Rev. Dr. A.G. Augustine Jayakumar was elected as the new Executive Secretary of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India by the Executive Committee, which met on 17th March 2006. He succeeds Rev. Chandran Paul Martin who joins the Lutheran World Federation as its Deputy General Secretary. Rev. Dr. A.G. Augustine Jayakumar hails from the Arcot Lutheran Church and has served the UELCI in several capacities for more than three decades. Currently he is the Executive Secretary, LWF National Committee (India) and Director of Division of Social Action. Having had his theological education at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Rev. Dr. A.G. Augustine Jayakumar has had distinguished service in the ALC and in the UELCI. After serving several congregations as a Pastor, Dr. Augustine Jayakumar became the Emergency Secretary and the Project Officer in the UELCI. Later he became the Director of the Division of Social Action and was elected as the Executive Secretary, LWF National Committee (India) in June 2003. Dr. Augustine Jayakumar brings with him the tremendous experience and knowledge of the Indian Lutheran communion. Rev. Dr. A.G. Augustine Jayakumar as Executive Secretary will head all the units of the UELCI and will also serve as the Council member of the LWF. The ACADEMY conferred the title Doctor of Divinity Honoris causa in recognition of his contribution. Dr. K. Rajaratnam, veteran church leader was elected as the Executive Secretary, LWF National Committee (India). He has held this position earlier as well. Dr. K. Rajaratnam has a distinguished position in the Indian Lutheran and in the ecumenical scene. He has served the LWF as the Asia Secretary and has been at the helm of affairs in the UELCI for more than four decades. He was also the President of NCCI. He has served the UELCI as the Executive Secretary for a long time. Currently he is the Director of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute. Dr. William Stanley, Director of the IRDWSI has been appointed as the Director of the Division of Social Action succeeding Rev. Dr. A.G. Augustine Jayakumar. This structure will function from the middle of May 2006.

Rev. Chandran Paul Martin, currently the Executive Secretary of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) will be taking up the position of LWF Deputy General Secretary. He will also assume responsibility for the LWF Office for Planning, and for Council meetings. He will be taking over tasks currently carried out by incumbent LWF Deputy General Secretary Ms. Karin Achtelstetter. Rev.Chandran has been a member of the LWF Council since 2003, serving as Vice-Chairperson of the Programme Committee for Communication Services. As UELCI Executive Secretary since 2002, Rev. Martin is responsible for overall coordination, priority setting and strategic planning management for various development-related activities of the 11-member Lutheran Church body representing over 3 million Christians in India. Prior to joining the UELCI as Executive Secretary he had served as Communications Secretary for the National Council of Churches in India for five years. He has been a strong advocate for the Dalit people’s liberation through a national process involving the churches, Dalit communities, governments and civil society movements. He has authored and co-edited several publications and papers on the churches’ perspectives on pertinent issues such as water, Dalit liberation, and Communication & Power. The UELCI family, with a deep sense of loss, wishes him success and God’s guidance in his future endeavors. (Excerpts from Lutheran World Information, 14th April, 2006)

The UELCI family records its homage to the late Rev. Dr. Prasanna Kumari Samuel, former Executive Secretary of the UELCI. It also records the contributions Dr.Kumari has made to UELCI, Lutheran World Federation in various capacities, as Chairperson of Department of Theological Studies, as a member of various committees and as the Vice President of Lutheran World Federation and to the ecumenical movements. With thanksgiving to God for her life and contribution, the UELCI recognizes the visions which led to the establishment of Church Women’s Centre, Slum Women’s Advancement Programme and Gurukul. In the death of Dr. Prasannakumari, the UELCI has lost a committed church worker, a visionarian and an ecumenist. We express our deep sense of sorrow to the members of the family.

Death toll has risen to 10 in Orissa following the killing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu fundamentalist party, leader Swami Lakshmanananda. At Barkhama village in the worst-hit Kandhamal district, where the majority is Christian, a mob set afire several shops and houses. Attacks on churches, prayer houses and properties were also reported from different parts of the district. This is not the first time that the religious minorities are bearing the brunt of the Hindu fundamentalist’s ire for no fault of theirs. A woman inmate of an orphanage in Bargarh district was burnt alive during a bandh called by the VHP and its allies. The violence in the State reminds us of the tragic episode in which Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons were killed in the Manoharpur village of Keonjhar district in 1999. Such inhuman and cold-blooded vandalism expose the destructive character of communalism. Just a Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, VHP and its ilk torch churches for the killings perpetrated by Maoists. If left unchecked, these groups will tinker with the very basis of secular democracy and pluralism. Any form of religious communalism mars democracy and should be resisted regardless of one’s political and religious inclinations and affinities. Religious and political leaders should rise above parochial considerations and come forward with a positive solution to stem this lunatic fringe which is trying to push India into the dark ages. Information & Communication Desk, UELCI.

The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) held its 27th Triennial Conference in Inter-Church Service Association, Chennai. “Overcome Evil with Good” was the theme of the November 27-29, 2008 Conference. Around 150 delegates including the Presidents/Bishops/Moderators, Vice-Presidents, Executive Committee members, Secretaries and Treasurers of the eleven member churches of UELCI, Chairpersons and Secretaries of each Desk attended the Conference. In the keynote address, Rt. Rev. Dr. Devasahayam, Bishop, CSI, Madras Diocese extensively quoted the violence against hapless Christians in the Orissa debacle. Speaking on the theme he noted, “Suffering is not God’s will,” and added “How do we respond to the suffering as Christian is what is important”. Rev. Dr. Augustine Jeyakumar in the Executive Secretary’s report focused on the projects and programmes of UELCI and on the challenges of being in the communion today. Significant challenges in the present context on various issues such as climate change, gender justice, HIV/AIDS, emergency and development, role of youth, dalit/Adivasi concerns, peace and reconciliation, growing gap between the rich and poor, and the necessity for constructive relationships between people of different religious convictions were highlighted in the reports of the respective desks. With immense gladness we bring the news of inclusion of one more Lutheran church, Nepal Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church, in the UELCI family which now has the privilege of serving 12 member churches. Following are the new office bearers elected who will serve the Lutheran fraternity in India in the following triennium. President - Rt .Rev. Godwin Nag, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States Vice President – Rt. Rev. Dr. H. A. Martin, Bishop, Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church Vice President – Mrs. Manikumari Christopher, Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Vice President – Mr. Sem Hemrom, Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church Executive Secretary, UELCI & LWF National Committee (India) – Rev. Dr. A. G. Augustine Jeyakumar, Arcot Lutheran Church Joint Secretary – Mr. Ramesh Khosla, Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church Treasurer – Mr. Jaya Rao, South Andhra Lutheran Church Their contacts could be found in the following web address. http://www.uelci.org/office-bearers.asp

The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI), Mission and Development Partners Round Table Meeting held in YMCA, Chennai during January 24-26, 2009 marked a significant landmark in the historical landscape of UELCI. “Accompanying each other for Justice and Life” was the theme of the 2009 Round Table Meeting. The meeting observed the participation of Lutheran World Federation (LWF), World Council of Churches (WCC), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany (VELKD), Church of Sweden Mission (CSM), Lutheran Partners in Global Mission (LPGM), Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), Normisjon, Danmission, Lutheran World Relief India (LWRI), Dan Church Aid (DCA), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and Tamil Nadu Christian Council (TNCC). Rev. Dr. Augustine Jeyakumar, Executive Secretary, UELCI & LWF National Committee India in his welcome address noted that the Round Table Meeting is a significant podium to open more new doors of opportunities for a broader and wider cooperation and diakonia among mission and development partners. He declared open the Round Table Meeting quoting the Scripture verse, “if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile” - Mt. 5: 41. Rev. Chandran Paul Martin, Deputy General Secretary, LWF in his orientation briefed about the rationale of LMCI – its founding, process, governance and coordination, methodology and the sessions scheduled for the meeting. In the keynote address Dr. Kjell Nordstokke, Director, DMD, LWF enumerated about Mission and Diakonal Strategies in the Changing Context. He opined, “Diakonia is an integral part of the gospel,” and added that “a new paradigm is imperative in these current changing contexts.” The presentation on Contemporary Mission Focus and Coordination Mission Round Table by Rev. Inken Woehlbrand, Oberkirchenratin, VELKD focused on the present status of LMCI, role of the church and its mission. “The very nature of being is ecclesia and the activity of becoming is missiology and they are intrinsically intertwined” quoted Rev. Woehlbrand in her presentation. The session on climate change and transformative practices in the changing context by Dr. George Zachariah, Professor, Gurukul Lutheran Theological College highlighted the need for the churches in the developing and the third world countries to raise its prophetic voice against this human right issue. Concepts on Purpose Driven Church and Art and Gospel were enunciated by Mr. Oddvar Holmedal, Project Coordinator, Normisjon and Rev. Henrik Sonne Petersen, Programme Manager, Danmission respectively. New Partnership in Global Diakonia presented by Rev. Joseph Chu, Programme Director, ELCA and New Partnership in Humanitarian Aid presented by Mr. Kishore Kumar Nag brought about ELCA’s global mission approach and the ACT alliance process respectively. Participation from Henry Martin Institute and Christian Institute of Management shed light correspondingly on Interfaith Praxis and Capacity Building. Reflection on the existing policies of cooperation was discussed by the panel comprising Dr. George Chunakara, Programme Executive for Asia, WCC; Rev. Martin, and Rev. Woehlbrand. Participants were divided into three groups to discuss on 1) Review of LMCI terms of reference and administrative guidelines viz-a-viz merging of LMCI and Round Table, 2) Vision and purpose of Round Table viz-a-viz merging of LMCI and Round Table, and 3) Prioritizing the issues/recommendations. The group discussions led to the following recommendations: prophetic diakonal approach, partnership values, LWF scholarship, transparency and spiritual leadership, capacity building as priority in churches, purpose driven church, ecological concerns with focus on climate change, analytical paradigm on religious tolerance and pluralism, evangelism, art and gospel, peace and reconciliation in the churches and conflict management. The Round Table Meeti

Hundreds of people from many parts of the country and continents representing various churches, organizations, educational institutions – theological and secular, ecumenical and people’s movements, resource agencies and non-governmental organizations paid homage to the ‘leader’. Church leaders around the world recognized the contributions of Rajaratnam. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Deputy General Secretary Rev. Chandran Paul Martin in his tribute mentioned that many in the LWF communion and in the secretariat, marking special attention to the LWF President Bishop Mark Hanson and the General Secretary Dr. Ishmael Noko, send their love and grief. He pointed that “This [Ziegenbalg] auditorium reverberates many of his dreams and visions. It will be not be an exaggeration to say that most of his initiatives were born, designed and graduated here.” Rajaratnam championed the cause of the needy and the oppressed – the dalits, adivasis and women. Chandran quoted a message of Bishop Hanson on Rajaratnam: “Your prophetic leadership has challenged the church in India, the churches of the LWF and the World Council of Churches (WCC) to make Dalit liberation a primary missionary objective.” Rajaratnam was the LWF Asia Secretary and the LWF National Committee India Executive Secretary. “We’ve all lost a friend, a champion, a visionary and a good human being,” said Chandran. “Many of the unique firsts and fruits of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) can be attributed to the leadership of Dr. K. Rajaratnam,” opined Rev. Asir Ebenezer the NCCI Officiating General Secretary. Rajaratnam was the President of the NCCI. “The first ever ecumenical HIV/AIDS initiative of the NCCI, programme for the North East India concerns, among others, can in part or whole be attributed to the vision and tireless efforts of the genius,” added Asir. The ability to sight and train young leadership in the fields of church and ecumenism, and the courage to trust mission and movement in untested potential anew bear witness to the faith that Rajaratnam had in people as co-workers of God. The Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) President Rev. Dr. Suneel Bhanu earlier referred Rajaratnam as ‘Moses of the contemporary world’. “A leader,” remarked the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) Executive Secretary Rev. Dr. Augustine Jeyakumar, “is one who fights for and defends each individual’s rights in the midst of colossal structures of oppression and perfidy. Dr. Rajaratnam is one such leader.” Rajaratnam, 89, had been at the helm of affairs in the UELCI for more than four decades. He had served the communion as the Executive Secretary. “He was a man of faith and action,” noted Church of South India (CSI) Karnataka South Diocese Bishop J. S. Sadananda, the successor of Rajaratnam as Master, Council of Serampore College (Dr. Rajaratnam stepped down as the Master on March 26, 2010) in his tribute. “He challenged the church to rethink its mission and witness,” he added. He made theological education a part of the church’s agenda and building Gurukul, though named Lutheran College, as an ecumenical centre of learning. Gurukul Principal Rev. Dr. Samuel Meshack emphasized Rajaratnam’s relentless struggle to make theological education relevant and to move towards a bold theological vision. Rajaratnam had been the Director of Gurukul for many years. Rev. Dr. Phil Baker representing the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in his homily comforted the bereaved through the words of Paul, “neither death, nor life, …, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8: 38,39). He repeatedly uttered “Death can have no power over you [Rajaratnam]. You are mine [Christ’s].” Member of the Parliament in the Lok Sabha and a Dalit activist Dr. Thirumavalavan earlier said, “He showed us by doing God’s work one can love people and by doing people’s work