Anglican Archbishop Prostrates As Apology For 1919 British Massacre In Amritsar

From The Organization for World Peace-

On the 100^th anniversary of the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury embraced the bold act of prostrating at the site of the Amritsar massacre, as a deeply meaningful symbol of a personal request for forgiveness for the British colonial atrocity. Over 400 were slaughtered and more than 1000 injured on the bloody April day in the state of Punjab, 41 of the victims being infants.

Welby ensured espousing a tone centred on religious and personal forgiveness, choosing to stay clear of hinting at any sign of official government representation,  “I cannot speak for the British government … but I can speak in the name of Christ and say this is a place of both sin and redemption, because you have remembered what they have done and their names will live, their memory will live before God”. More emotively, Welby expressed the yearning of the deceased souls, “…crying from these stones warning us about power and about the misuse of power”.

More here-

https://theowp.org/anglican-archbishop-prostrates-as-apology-for-1919-british-massacre-in-amritsar/

The Jallianwala Bagh stain: Archbishop of Canterbury’s act of repentance speaks to his larger project of interfaith reconciliation

From India-

The dramatic image flashed across the world. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Protestant church in England and spiritual leader of the global community of 85 million Anglican Christians, lay prostrate in front of the memorial to the victims massacred a century ago by troops of the British Indian army in Amritsar. It was, as he intended, a visible symbol of repentance for an action that since 1919 has left a stain on Britain’s relations with India.

It was not a formal apology. The most revered Justin Welby said that he was a religious and not a political leader, and therefore could not speak for Britain or its government. But he condemned the shootings as a crime and a sin, and said he was “personally very sorry for this terrible atrocity”. He felt a “deep sense of shame” when visiting the Jallianwala Bagh park.

His prostration, in the searing heat, was compared by many to the gesture of repentance by Willy Brandt, the West German chancellor, who spontaneously fell to his knees in 1970 in front of the former Jewish ghetto in Warsaw when he offered an apology for the Nazi atrocities committed there during the Second World War.

More here-

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-edit-page/the-jallianwala-bagh-stain-archbishop-of-canterburys-act-of-repentance-speaks-to-his-larger-project-of-interfaith-reconciliation/

Archbishop of Canterbury underlines guarantees in statute

From India-

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, on Sunday sought to encourage Indian political and religious leaders to maintain the provisions of the Indian Constitution that guarantee freedom of religion and belief to all citizens.

The global head of the Anglican Communion was responding to a specific question at a media conference. He added that the purpose of his visit was “prayer, pilgrimage and pastoral” and that he was not visiting India as a political leader.

“India has the incredible tradition of diversity of faiths within its history and in its ancient civilisation. Section (Article) 25 of the Indian Constitution provides for all freedom of religion and belief. So it is deeply in the law… it is deeply in the culture…. And as a religious leader, I would want to encourage all political and religious leaders to seek fairly the maintenance… of that Section 25,” the Archbishop said during an interaction with journalists at the Bishop House of the Calcutta Diocese of Church of North India (CNI).

More here-

https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/archbishop-of-canterbury-underlines-guarantees-in-statute/cid/1703534

Canterbury archbishop to visit Kolkata this weekend

From India-

The 105th archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is the symbolic head of the Anglicans worldwide, will be in the city this weekend. 

His visit to the city is part of his countrywide tour as part of an invitation extended by the Church of North India. The CNI was formed in 1970 when a large number of churches, other than the Roman Catholic Church, merged. 

The Anglican Church, or the Church of England, was among those that merged. The 200-year-old diocese of Kolkata, of the CNI will be hosting the Archbishop here. This is the oldest diocese of the country. 

The archbishop will arrive late on Saturday night and will be hosted at a five star address in the city. He will spend the entire Sunday visiting different locations, mostly heritage addresses, associated with the British rule. The day-long programme will start with the archbishop attending a special church service at the St Paul’s Cathedral. He will give his message to the city in this prayer service. 

More here-

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/canterbury-archbishop-to-visit-city-this-weekend/articleshow/71017614.cms

The story of the fifth Bishop of Calcutta

From India-

Sometime ago it was reported that the coffin of Daniel Wilson was found in a vault under the main altar of Calcutta’s St. Paul’s Cathedral. Wilson was the fifth Bishop of Calcutta and founder of St. Paul’s, which came up in 1847.

“This is not some out-of-the-box discovery. We were all aware that the coffin was kept there,” says an official from St. Paul’s Cathedral who does not want to be identified. He continues, “In fact, there is a small opening on the outer wall of the cathedral for ventilation. It was kept covered so that no stray dogs could go in. We could see the ornamentation on the coffin. The remains of the bishop were never missing. It was just that we had never gone down into the vault.”

It seems Wilson himself had made provision for the vault under the altar. “There is a reference to his musings in the book, The Final Report of St. Paul’s Cathedral, Calcutta, written by Archdeacon Pratt, who was a close associate,” says senior researcher Mary Ann Dasgupta.

St. Paul’s is said to be the first Anglican cathedral of the Victorian age. In his book, Splendours of the Raj: British Architecture in India, 1160-1947, Phillip Davies writes: “The building was constructed in a peculiar brick especially prepared for the purpose, which combined lightness with compressional strength; the dressings were of Chunar stone, and the whole edifice was covered inside and out with polished chunam.” Up the stairs of the cathedral and next to the main door is a marble bust. Would that be of Wilson? No, it belongs to Reginald Heber, who was Bishop of Calcutta in 1827.

More here-

https://www.telegraphindia.com/culture/heritage/the-story-of-the-fifth-bishop-of-calcutta/cid/1689553

Shalt thou pray in British parliament? Group of MPs move to scrap practice, Indian-origin MP against

From India-

A group of British MPs has moved a motion to stop the ancient practice of starting the day in parliament with Anglican prayers on the ground that they are incompatible with a society which respects the principle of freedom of, and from, religion.

The early day motion has been backed by the National Secular Society (NSS) at a time when church attendance in the United Kingdom has been dwindling. Reciting Anglican players has been a practice in parliament for at least 450 years, but MPs hold mixed views about it.

The motion has so far attracted support from ruling Conservative, Labour, Scottish National Party and Liberal Democrats MPs, but at least one senior law-maker – Labour MP Keith Vaz – wants the practice to continue.

Tommy Sheppard of SNP said: “Parliamentary prayers is one of many archaic Westminster procedures that is long overdue a rethink. The current system completely ignores that MPs, and society as a whole, come from all faiths and none.”

More here-

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/shalt-thou-pray-in-british-parliament-group-of-mps-move-to-scrap-practice-indian-origin-mp-against/story-h0UlE7TQGoViI3pBGv1UWL.html

Five families seek refuge in Anglican Church for Caroling

From India-

For six days, since 23 December, five families have been forced to stay within the premises of a church in Pathamuttam near Kottayam in Kerala, ever since they were attacked whilst carolling before Christmas. On the night of 23 December, a group of carollers, including women and children, was allegedly attacked by DYFI workers. Chingavanam police arrested seven individuals in connection with the case including six DYFI workers. All those arrested were later granted bail.

However, the family members allege that DYFI workers continue to threaten them, and that they were forced to stay in the Pathamutam St Paul’s Anglican Church out of fear of attack if they left.

Johnson PC, committee secretary of the Pathamutam St Paul’s Anglican Church told TNM, "On December 23, a 45 member carol team was visiting homes in the area. But when they reached one of the homes, a group of DYFI workers allegedly joined the team and started calling them ugly words without provocation. The DYFI workers began harassing the girls in the group, and it was alleged that girls of the carol group was molested. When we questioned their actions, they attacked us and destroyed our instruments. Then we informed the police, and they reached the spot and directed us to stop carolling, and so we returned to the church.”

More here-

https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/5-kerala-families-attacked-dyfi-members-forced-take-refuge-church-6-days-94199

Indian peacekeepers in S Sudan impart farming training to women

From South Sudan-


Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan Hillary Garang Deng, who joined in the training, expressed his optimism about the project having a significant impact in the revival of Malakal town.

"Women play a crucial role in the well-being of families and communities and they should be encouraged and taught how to cultivate land and other skills," he said.

At the end of the on-farm demonstration, participants were given a variety of seeds, including bottle gourd, chilli, coriander, mustard, beans, spinach, cucumber, better gourd and lady fingers, to enable them to start their own individual farm projects.

More here-

https://www.dailypioneer.com/india-abroad/indian-peacekeepers-in-s-sudan-impart-farming-training-to-women.html

Church Event in UP Disrupted By Police After Hindu Yuva Vahini Alleges ‘Conversions’

From The Wire-

Police stopped a church event attended by more than 150 people, including ten American tourists, in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh after the right-wing organisation Hindu Yuva Vahini alleged that religious conversion was being carried out.

The event was stopped after the youth brigade, set up in 2002 by Yogi Adityanath, now the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, filed a complaint against Yohannan Adam, the pastor of the church, accusing him of converting Hindus to Christianity, a charge the pastor denied.

SHO, Dathauli, Anand Kumar Gupta said no prior permission was taken for the meeting, which was held ahead of Good Friday.

“We stopped the prayer meeting after a complaint was registered. A probe is underway and appropriate action will be taken if the charges are found to be correct,” he said.

More here-

https://thewire.in/122446/hindu-yuva-vahini-church-disruption/

U.S. to Question India About Ban on Christian Charity

From The New York Times-

The United States and India were at loggerheads on Thursday over Compassion International, a Colorado-based Christian charity that was forced to shut its Indian operations after 48 years over accusations that it had converted Indians to Christianity.

Leaders of the charity complained this week that they were being forced out of India without an opportunity to review the evidence or respond to the accusations.

Mark Toner, a spokesman for the State Department, said that Washington would raise the issue with India, and he urged New Delhi to “work transparently and cooperatively” in enforcing laws regulating foreign aid.

“Unfortunately, we’ve seen over the past couple of years a number of foreign-funded NGOs in India that have encountered significant challenges in continuing their operations,” he said.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/09/world/asia/compassion-international-india.html?_r=0

Major Christian Charity Is Closing India Operations Amid a Crackdown

From The New York Times-

 India’s crackdown on foreign aid will claim its most prominent casualty this month, as a Colorado-based Christian charity that is one of India’s biggest donors closes its operations here after 48 years, informing tens of thousands of children that they will no longer receive meals, medical care or tuition payments.

The shutdown of the charity, Compassion International, on suspicion of engaging in religious conversion, comes as India, a rising economic power with a swelling spirit of nationalism, curtails the flow of foreign money to activities it deems “detrimental to the national interest.”

More than 11,000 nongovernmental organizations have lost their licenses to accept foreign funds since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014. Major Western funders — among them George Soros’s Open Society Foundations and the National Endowment for Democracy — have been barred from transferring funds without permission from Indian security officials.

More here-

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/world/asia/compassion-international-christian-charity-closing-india.html?_r=0

Christians in Asia and India most at risk, says charity

From The Church Times-

RELIGIOUS nationalism is driving soaring levels of anti-Christian persecution across Asia and the Indian subcontinent, Open Doors warns this year, as it publishes its 25th World Watch List. The charity campaigns on behalf of persecuted Christians.

The rebirth of Hindu and Buddhist nationalism in the 1990s was “the trend the world refused to notice”, the charity says. Its report, which ranks the 50 countries in which it is most difficult to practise Christianity, calculates that Christians are being killed for their faith in more countries than ever before: 38.

India was ranked higher than ever before, at 15, in the wake of the election of President Modi and rising religious nationalism. Open Doors researchers recorded more than 15 violent attacks on Christians every week in 2016. The persecution is partly, they write, “a reaction to the rapid growth of the Indian Church”. Pastors have been beaten, churches burned, and converts harassed. The second biggest increase in persecution is reported in Bangladesh, owing to attacks by terrorists linked to Islamic State.

More here-

https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/13-january/news/world/christians-in-asia-and-india-most-at-risk-says-charity

Tallest cross erected on city’s historic church

From India-

The historic Anglican church in the diamond city has been adorned with the tallest 10 feet high illuminating cross.

Thanks to the Friends of Churches (FOC), a small group of Christian youths promoting welfare and development activities of the churches across the state, this is first of its kind cross structure to be ever erected on the church in the entire state.

Samir Frank, president, FOC said, "Erecting 10 feet tall cross weighing more than 90 kilograms on the historic church was quite a challenge for us. But, we accepted the challenge and succeeded in erecting the tallest cross ever in Gujarat. Even after 200 years of its existence, the church structure is well maintained."

More here-

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Tallest-cross-erected-on-citys-historic-church/articleshow/45613410.cms

Anglican Head Amazed by India's Brand of Secularism

From India-

He may be the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion and chief religious figure of the Church of England, but Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury confessed that he was amazed by the “quality of Indian secularism.” In a short speech, laced with an easy brand of humour, Welby told CSI bishops and pastors from all across the South, “The quality of Indian secularism is one of the gifts of India to the world. In Europe it (secularism) means an opposition of all faiths, but here its an openness that welcomes all religions. And that is truly remarkable,” he said, drawing applause from all the excited clergymen.

Despite his two-day visit being organised by the Church of South India, Welby steered clear of religious discourse and even appreciated the tolerant views set forth by people like the Nawab of Arcot, in that gathering.

More here-

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/Anglican-Head-Amazed-by-Indias-Brand-of-Secularism/2014/06/04/article2261351.ece

Indian-American priest says local clergy more liberal

From India-

While the Indian judiciary appears to be inclined to criminialise homosexuality and society would like to sweep the issue under the carpet, Indian churches including those in the city are increasingly willing to explore the issue.

Earlier this week for instance, Indian-American priest Winnie Varghese of the Episcopal Church, who is openly lesbian, was in Chennai and Bangalore for consultations with church leaders as well as the Chennai-based collective Christians Against Homophobia on resources for people of faith to overcome homophobia and gender-based discrimination.

At the meet in Chennai, Varghese discussed how members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community in the US have fought homophobia in churches and urged her audience to support a similar movement in India. 

More here-

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Indian-American-priest-says-local-clergy-more-liberal/articleshow/32031368.cms

Royals visit Anglican church for Remembrance Day service

From India-

The first day of the British royals' visit to Mumbai was marked by gaiety, the second by solemnity. On Sunday, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, attended Remembrance Day service for martyred soldiers at the Anglican Afghan Church in Colaba.

The prince's mother Queen Elizabeth is the supreme governor of the Church of England which is Anglican.

After the service, the royal couple warmly greeted 90-year-old World War II veteran M G Dongre, who holds the title of Burma Star. The Revd R Joel of Afghan Church said, "Around 300 people including war heroes and defence personnel from Navy Nagar attended, which was twice the expected number."

The second Sunday of November commemorates the British-Indian soldiers who were killed in the Afghan war of 1838-1842. In the UK, Remembrance Day or Armistice Day marks the end of World War I at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, on November 11, 1918.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2013/11/royals-visit-anglican-church-for-remembrance-day-service.aspx

First Anglican woman bishop in India says critics have been silent

From The National Catholic Reporter-

A Christian nun who became the first woman bishop of South Asia's Anglican community said so far, her appointment has silenced critics who believe only men can play leadership roles in the church.

Speaking on the phone from the Nandyal diocese in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the Rev. Eggoni Pushpalalitha, who was appointed a bishop of the Church of South India on Monday, said she faced bias against women in leadership roles "but only until my consecration."

"Those who used to talk about it are now touching my feet," said the 57-year-old bishop, who holds degrees in economics and divinity, referring to an Indian custom of showing respect.

A day before her consecration, she told an Indian newspaper: "Be it any institution, women are always given second-rung treatment. We need to change that by promoting values that teach us to not discriminate and treat all humans the same."

More here-

http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/first-anglican-woman-bishop-india-says-critics-have-been-silent

Church of South India elects first woman bishop

From ACNS-

The Church of South India has today appointed its first woman bishop.

The Revd Eggoni Pushpalalitha was ordained in 1983 and has most recently been a priest in the Diocese of Nadyal in Andhra Pradesh.

Her appointment comes only days after the Church of Ireland elected its first woman bishop, the Revd Pat (Patricia) Storey as the new Bishop of Meath and Kildare.

Provincial Secretary of the Church of South India, Mani M. Philip confirmed that Miss Pushpalalitha had been appointed by the Synod Selection Board this afternoon.

"We have been ordaining women since 1976," he told ACNS, adding that in its constitution, the province mandates that at least 25 per cent of all statutory bodies should be women.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2013/09/church-of-south-india-elects-first-woman-bishop.aspx

Partnership with Anglican aid agency to benefit 5,000 Delhi slum children

From Christian Today (India)

Anglican aid agency Anglicord and the Asha Foundation, an Indian organisation working with people in over 50 of Delhi’s slums, have announced a partnership to help short circuit the cycle of poverty for thousands of young people.

With Anglicord’s assistance, Asha hopes to raise enough money in Australia to enable 5,000 children from the slums to gain admission to college and university, addressing the intergenerational cycle of poverty entrenched in many slum areas. The funds will provide students with resources and a range of support mechanisms to stay the course in higher education, giving them access to better employment opportunities.

“I believe Australians will respond well to Asha’s request for their assistance,” said Misha Coleman, CEO of Anglicord. “Australians have a strong sense of connection to India for many reasons, but they also like to support things that help people to help themselves. Asha’s program does just that.”

“The Hindi word ‘Asha’ means ‘hope’,” she said. “Asha and Anglicord, both Christian organisations, have a strong vision of hope. We want these young people to have real hope that a life of poverty is not inevitable. This program provides that hope in a very practical way.”

More here-

http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/partnership-with-anglican-aid-agency-to-benefit-5000-delhi-slum-children/6935.htm

Sir Mark Tully: The Christian who believes in karma

From The London Telegraph-

Most mornings, Sir Mark Tully, the celebrated veteran BBC India correspondent and still one of Britain’s favourite broadcasters, can be seen walking his two Labradors in New Delhi’s ancient Lodhi Gardens. Cane in hand, dressed in crisp, white kurta pyjamas, he is every inch the English gentleman journalist who has given his heart to his adoptive country.

He is known, affectionately and respectfully, as “Tullysahib”. The epithet reflects not only admiration for his 46 years spent reporting from the sub-continent, from the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi and the Bhopal gas disaster to the destruction of the Babri mosque by Hindu nationalists at Ayodhya, but also recognition that time has given an Indian accent to certain words, and a Hindustani aspect to some gestures.

However much of him India has claimed, he has always clung resolutely to his Christian faith, as devoted to the Anglican Church today as he was as a schoolboy at Marlborough, a theology student at Cambridge, and at Lincoln Theology College, where he once hoped to become a priest. He remains a regular worshipper at Cathedral Church of the Redemption in the Indian capital.

Yet now, at the age of 76, Sir Mark appears to have embarked on a spiritual journey that few of his fellow worshippers there, and almost one million devoted listeners of his Sunday evening programme Something Understood on BBC Radio 4, would consider recognisably Christian: he has accepted the eastern religious ideas of karma and reincarnation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/8931394/Sir-Mark-Tully-The-Christian-who-believes-in-karma.html