National Council of Churches in India to appoint new general secretary

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) is to appoint a new general secretary by the beginning of January 2010.

The council is currently inviting applications from qualified candidates who have minimum 15-20 years of pastoral and administrative experience in Church or its organisations.

NCCI is an apex body of the Protestant and Orthodox churches in India, and represents more than 13 million Christians throughout the country.

The general secretary as chief functionary of the council shall be responsible to the Assembly, General Body and Executive Committee, to implement the policies and programmes of the council in association with other Secretaries.

Apart from general administration and supervision, the general secretary will be responsible for mobilization of resources and developing and interpreting the strategic vision of the ecumenical body.

In a statement, NCCI said the candidate should be between 45-60 years and must be recommended/endorsed by the NCCI member Church of which he/she is the member. The term is for five years with effect from January 4, 2010.

The National Council of Churches in India is autonomous and inter-confessional comprising Churches, Regional Christian Councils, All India Christian Organizations and Related Agencies.

The council unites together churches and other Christian organizations for mutual consultation, assistance and action in all matter related to Christian endeavor.

The council was established in 1914 as the National Missionary Council. In 1923, the council constituted itself as the National Christian Council of India, Burma and Ceylon. However, later the councils of Burma and Sri Lanka separated and in 1979 the council transformed itself into what is known as the National Council of Churches in India.

The NCCI is made up of twenty-nine Member Churches , fourteen Regional Councils, fourteen All India Organizations and seven Related Agencies. .