CWM

Church of North India

Thursday, 19 July 2007 18:20

Main languages:

• Hindi, English and 17 other official languages

Main religions:

• Hinduism (81%), Islam (13%), Christianity (2%), Sikhism (2%), others (2%)

Government:

• The Indian National Congress formed the government with the support of a dozen other parties in 2004. The government is known as the United Progressive Alliance.

National and community concerns:

• Inter-religious tension and violence.
• Social oppression, and denial of human rights, especially of the marginalised.
• Widespread poverty and high international debt.
• High unemployment and underemployment.

Church priorities and programmes:

• Rejuvinating pastoral ministry.
• Evangelism within and without to encourage costly discipleship.
• Restructuring church administration.
• Solidarity with those with low social status.
• Equipping God's people for participatory learning.

Members/Congregations:

• 1,500,000/3,600 serving throughout 26 dioceses

Women's representation in church:

• Women are ordained. At least 30% of people on decision-making bodies have to be women.

Youth activities:

• Annual national and regional youth work camps and festivals.
• Ministry of children.

Missionaries sent and received through CWM:

• Deepak and Kiran Yohan, HIV and AIDS work, to the United Church of Zambia.

For more information:

• Rev Dr Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary

Prayers:

• For those helping rehabilitate the Andaman and Nicobar islands after the tsunami.
• For the persecuted minorities.
• For the work of the synodical boards of health and social services.
• For the CNI training programmes organised for children, youth, women, subalterns and presbyters.
• For the church's work among women and children.

Website:

• www.cnisynod.org