Telugu churches federation demands action in pastor’s attack case

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DSC00127By Our Correspondent

THE Federation of Telugu Churches (FTC) has decided to demand immediate action against those who attacked CSI pastor J Nitin during a prayer meeting held at a house in Fakirabad village of Nizamabad district on January 17 last.

At the annual general body meeting of the FTC, earlier known as the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches, held at St John’s Regional Seminary in Hyderabad on Feb 17, the office-bearers were urged to take up the matter with Telengana’s Home Minister and State DGP.

FTC is an apex body of Archbishops / Bishops and Church Heads of Catholic, CSI, Lutheran, Baptist, Salvation Army, Assemblies of God and other major Christian Denominations of the twin Telugu States of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana State (TS). Among the 25 participants there were 9 Catholic Bishops, 3 CSI Bishops, and Heads of Baptist Denominations and Assemblies of God.

Archbishop Thumma Bala, President of FTC, welcomed the gathering.

CSI Moderator Bishop G. Dyvasirvadam, in his presidential address, pointed out the changes taking place in the country, and the attacks taking place on Churches from within and without. He called for more visible expressions of unity and to make the message and contribution of the Churches visible to the Governments.

Fr Dr Anthoniraj Thumma, executive secretary of FTC, presented the highlights of the annual peport of FTC activities and efforts made to resolve various issues facing the Christian Community in the Telugu region.

Fr AXJ Bosco SJ briefed the participants on the efforts being made to secure SC Status for the Dalit Christians. He also listed the activities undertaken on the issue of suicide of Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student of Hyderabad Central University.

B. Danam IAS (Retd), who was recently elected as the president of National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC), requested the Bishops and Church heads to send delegates to the National Silent Rally to demand SC Status to be held in New Delhi on March 10, 2016. FTC decided to send some delegates for the rally and to render financial support.

Bishop Gali Bali of Guntur, general secretary of FTC, proposed the vote of thanks. The meeting came to a close with the closing prayer led by Rev. Dr Peter Gera, senior leader of Assemblies of God, and the benediction by Archbishop Thumma Bala. Press release

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