivered the key-note address. Rt. Rev. Dr. V. Devasahayam led the opening worhsip. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese of Niranam Diocese moderated a session on Churches Response to the Problem of Discrimination. Rev. Dr. Deenabandhu Manchala of WCC gave the valedictory address. Rev. Sunil Raj Philip and Mr. Samuel Jayakumar, were the chief organizers.
Youth Association of Niranam Diocese will organize an Iftar cum inter religious meet in TiruvallaTiruvalla: The Jacobite Syrian Youth Association of Niranam Diocese will organize an Iftar cum inter religious meet in Tiruvalla. This will be held St. John's Cathedral Hall, Tiruvalla on Thursday, August 16, 2012. Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mor Chrysostom Valiyamethrapolita will inaugurate the meet. Bishops from sister churches, honorable Akkeraman Kalidasa Bhattathirippadu thirumeni, other religious, political and cultural leaders will grace the function. Honorable Imam of Payippadu Masgid will give the key note address. This is the second time Niranam diocese is organizing an Iftar meet.
HG Dr Geevarghese Mor Coorilos Metropolitan Inaugurates "Quit Kalanjoor" campaign at KonniHG Dr Geevarghese Mor Coorilos Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese inaugurated the campaign "Quit Kaanjoor" held in Kalanjoor village in Pathanamthitta where the villagers have been an a life and death struggle against indiscriminate quarrying. Hundreds of people participated in the protest meeting.
Mor Coorilos Inaugurates the Iftar Meet and Inter-religious fellowship in KayamkulamKayamkulam: Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Metropolitan of Niranam diocese and Ptariarchal Vicar of UAE inaugurated the Iftar Meet and Inter-religious fellowship in Kayamkulam on August 11, 2012. The function was organized by the Muslim Youth Federation and was attended by people from different walks of life. Noted writer Chunakkara Janradanan Nair gave the key note speech.
HG Dr Geevarghese Mor Coorilos Participates in WCC Drafting Group on Unity Statement
CARTIGNY: The WCC Drafting Group on Unity Statement, appointed by Dr. Olav Tveit, met in Cartgny near Geneva from 27-29 July 2012 to finalize the Unity Statement for Busan Assembly of the World Council of Churches. The Group comprising of 11 theologians from various confessional and theological traditions had been mandated by the WCC General Secretary to prepare a Unity Statement for the WCC to be presented at the next Assembly of WCC, to be held in Busan in 2013. The group had earlier met in Geneva in January 2012. The Statement will now be presented to the Central Committee of the WCC which is due to meet in Crete in September. Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese represented the CWME on the Drafting Group. Mor Coorilos has also been part of the meetings that drafted the Statements on Mission, Diakonia and Poverty, Wealth and Ecology.
His Beatitude Catholicose Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I celebrated his 10th Anniversary of Enthronement as Catholicose at Patriarchal Centre, PuthencruzHis Beatitude Catholicose Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I celebrated his 10th Anniversary of Enthronement as Catholicose at Patriarchal Centre, Puthencruz on 26th July 2012. Aboon cut a cake on this occasion and shared it with Mor Aphrem Mathews, Mor Coorilos Geevarghese, Mor Antheemos Mathews, Very Rev. Mathews Karimpanackal Ramban, Secretary of Malankara Church Baretho Mehero Thampu George Thukalan and Aboon’s Secretaries Dn. Ebin and Dn. Basil. On thanks giving prayer, Catholicose thanked Almighty God for HIS blessings to the Holy Church and seek more Mercy from HIM and prayed for Holy Father's speedy recovery. Metropolitans congratulated Aboon and convey their diocese's wishes to Catholicose
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