By Saramma Emmanuel
Damoh: Church leaders from 30 countries, including India, have pledged to break the walls of differences between denominations and nationalities to work together to spread the “kingdom values.”
The decision came on January 15 at the end of a four-day global gathering at the ancient central Indian town of Damoh, Madhya Pradesh state.
More than 3600 delegates including 260 from abroad, attended the ecumenical gathering that began on January 12 evening with a plenary session held in a beautifully decorated specially erected tent with a large banner as the backdrop depicting the theme, “God Breaks Down Walls to Build Bridges – for a brighter future of the world focused on the teaching of Jesus Christ.”
Ajai Lall, president of the global meet, welcomed the guests. This was followed by a traditional welcome dance by the students of a nursing school.
Lall heads the Central Indian Christian Mission (CICM) headquartered at Damoh that helps works among the poor and the needy in 11 central and northern Indian states.
The delegates joined a parade holding their national flags pledging unity among nations on the first day of the global gathering.
Lall, in his presidential address, identified three walls that hinder human progress: the wall between head and heart, the wall between faith and action, and the wall between traditionalism and truth. Breaking down these walls is necessary to forge a grant alliance to propagate the teachings of Jesus Christ, he added.
“Jesus”, according to him, “came down to tear down those walls” to ensure lasting peace and harmony among the people of God.
Brent Liebezeit of Nelson from New Zealand reminded the delegates to remember that “Jesus is God with us” and urged them to allow “Jesus to lead us into a revolution that takes us beyond borders to tear down walls of guilt, shame, and failure.”
“The gathering also deliberated on bridging the cultural barriers, connecting women and youths among a host of issues that helps bring the Churches together for sharing the God News to the people.
“We have different talents and when people with different talents come together a society become complete, so is the case when it comes to God’s mission,” said R D Lall, one of the participants.
“Europe has heritage and knowledge, the US has gift of resources, Africa has gift of joy and other continents and countries have their own uniqueness, which if shared with others it will make the mission complete one,” he added.
He also said the gathering has agreed to share these talents with those who lack as part of the mission to spread God’s love to all breaking the walls of barriers that block children of God from coming together.
Father Anand Muttungal of Bhopal archdiocese, speaking on “unity and mission in Asia,” said, “everyone should be allowed to worship the way they do it now in their Churches and homes but should come together for all other purposes as one Christian family.”
“Mostly division takes place when religious leaders involve,” added the priest, who is a promoter of ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.