Christians in India have been helping all & sundry, with almost all the beneficiaries being non-Christians, we ourselves being a 2 % minority. Often, this is also at the cost of our very own deserving. If we don’t help ourselves, who will help us? Imagine what heights Christians would have reached, if the community had put most of its resources, into developing its own neglected lot. This is not to say that nothing has been done or that we reduce on our social services for India’s teeming millions but rather – Its time we work in a more co-ordinated manner for better results, before more churches are destroyed, innocent blood is spilled, businesses crippled, clergy & laity targeted.
A group of business persons, professionals, activists & clergy from North-South-East-West, met in Mumbai last month, disturbed by the plight of Christians in India. We concluded after brain-storming, that we needed to desperately constitute a Parliament of Indian Christians (PIC), which would comprise of over 1000 persons from all parts of the country & representing all shades of Christianity in terms of rites, clergy, laity, religious, denominations, congregations, evangelical & pentecostal churches, etc.
The PIC’s basic objectives will be to build & further the economic, political & social interests of Christians through democratic & constitutional means. It will together be - a political advocacy group, a human/minority rights lobby, a community development initiative, chamber of commerce…. It could not get bigger than this for Christians & will be an apex federation seeking to place issues affecting us as Indian citizens, on the national agenda. The ultimate aim being to convert Christians from being passive by-standers into active interventionists / participants in the national mainstream - not second class citizens.
Among those who were present or committed themselves are - Dr. John Dayal, George Menezes, Dr. Abraham Mathai, Adv Arokiadoss, Eugene Gonsalves, Gordon D’souza, Savio Gonsalves, Fatima Dias, etc. Hundreds of prominent clergy & laity from every field have also sent in their dedication to the cause & are to support PIC in some way or the other. The PIC is open to individuals & organisations (just about anybody & everybody) interested in doing something for Christians & protecting them from discrimination or persecution in India.
We therefore decided to form an Organising Committee to birth this PIC and are meeting in Mumbai tentatively on 20th December to plan the same. The task at hand is huge & we need volunteers. We are appealing to those whom God has blessed with a little more in terms of resources & talents, to come to Mumbai and dedicate yourselves to this cause. It will be required initially that you bear your travel expenses and we could take care of the victuals for the day. Meetings will be for a day, every month & if you can make, please do - the community needs you to be there.
If you can’t travel to Mumbai monthly, then you could sponsor /adopt someone or help from right where you are. Some areas we are looking for representatives are mentioned in the PS, but more can be added. Our aim is to cover every 1000 Christians with at least 12 representatives. Those interested in principle may kindly, send me your contact details and I will get in touch. Please treat this an the only invitation.
