Gratitude from Rev. Govada Dyvasirvadam
Dear General Secretary Bae:
The Church exists as ' communion' of communities, and people of God in making themselves as disciples of Christ. Each local church is catholic (universals) in itself, in her relationship with other churches at large, while retaining the identity and culture of particularity. Church always exercises mission, through her local community.
God's kingdom is proclaimed and discovered in her local context. With all the tensions among the local communities among the various confessional traditions mission has one goal, that is of leading to unity of all God's people.
The Church's mission is to bring new life, to build bridges among the broken communities for healing and reconciliation to reflect the Kingdom of God in their local contexts. It is in this manner the incarnational experience is constantly renewed, for a fresh experience to live out the faith in the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
The Church always recognises the strengths of the communities around and longs to seek right relationship, union, and partnership. In this journey of partnership of Churches the new culture prevails on the path of unity and solidarity irrespective of denominations and ethnicities of all people of God.
With this move of unity and solidarity we break the boundaries and redraw the borders of the life of the Church. Church transcending and overcoming the tendency of a reduction of Christianity to within ethnic bounds. The ethos of the mission is to share the responsibility of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is in this context Church of South India seeks cooperation and partnership with Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea for the continued collegiality of the faith- journey in giving leadership to the people of God.
The commonality of our churches in both contexts is to build a new hope among the dalit and minjung communities, towards calling the people within the churches to discover the movement of the spirit of God.
This call to the church is to empower the exploited, and beleaguered communities to live out the Gospel values that our Lord Jesus proclaimed in the Nazareth manifesto.
It is through this practise the church acts as the voice and the vision of the oppressed people irrespective of their faiths and ideologies towards building vibrant communities reflecting the Kingdom of God.
Our common cultural ethos in India and Korea is 'plurality' and a longing for peace. This tradition of peace and non violence in this two contexts and cultures (in India and Korea) must be continued through the witness of our churches.
It is in this context the church must play a crucial role as instrument of reconciliation and peace maker. It is crucial because the church in India is watched carefully with a critical eye by the new government.
The initial stage of mysterious silence of our government towards the church may have many manifestations. However the foundation of two thousand years of Christian faith encourages us to move forward.
Therefore our visit and participation from Church of South India in this great assembly of PROK is intended to renew our partnership for the reconstruction of our missional efforts towards building an alternate community for the glory of God.
On behalf of Church of South India I and our General Secretary wish and pray a meaningful conduct of the 99th assembly bringing radical resolutions for the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
Most Rev. Govada Dyvasirvadam
Moderator, Church of South India
[이 게시물은 관리자님에 의해 2016-11-03 21:39:53 총무 칼럼에서 이동 됨]
