Churches unite in prayer as one body of Christ

It was a delightful sight as churches of various confessions and traditions like never before joined in one heart for a 'united prayer meeting' at the capital on Tuesday.

Organised by the National United Christian Forum (NUCF), the meet attended by bishops, pastors, church leaders and laypeople, prayed for several issues and mainly for the 'unity' of churches as one body of Christ.

NUCF is a common platform that bands together the three mainline Churches in India - the Catholic Bishops's Conference, National Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

Keeping aside their differences, traditional views and theological virtues, they consolidated in prayer, specifically for India, the Commonwealth Games and the Business community.

"What a joy it is when brethren come together to pray and seek God's favour in unity," said Rev Sunil Kumar Singh of the Church of North India (CNI). "Let us always continue to pray, participate and strengthen each other under the NUCF."

Fr Dominic Emmanuel, spokesperson of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, while 'Prayer for the Church' noted "never in past decades has churches united to pray and especially to pray for 'unity'."

The congregation together joined him in praying for the persecuted, the ministry workers and the various social wings of the Church engaged in service to the society.

There were prayers also made for the youth; women and children; revival; the laity; those in fulltime ministry and for peace and reconciliation.

Archbishop of Delhi, Vincent Concessao, in his message on the occasion, read through Fr. Victor D' Souza, said, it was apt time to pursue the goal of unity.

"There is an urgent need for an ecumenical dialogue. In the past we have had cultural, philosophical and theological differences but today there is no reason why we should not have a dialogue with the seriousness it demands," he wrote.

"Our God is not confined in churches and he is the God of all creation. We should keep our differences apart and strive for unity."

Further, he also urged churches to "set an example by word and deed. "Despite the scientific developments we see, some 18000 children die every day because of hunger and malnutrition. It is a problem that can be solved by love and compassion," he pointed, exhorting churches to be more united and engaged in common endeavors.

Archbishop Concessao who is also the president of the NUCF last month had signed a memorandum of understanding in which the members of the ecumenical forum together agreed to "broaden and deepen encounters to foster mutual respect, to explore and address together common challenges."

"We share common goals and establish a cooperative arrangement to strengthen the Church in India and the church's engagement with the poor and the oppressed," the MOU had said.

According to Rev. Richard Howell, the Secretary of NUCF, the members of the forum will "work towards bringing various Christian organisations of service together for a more coordinated action and will actively promote the prophetic engagement of the Church in the socio- political economic life of the nation."

The forum he said will "safeguard and promote human rights and in particular the rights of people belonging to Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and Backward Classes, minority communities, children, women, the poor and the marginalized."