News: Msgr S Jayanathan, Bangalore Archdiocese
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SB)

Bangalore, Oct 9: The Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (KUCFHR) held second general body meeting at the Richmond Road Methodist Church here, recently.

More than 100 church leaders from across Karnataka including a dozen Bishops of different churches
attended the second general assembly of Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore.

Moras, chairman of the Ecumenical Christian Forum said: “This forum calls for us to unite ourselves and to strengthen this forum. We need to come together to experience our Christian fellowship by keeping aside our differences and to find ways and means to promote true unity and solidarity among ourselves, especially in the situations where our unity is all the more needed and called for. ”He very clearly explained to the participants the salient features of the memorandum of understanding, and the common minimum programme formulated for KUCFHR. Moras was happy to know that the forum has already set up eight regional units across the state for ‘united witness and action’ on Christian concerns.

The formation of the forum with the participation of all the major Christian denominations like Catholics, Evangelicals, Methodists, Orthodox, Pentecostals and Protestants came in the wake of unprecedented spurt in attacks on the Christians in the state from September 2008. “We have gathered here together because of the attacks we have faced. I thank God for the atrocities on Christians in Karnataka during last two years. No other state in the country has such a strong (informal) ecumenical network” said Bishop Vasant Kumar, Moderator of the Church of South India (CSI), addressing the convention of the ecumenical forum presided over by Moras.

Methodist Bishop Taranth Sagar, the host of the meeting, congratulated Archbishop Bernard Moras for his initiative and encouragement in starting the forum in the state and the keen interest he is taking in its smooth functioning. “We have to maximize our essentials and minimize our non-essentials that divide us,” said Bishop Taranath Sagar who is also the president of the National Council of Churches in India that groups 30 Orthodox and Protestant churches in India.

In his Keynote address Bishop Samuel Mathew of Believers Church said that we need to study the development and growth of the Church in this post-modern era, which poses a number of challenges to all of us. He also expressed his concern about the dissemination of the forum’s objectives to all the followers of Christ in Karnataka. He made a strong appeal to the members to become the instruments of unity and promoters of justice in the society.

At this meeting, the members also discussed about the plan of action for KUCFHR and its implementation. The meeting ended with all the participants holding hands together and singing the hymn 'Bind us together Lord' – in unison. Archbishop Bernard Moras, chairman of the forum, said the concluding prayer and blessed all the participants.