ACADEMY OF INTEGRATED CHRISTIAN STUDIES

Paper presentation on Ecumenical Movement

Topic : National Council of Churches in India (NCCI)

Presenter : Israel Lalramluahpuia, Roll No- 11, BD-IV

Respondent : Lalruatsanga Chhakchhuak. Dt. 8.2.2024

INTRODUCTION
India is a vast country with having different denominations among the Christians. It is not the
own will of the Christian members to belong to their denominations but they became a members of that
denomination according to the missionaries they met. If this division is not ceased, the brotherhood of
Christians can be ruined, but if the Christians work together, it will make effective action in facing
problems in this world, at the same time, the native people in the Mission field would not be confused.
This paper we will deal with such co-operation among Christians in India through NCCI.

1. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN INDIA (NCCI)

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) is an ecumenical expression of Protestant and
Orthodox Churches as well as ecumenical organizations, regional councils and agencies in India. The
National Missionary Council established in 1914. This National Missionary Council was the early forms
of National Council of Churches. Now the National Missionary Council is known as the National
Council of Churches in India. The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) was affiliated to the
International Missionary Council. In the course of time, it became an organization of wider ecumenical
importance as other All India Christian Agencies came into its fellowship. In 1923, the council
constituted itself as the National Christian Council of India, Burma, and Ceylon. Later, the Councils of
Burma and Sri Lanka separated from it. In 1979, the council transformed itself into the NCCI. 1

Now, the National Council of Churches in India is the inter confessional autonomous council. It’s
coordinates, promotes and embraces the various forms of the churches’ ministry; for the people
including the churches and Christian organizations; which we know as YWCA (Young Women’s
1
Ipe Joseph “National Council of Churches in India” in The Oxford Encyclopaedia of South Asian Christianity,
vol.1 edited By Roger E Hedlund (New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2012), 473.

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Christian Association) of India; National council of YMCA; Inter faith relations and Reconciliations;
Student Christian Movement of India (SCMI); Bible Society of India (BSI); Churches Auxiliary for
Social Action (CASA).

Ecumenically, National Council of Churches in India is a member of the WCC. NCCI’s secretariat is
located in Nagpur. Major commissions of NCCI are: The Commission of Evangelism; Mission and
Ecumenism; The Commission on transforming of Society; The commission on Polity and National
governance; The commission on Life, Justice, Peace and creation; and the Commission on Dalits,
Adivasi and Tribals.

The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) completed in 2014 hundred years of its service to the
churches in India. Now it is 110 years.

2. ROLE OF NCCI

The NCCI has given expression to its life and work in the context of the historical developments in the
country. India has gone through several changes and challenges since its independence. The 1950s and
60s were characterized by India declaring itself as a republic, with its concerns for nation building,
implementation of five year plans, etc. Churches too were committed to nation building. The seventies
witnessed the imposition of the Emergency. The churches had to play a responsible role. The NCCI was
transformed into a Council of Churches. The struggles of development caught up with country during
the 1980s, while movements for justice and liberation for the poor, for women, for Dalits and
tribals/Adivasis also began to take shape. India witnessed the intensification of fundamentalism and
communalism, as well as growing power and impact of regional political parties and coalition politics.
The church is called on to provide savant leadership in this context, ensuring inclusion, equity, and
justice to all sections of society. 2

The NCCI is an Inter-confessional autonomous Council and an ecumenical expression constantly

initiating, promoting and coordinating various forms of ministries of Witness and Service in the wider
community and society. The Council also serves as a common platform for thought and action and as
such it brings together the Churches and other Christian organisations for mutual consultation, assistance

2
National Council of Churches in India. https://www.coursehero.com/file/100923926/NCCIdocx/ (Accessed on 5th
February 2024)

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and action in all matters related to the life and witness of the Churches in India. The NCCI is committed
to the Gospel values of Justice, Unity & Peace.3

3. MISSION OF NCCI

NCCI is called to facilitate and strengthen ecumenical bonds of unity among the churches, as a visible
expression of being members of the one body of Christ. Through such ecumenical togetherness, it is
committed to serve all of creation by giving expression to the various implications of the gospel.
Through such unity and service, NCCI continues to bear witness to Jesus, the gospel and the movement
for the realisation of the ‘reign of God’. The mission of NCCI is to participate in efforts towards
realising just and inclusive communities through collaborative programmes with the churches at local,
national and international levels, people’s movements, grassroots communities, community based
organisations, faith communities, and governments. Affirming solidarity with the social, economic and
political initiatives of the communities such as Dalit, tribal, women, children, youth, migrants, persons
with disabilities, different sexual orientations, religious and linguistic minorities, and PLWHA (people
living with HIV/AIDS) who have been historically disadvantaged and excluded, NCCI will facilitate
and accompany the churches through joint action simultaneously reforming church and society.4

4. AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF NCCI

The objects of the NCCI are “to stimulate thinking and investigation on missionary questions; to enlist
in the solution of these questions the best knowledge and experience to be found in India and other
countries, and to make the results available to all churches and Missions in India; too help to co-ordinate
the activities of the Regional Christian Councils; and through common consultation to help to form
Christian public opinion and bring it to bear on the moral and social problems of the day.”5

4.1. Primary objectives

I. Providing fellowship and a common forum for dialogue and for fostering common concerns among
the Churches in India.

3
National Council of Churches in India . https://ncci1914.com/introduction/ (Accessed on 5th February 2024).
4
Introduction – NCCI - National Council of Churches in India. https://ncci1914.com/introduction/#:~:text=The
%20mission%20of%20NCCI%20is,%2C%20faith%20communities%2C%20and%20governments. (Accessed on 6th
February 2024).
5
Frank Short, “National Councils of Churches,” in the Ecumenical Advance; A History of the Ecumenical
Movement Vol. 2 1948-1968, edited by Harold E. Fey (Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1986), 97.

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II. Promoting Church Unity as a basic requirement for the life and work of the Church in India and as an
essential step for restoring in wholeness of the human community.

III. Interpreting and communicating the Mission of the Church, relating it to every aspect of life.

IV. Engaging in and enhancing the educational, social welfare, relief and health service by the
Churches.

V. Representing the Churches before the public, the Government and other national and international
agencies.

VI. Initiating and promoting action in the area of the socio-political needs of the poor including those of
the Christian community in India.

VII. To consult and coordinate with the World Council of Churches and other International and national
ecumenical organizations.6

VII. Supporting and empowering poor and Marginalized.7

5. MEMBERS OF THE NCCI

The NCCI is made up of 32 Member Churches, 17 Regional Christian Councils, 18 All India
Organisations and 7 Related Agencies. It represents about 14 million people in India. Ever since it’s
inception in the year 1914, the Council and its constituent members are actively engaged in the work of
spiritual upliftment, nation building and social transformation. It is an inter- confessional autonomous
Council which embraces, promotes and coordinates various kinds of activities for responsible life and
witness, for upholding human dignity, for ecological and economic justice, for transparency and
accountability, and for equity and harmony, through its constituent members and in partnership with
civil society, NGOs, People’s Movements and well wishers at local, national and international levels.

The member churches and the regional councils are the primary members of the council. The Assembly
which is the supreme body meets every four years. The Executive Committee meets annually to oversee

6
K. Baago, A History of the National Christian Council of India, (Maharashtra: the NCCI, 1965), 66.
7
National Council of Churches in India. https://mahasoe.com/2020/09/29/national-council-of-churches-in-india/
#:~:text=Primary%20objectives%20of%20National%20Council%20of%20Churches%20in%20India&text=b)%20Fostering
%20common%20concern%20among,welfare%2C%20relief%20and%20health%20service. (Accessed on 5th February 2024).

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the work of the Council and also appoints the Working Committee which meets twice in a year to guide
and monitor its activities.8

CONCLUSION AND REFLECTION

In India today, Christians represent a minority with a percentage of the population ranging from 3 to 6
percent depending on the region. Beside the Catholic Church, the majority of Christian communities in
India adhere to the National Council of the Churches and to the Evangelical Fellowship of India. As the
minorities it is very much important to be united.

With the set aims, NCCI has moved many miles from the initial stage. In a song written by Mark
Shepherd, the first line says, “together we can change the world”. Through many of the sub agencies and
programmes NCCI is on a long run. NCCI gave a platform to come under for a common goal and till
date and it is a witness to World.

From the above discussion, we can know the formation, function and the objective of the NCCI. It plays
an important role in uplifting the society through it commission and agencies. Christians are working
together in National Council of Churches in India for facing problems in our contemporary Society.
Therefore, in order to promote ecumenism, Christians need to focus on the service we could render in
the society rather than focusing in our denominations and doctrines.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
8
https://ncci1914.com/introduction/#:~:text=NCCI%20is%20called%20to%20facilitate,various%20implications
%20of%20the%20gospel (Accessed on 5th February 2024).

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 Abraham, M.V. Ecumenism in India Some Reflections in NCCR Vol. 114, January. Nagpur, 1994.

Hedlund, Roger E. The Oxford Encyclopaedia of South Asian Christianity, vol.1.New Delhi: Oxford
University Press, 2012.

Baago, K. A. History of the National Christian Council of India. Maharashtra: The NCCI, 1965.
Paul, Rajaiah D. Ecumenism in Action. Madras: CLS, 1972.

Net Source

National Council of Churches in India. https://www.coursehero.com/file/100923926/NCCIdocx/

National Council of Churches in India . https://ncci1914.com/introduction/

National Council of Churches in India. https://mahasoe.com/2020/09/29/national-council-of

churches-in india/#:~:text=Primary%20objectives%20of%20National%20Council
%20of%20Church s%20in% 0India&text=b)%20Fostering%20common%20concern
%20among,welfare%2C%20reli %20an %20health%20service

Introduction NCCI National Council of Churches in India.

https://ncci1914.com/introduction/#:~:text=The%20mission%20of%20NCCI%20 %2C
%20faith%20communities%2C%20and%20governments.

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