Diocesan Assembly on August 13, 2016 – Presidential Address

Dear friends in Christ,

Remembering the past, interpreting the present and imagining the future are quite fundamental in the historical growth of a community. As the community of Israel was entering into the Promised Land, they were instructed to remember their past and obey the given commandments in order to make their present meaningful (Deut 6:1 – 7) and instruct the children the “Ways of the Lord”, so that the future will be blessed (Deut 11:19 -20). This Diocesan Assembly is another historic milestone for the Diocese and the Annual Report which contains the Report of Activities, Accounts and Budget is an expression of our faith and commitment in a given geographical space and time.

• Diocesan Assembly – 2016

We have come together in the presence of God. The meeting of the Diocesan Assembly starts with worship and devotion from the Holy Scripture. This gives us an invitation to look up to God with a grateful heart and commit ourselves to participate in the divine plan, God has for us, by following the divine instructions. We are called to move forwards, not backwards. A very pertinent question at this juncture is, do we see ourselves and our diocese in the great plan of God? We are reminded of the question Jesus asked the ‘teacher of the law’, “how do you read?” (Lk 10:26). How do we read the laws that govern our lives? How do we read the history and programs of our Diocese?

• We are called to trust God

We live in a busy world that makes us overlook so many things. We live in a time where people demand proof for anything and everything. But the Holy Scripture presents before us numerous instances where people made the leap of faith to achieve and experience extraordinary results in their life. Our own history, that of our community and that of the diocese are instances where we have made the leap of faith to see how mysteriously and wonderfully God guided and blessed us. This helps us to humble ourselves before God and to give Him glory. This helps us to put our trust in God as we move on in our faith journey.

God has blessed us in this western region of India where we have migrated. Let us not forget that sometime ago we were lifting ‘our eyes to the hills’ (Ps121) seeking help, strength and courage from the Lord who created heaven and earth. And we know from experience that HE alone is the one who blessed and guided us. Our heritage and Christian  value is paving the way for us to be inclusive of all communities in this metropolitan city of Mumbai and to ensure justice to all communities especially those that suffer poverty, oppression and marginalization. There are so many reasons why families migrate to the ‘Financial Capital of India’ and some of them land on the Red Streets and some earn their living as ‘Rag Pickers’.

Economic well – being can cause a decline in our religious fervor and lead us to idolatry. ‘Idolatry is the general bias of fallen humanity, the perversion of an innate principle, the mis-growth of the religious instinct’ (see Deut 4:15 -17). When wealth becomes our priority, faith goes into obscurity. In our contemporary world where money, media and market dictate terms for life and our immediate society follows its values, Christian spirituality should not be a means to rationalize our aberrations but to express our constant fight against such trends. Let us be rich in good deeds and in holding on to the great values of the Kingdom of God. (St. Mt 5:48, 6:33)

• Organizations of our diocese

We have various organizations in our diocese, primarily aimed at imparting Christian nurture to all age- groups and to give an opportunity for everyone to engage in mission, in one way or the other. Church is the family of families. A family is to be understood in the context of the Church and the Church is to be understood in the pattern of the family. Spirituality in family is very important in handing over our religious values to the growing young ones. These teachings/instructions should contain principles of faith and obedience; belief concerning God and our human responsibilities. While we design proper nurturing patters in the family and in the Church, communications in the form of dialogues and conversations are much needed. (Deut 6:1 -25)

As God’s people and as a Grace – filled Church, the opportunity to turn back to God in repentance and grow in Grace as a Covenant Community is not only a privilege (1Peter 2:9) but also a great responsibility. It is a call to be mindful of the needs of the strangers, migrants, widows, orphans and the like. Therefore, those who seek the ways of the Lord are to embark upon the roads of hospitality, offering space to “the other” on the roads of our spiritual pilgrimage. This land and the people have contributed for our well – being. Now, it is our turn to contribute. We need a mind set to challenge and transform the status quo. We need to trigger and facilitate innovative movements. And that is why we are here.

• Diocesan Projects.

Our diocese is privileged to have a number of special missional characteristics that are unique: Navjeevan, Navodaya with ministries to the ‘Rag Picker Community’, ‘Transgender Community’ and Families with Special Children (Mentally challenged). Mission as ‘Outreach Program’ at 29 mission fields with evangelists and mission co-ordinators, Palliative care through the parishes and congregations, Save a Heart Program; Educational ministry through STEM schools, hostels and Educational Care Programs (ECP) and the like. As a Church in the western region of India we are penetrating into the land and culture of the people to be the ‘Salt of the Earth’ and ‘Light of the World’ (Mt 5:13 & 14). We are called to be the ‘incarnational presence of Christ’ in the land and in the lives of the people.

1. One important question that each member in the diocese needs to ask is: Do I own these ministries and do I assure my participation in this great venture in faith? “Faith is not an intellectual assent to certain doctrines and dogmas. Faith is that element that drives humans to actions” ( Karen Armstrong)
2. We have 27 evangelists, 5 mission co-ordinators, 10 guardians at the ECP (Educational Care Projects) and One missionary achen (Rev. K. C. Chacko). For all these we need 43 sponsoring bodies, but right now we have only 25 sponsors. When we have 60 parishes and 10 congregations in this diocese, it is a challenge for each local faith community to sponsor at least one outreach mission within the diocese. It is possible. Can we release the innate potential God has given us?
3. We have 58 clergy ministering with the Diocesan Episcopa to extend pastoral care to the members in our parishes and congregations. We have 1812 believers who have joined from the mission fields. 1100 believers are coming for regular worship. While there are more seekers who want to join the community, there is a challenge for each clergy to go out into one of the mission fields at least once or twice a year to conduct worship services, sacraments and Bible Study. Our parishes should grow as welcoming communities, mixing with people, speaking their language and worshipping together. “Character lies in always battling and overcoming the obstacles that come in our way of doing the right thing.” (Porus Munshi – 2009) Let us become people of the Kingdom of God. Whenever we confront human problems in tune with God’s purpose they are transformed into fruitful repositories of effective testimony and ministry.
4. I have heard of our young people visiting the ‘dump yard to understand the life of the rag – picker’ community. This year there was a program to live in the villages of our mission fields initiated by our Youth Chaplin Rev. Mathews George. These are attempts on our part to identify with the people in the mission fields. The time has come for our youths to organize more programs with the village youths to grow together and to strengthen the life of the Faith Community – our Diocesan Family.
5. We have 5 Educational Care Projects: Ahwa – 86, Pipalpada – 40 (34 girls & 6 boys), Vapi – 14, Sindhi Viheri – 10, Gadchiroli – 28. Total 164 children. There is also Daya Niketan sponsored by the Diocesan Sevika Sanghom. All these are children from tribal belts and from economically low income families. We need sponsor families who would continue to help them till they complete their graduate level studies. We need to holistically sustain the growth in their lives. Can we create a new and better tomorrow?
6. Our Diocese runs 5 schools under the banner of STEMS (St. Thomas English Medium School) and not less than 10 other schools run by our parishes. There are also some individuals who run schools in our diocesan area. Among the five schools run by the diocese, only our school at Surat has grown fully and has become self – supportive. For all other schools we need more teachers, vehicles, land and building for a minimum period of 5 years.

• Our parish/ individual run schools that have become sustainable can give interest free loans to the Diocese to keep the developing schools to grow steadily and to become self-supportive.
• Those who are graduates and retired hands can support the schools by offering classes for the children.
• Our schools are finding it difficult to get licensed English teachers. Regular classes on spoken English for both teachers and students would raise the standard of our schools.

Any assistance on the above matters is welcome at any point of time. Let us do the right thing during these tough times.

7. We have a camp centre at Lonavala, known as Mar Chrysostom Centre Kamshet. It is in the process of growth and development. We now have minimum facilities to run conferences and retreats for a group of 200 delegates. It can be further developed by:

• Having guest rooms – air conditioned or otherwise. (Rooms can be sponsored and time -share agreement can also be given.)
• Many self – contained apartments can be attempted in the same conditions as above with more space and kitchenettes.
• A Chapel is to be constructed for worship and retreats.
• The Assembly Hall needs audio – visual equipment, adequate ventilation and strong rooms.
• We need a Director’s Quarters – well furnished with living facility for a family.
• The kitchen needs modern equipment.
• Waste disposal plant is to be installed
• A good office for the Administrator and staff is needed. Etc…Etc…
  The routes to success are often limited. We follow the risen Lord who taught us to say ‘Yes’ (2Cor 1:19) on the face of what is seemingly impossible.

8. Mar Chrysostom Centre is also for Mission and Development. This program has a wider scope. Right now we are attempting training programs for the youth from the Mission Centres with special emphasis to equip them to be evangelists in our diocese. We are getting 5 – 10 students every year from the villages and the medium of instruction is Marathi or Hindi. We need residential facilities for the students to stay. This centre is to be developed through the years. We need to combat the dilution of our vision. There is a need to conceptualize, innovate and achieve what is apparently impossible.

• Conclusion

The challenge today is to rally all our members to enthusiastically support diocesan programs and participate in those mission activities. The fast paced work environment and personal challenges are not conducive to, enabling people to think outside their box and into the needs of others. In a fast moving world with rapid changes taking place, it has become necessary for everyone to slow down, meditate and set direction to a meaningful daily life.

I have given above 8 proposals that can be implemented. Think on those lines and start implementing. I join you in praising God for all His blessings. We trust God to guide us through the years ahead. Let me also express my joy in getting the overwhelming support for the ministry in this Diocese. I experienced your co-operation for distributing drinking water in May – June and planting trees in July.  Let us join hands to glorify God and to live for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom. (Phil 1: 3 -6)

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you (vs 3)… He who has begun a good work in you  will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (vs 6)”

God’s blessings be with us all.

Mar Theodosius +

Diocesan Episcopa