Report
of the National Follow-up Workshop on
"The Local Congregation as the Locus of Dalit Liberation"
CWC, Gurukul, Chennai
21 - 23 June 2006
The 
National
Follow-up Workshop on "The Local Congregation as the Locus of Dalit Liberation"
was held at Church Women Center, Gurukul campus, Chennai from 21-23 June 2006.
This workshop was attended by 60 people from the selected 50 congregations
from all over India. This workshop was a follow up programme to the workshop
that was held in August 2005 in Nagpur. The main aim of this follow-up workshop
was to review, renew and strengthen the selected 50 pilot congregations from
all over India, in their work for the liberation of Dalits per se in their
own context. This follow-up workshop was jointly organized by South Asia Ecumenical
Partnership Programme (SAEPP), National Council of Churches in India (NCCI),
Church of South India (CSI), Church of North India (CNI) and United Evangelical
Lutheran Church in India (UELCI).
The follow-up workshop began with the opening devotion led by the Gurukul Theological College students. After the opening worship, the participants paid their obituary to Rev. Dr. Prasanna Kumari, the Vice- President of NCCI, for this workshop happens to be the first national programme, since she entered the eternal rest. Ms. Sagarika Chetty, Executive Secretary for CJPC, NCCI read out the tribute to Dr. Prasanna.
Rev. Raj Bharath Patta, Executive Secretary, Dalit concerns, NCCI welcomed the guests with a floral bouquet and gave the orientation to the workshop. In his orientation, Rev. Patta, said that this workshop is attempting a reversal of methodology, for the first time, the participants themselves are the resource persons. The congregations' experiences in Dalit liberation will pave way for the furthering of Dalit liberation. He quoted the recent heart throbbing experiences of Dalits, like the attack on Dalits in Arekkal, Andhra Pradesh, ostracization of a Dalit bridegroom for riding a horse in Udaipur, Rajastan, the wiping of Dalits in Ahmednagar in the government Census etc. and explained the grieving situation of Dalits, even in this post modern society. He further said, the tears of Dalits are flowing like a stream, and for some people this stream is like a sight-seeing spot, just view it from afar and do not bother, for some this stream is to wash their feet and head, so they feel sympathetic towards the struggles of Dalits and starts charity rather than do justice. For some, these streams are a means of business, building huge dams across it and create divisions among the Dalit community and cash on it for political gains. But for us Dalits, this stream is life, and we though are bitter yet give taste to others, make flora and fauna to grow, and flow in a clam way externally. The time has come to the local congregations to make this mara sweet and strive for the liberation of Dalits. The local congregation is no longer an institution, but rather a people's movement and so if it is not the local congregation striving for the liberation of Dalits, then it is nobody within the ecclesial levels fighting for this cause, and that is a shame on the church. Rev. Patta then explained the methodology of the programme for the three days.
Bp. Dr. D. K. Sahu, General Secretary, NCCI, gave the inaugural address. He explained the post WCC General Assembly situation, and emphasized the need for being ecumenically together in our struggles for justice. He said locally all the congregations irrespective of denominations and divisions need to be united for this cause of Dalit liberation. Ever since the Nagpur consultation, the local congregations have become strengthened and he appreciated the work of the congregations and urged the congregations to be courageous and bold in their journey of liberation. In a higher tone he said that, unfortunately today the Church in India speaks the accent of an NGO, side tracking the mission & witness of the gospel. The local congregation is the hermeneutic of the gospel, and so she has to set at liberty all that are oppressed. He opined that the local congregation should be the voice of the Dalits, and has to lobby and advocate for the rights of all Dalits in our particular local contexts. The pain and pathos of all the Dalits are similar, and so there is no point for the local congregation to work for just the Christian Dalits, she has to strive for the liberation of all Dalits.
Dr. K. Rajaratnam, Chairperson Commission for Transformation of Society, gave the Keynote address. He appreciated the efforts of the 50 pilot congregations in their work for the liberation of Dalits. He said that ecumenism and liberation should not become idols to each other; rather both should go hand in glove. He asked the participants, what is the favorite book in the Bible? One answered Psalms because it has many prayers, one answered Isaiah because he speaks of justice, but Doctor said, his favorite book in the Bible is "Acts of Apostles." The reason he said was this book contains actions, what was done. So he emphasized the need for actions, making our faith into actions, making our preaching into action. He questioned how many of our church reports, executive committee meetings minutes, diocesan minutes, synod meetings minutes, parish church council meeting minutes match with the Acts of Apostles? May be not even one. So it is high time for the local congregations to act, record the acts of liberation of Dalits. Actions speak louder that words, and so the preaching of the church should be actions, and particularly acts of liberation to the Dalits. Jesus was all along involved in doing actions, rather speaking mere words. The Cross is the highest act any one can do, and it was Jesus who suffered and died on the Cross for the sake of liberating us. Therefore the local congregations' agenda should be the agenda of Jesus. In setting people at liberty, Jesus has to oppose and confront the socio-religious and political structures and hierarchies of his day. And so should be the role of all the true disciples of Jesus. Jesus did not have any reservations in healing the people; he healed all those came to him, so also should the local congregation strive for the liberation with out any reservations and boundaries. Ultimately in his struggle for justice and liberation, Jesus has to be rewarded with the brutal Cross, and so also the local congregation may receive the Cross as a reward in their work for liberation of Dalits, but let the local congregation be bold and courageous. For Jesus himself said that in your struggle for justice, you might have many false allegations laid on you, you may be persecuted, so let the local congregation make Jesus and his agenda as the agenda, and continue to work for the liberation of Dalits, said Doctor. He reminded the four-fold ministry of the local congregation. Worship, nurture, proclamation/evangelism, development are the four-fold pillars of the local congregation, and so every congregation need to concentrate for the holistic liberation. He further emphasized, that the congregation should be ready to take up the Cross, since the means itself become the ends of the church. He said that without addressing the Dalit issue one cannot have an agenda. Today the priorities of the congregations are different, and yet times even with out a mission agenda. He stressed that Jesus' agenda, Nazareth manifesto cannot be neglected, for it acts as an apex for Christian action and faith. He urged the participants to be sensitive the voice of the Dalits, not just the Christian Dalits, but Dalits per se, to form an agenda of the church, which will be in line with the Jesus ideology. He has given the clarion call for the local congregations to work both in season and off-season for the liberation of the Dalits in their particular contexts, and said that this workshop is looking forward to listening all the experiences of the local congregations in Dalit liberation. The local congregations' experiences will help to bring out the priority issues into light, and will help us to find action plans collectively for the liberation of Dalits.
Rev. Abidanandar John concluded the morning session with a word of prayer.
Rev. Patta oriented the participants and invited
the participants to share the experiences of the local congregation in Dalit
liberation. The participants were asked to share their experiences in the
given format.
1. Goals/initiations/programmes of local congregation in Dalit liberation.
2. Achievements/success stories recorded in liberating Dalits in their context.
3. Constraints/problems encountered in liberating Dalits.
4. Challenges faced and put forwarded.
The representatives of local congregations shared their experiences in liberating Dalits. Some were emotional in sharing their experiences, some were discouraged by the problems they faced, and some were startled in encountering certain challenges. The sharing session was very meaningful. Some were creative in their sharing, brought some newspaper cuttings, some presented in a written form, some shared their experiences through songs. The experiences of the congregations revealed, how committed the participants were and how serious was their situations. Ever since the Nagpur consultation, the congregations made it a point locally to strive for the liberation of Dalits with the inputs received. Some recorded certain success; some has to face criticisms for concentrating on the liberal gospel, rather than the evangelical mission of the church. However, the sharing sessions were provoking, encouraging, challenging, and also inspiring.
The experiences of the local congregations are tabulated below here.
|
S.No
|
Goals/initiations/ programmes
|
Achievements/success stories
|
Constraints/problems |
Challenges
|
|
1
|
To give education to the Dalits |
Giving computer training to Dalit
women |
There are many school drop outs among Dalit women and are forced to work as domestic servants | Make Dalit women self-reliant and
educated |
|
2
|
Celebrating local Dalit festivals |
Celebrating Ambedkar and Phule Jayanthi |
There is a doubt of proselytizing Dalits to Christianity when joining them | Promoting Dalit culture and folk arts |
|
3
|
Reconciliation among the Dalit community | Organized a unified political rally |
Bringing unity among the sub-castes within the Dalit community | To be united as Dalit community |
|
4
|
Networking with other platforms of
liberation |
Organized inter-faith prayer meeting on Independence day celebrations | How as a Church can we network with other platforms of liberation? | Strengthening the network for Dalit
liberation |
|
5
|
Giving the agenda of liberation from
the local Church |
Diocesan level awareness programme
to the Pastors |
Church structures have become a hurdle in doing liberation for their priorities are different and put Dalit agenda as part of miscellaneous agenda. | Overcoming the Church structures in
liberation |
|
6
|
Equality in the Church |
Encouraging Dalits and Dalit women to be in the decision making bodies of the local Church | Elitism in the Church, and also within
the Dalits has been a problem |
Breaking the elitist and creamy layer
within the Dalit community. |
The second day began with the opening worship by the Gurukul students. Rev. Dr. Samuel Meshack, Principal, Gurukul Theological College has led the Bible Study. He has chosen Isaiah 42:1-9 as the text and explained God as creator and transformer. And the role of the people is to join in the transformative activity of our God. He has highlighted the role of Cyrus, a Persian king who became the messiah of the Israelites by liberating them from the Babylonian captivity. He has called on the local congregations to work for the liberation of Dalits per se in their contexts. The Bible study was very meaningful and set the tone for the furtherance of the group discussions. Certain priority issues were identified and the participants were divided into groups for a group discussion.
In the evening the groups came back with their feedback. There were lively discussions on the group reports. The following were the group reports.
|
How can we as local congregations
partner with other platforms of liberation in liberating Dalits per
se in our local contexts?
|
||
|
Analysis
|
Biblical Response
|
Action Plan
|
|
Oppression and discrimination has been of same intensity to all Dalits, irrespective of religion, caste and creed. Christian Dalits are only a part of the larger
Dalits per se. |
Jesus' Nazareth manifesto is to set at liberty
to all that are oppressed, and not just the Christian oppressed, there
fore Church should work for the liberation of all Dalits and also need
to network with. King Cyrus, a Persian king liberated Israelites.
For the liberation of Isrealites from Egypt,
God has networked with Pharoah's daughter by saving Moses, the midwives
who rescued the boy babies from being slaughtered, Moses, Aaron and
Miriam etc all together worked together. The equal partnership among Father, Son and
Holy Spirit in liberation process. |
Start evening schools for the Dalit children. Encourage Dalit cultural and folk arts. Organizing sports and other competitions by the Church to all people on Independence day etc. Providing free legal aid. Making churches open as rehabilitation centers on cases of emergency and violence. Join with all like-minded people and organizations for the cause of liberation. Encourage Dalit journalism. Celebrating human rights day and other Dalit festivals. Forget to convert people rather strive for transformation. Organize an inter-faith platform for liberation. Preach in the churches about the networking for liberation. |
The third day began with the opening worship by the Gurukul students. Dr. Sam Matthew, HOD New Testament, Gurukul has led the Bible Study on Mark 2:1-12. He said, Jesus offered forgiveness of sins with out priests, temple, burnt offerings, sacrifices and other structures. Jesus did not have any reservations in healing people who ever come to him. Jesus rewarded the faith of the people carrying the sick man. They did not have any identity, yet for them the healing of their friend was prominent. So the local congregations today need to be like these people, not just craving for name and fame rather strive for the liberation and healing of the Dalits. Liberation is Jesus' agenda and so should be that of the Church. The Jews went in for a theological discussion how forgiveness of sins? But for Jesus neither a doctrine nor a dogma nor a ritual nor a tradition can stop him from healing and liberating.
The participants then presented a skit of a story that happened in Tamilnadu. One Dalit women Muthumari, an agricultural and domestic labourer was harassed by her land lord, and how the local community revolted against the land lord was performed in the skit. The strength of being united as a community was well depicted and their revolt was also well shown in the skit, and this skit has given the challenge to be united in revolting against all oppressive and humiliating acts done to Dalits. The skit was well appreciated by all. Then the second group presented their group report.
| What are the enabling and constraining aspects of Church structure vis-à-vis Dalit liberation? | ||
|
Analysis
|
Biblical Reflection
|
Action Plan
|
|
The local churches priorities and the diocesan level priorities differ, and the higher level tries to rub their agenda on the local church. The understanding of Church as people's movement rather than an institution is an enabling aspect of the Church. When all the local congregations in the diocese can start working together for the liberation of Dalits, it shall enable and make the structures to partake in the liberation process. The Dalit agenda coming from the local congregation is given a deaf ear and the higher levels of Church structures tries to implement Dalit liberation in their own way. For the cause of Dalit liberation, when the local congregation wants to network with other non-Christian platforms, the Church structures constrain such networking. The Church is well organized decentralized,
so it is easy to organize Dalit liberation in that structure. |
In the early Church, the apostles addressed the needs of the local people, and house churches or local churches were the locus in implementing the gospel. The local issues were taken to the synod level discussions. E.g. Jerusalem Council in the book of Acts. For Jesus, the structures of religion did not stop him to preach the good news of justice and liberation and in doing the healings. For Jesus the agenda of His gospel emerged from the local contexts. Paul stood boldly in front of the structures and authorities for the cause of gospel. Jesus revolted and took a whip at the unjust structures and practices in his days. For Moses, in their journey of liberation from
Egypt, even though the community was grumbling and constraining him,
yet he believed that liberation is God's and continued the liberation.
|
Let the Dalit agenda come from the local congregations and then be taken up at higher levels and not the vice versa. The parish church councils and local church councils need to give a priority in their church for Dalit liberation and continue the work for the cause of gospel even though there comes no support from any others. Awareness to pastors and local Church leaders to implement Dalit liberation. Let each local church become a model church to the diocese and synods by implementing Dalit liberation. For the cause of Dalit liberation, the local congregation needs to be bold in opposing the unjust practices of the structures. The local congregation needs to take full support of the other higher levels of the church, and together work for the liberation of Dalits. The Church institutions need to give preference to the Dalit students irrespective of religion. Let the slogan be "Another Church is Possible". |
There was a lively discussion on the report of the second group. Then the third group presented their report.
|
How can the local congregations
overcome the divisions and differences among the Dalit communities in
our contexts?
|
||
|
Analysis
|
Biblical Reflection
|
Action Plan
|
|
Lot of divisions and differences exist today among our Dalit communities. Marriages are not preferred among these communities on the basis of different divisions. The upper castes take this as an advantage to further divide and oppress Dalits. Within the Dalit communities, there is a great rift and rivalry for the reservations given by the government. Each division among Dalits looks down upon each other assuming that one is superior to the other. The local congregations are now choosing their
own division man to be their Pastor. (E.g. A Mala Community prefers
a Mala Pastor and a Madiga community prefers a Madiga Pastor to cater
their pastoral needs) there by further intensifying the gap between
the divisions among the Dalits. |
How good it is for the brothers and sisters to live together in harmony. (Psalm 133:1). Love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus was always other-centered, bridging the gaps. There is neither Jew, nor Greek, Master nor Salve, Men nor Women, for all are one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28) Jesus said, "Let they all may be one as I and my Father." John 17:21 The unity among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the Trinity can be best implied for the unity among the divisions. The out come of Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, where both Jews and non-Jews were accepted into the Christian fold. Inter-ethnic marriage by Ruth and Boaz etc. can
be a means of bringing in unity among two communities. |
No exclusive Pastors of their divisions be appointed in their own community. Encourage inter-caste and inter-tribe marriages among the Dalit communities. The local church can initiate unity building measures among the Dalits. Empower the Dalits on the reservation and other contemporary issues. Political awareness education to the Dalits be given. Exposure to conflict ridden and resolved contexts to the various sub-Dalit communities. Sunday school curriculum be given emphasis on the unity and reconciliation among the Dalits. Organize Dalit festivals of all the sub-divisions and invite all Dalits to them. Observe Dalit Sunday every year in the Church with a special emphasis on the reconciliation and unity among the Dalits. |
After the presentation of the third group also there was a lively discussion by all the participants.
Finally Dr. K. Rajaratnam led the "rededication of the local congregations for Dalit liberation". In rededicating the local congregations, Doctor has called on each participant to be faithful to their calling in liberating Dalits in their own contexts. He has expressed his happiness that the participants have taken serious of the issue and asked them to work tirelessly for the cause of liberation to the Dalits. He said if these 50 congregations know how to respond to the gospel and can implement the Dalit liberation, the credibility of the gospel is maintained. He further said salvation is not secondary to liberation, but they both go together. When we are all involved in the liberation of Dalits, it does not mean that we have abandoned the objective of preaching, but rather we are living out the preaching. Liberation is certainly the act of Jesus and so we as the followers of Christ are continuing that legacy by liberating the Dalits. He further said, Jesus never asked people whether they were Christians or disciples, but just went on healing without any reservations, therefore let us go liberating people with out any reservations. He also said, we need to become impatient to ourselves and be sensitive to the sufferings of the Dalits and then a new Church arises. So if all these congregations start implementing Dalit liberation, we as a Church can influence many others to partake in this great movement of liberation. In a final note Doctor said, revitalize gospel in all our lives and partake in liberating Dalits and share all your experiences.
In the concluding valedictory service, all the participants were asked to offer something valuable to them (like wrist watch, gold ring etc.) as a token of their commitment on a table and after the closing prayer were asked to take back those valuables so that these shall remind the participants to always work for the liberation of the Dalits in their context.
The workshop ended in a closing prayer and a group photo .
Rev. Raj Bharath Patta,
Executive Secretary, Dalit Concerns,
NCCI, Nagpur. top