The Council for World Mission (CWM) Singapore office hosted a four-member delegation from the Church of North India (CNI) on 16 January.
The visit followed the election and installation of the Most Rev. Dr Paritosh Canning as the 16th moderator of the CNI. He was accompanied by Rev. Dr D. J. Ajith Kumar, general secretary of the CNI Synod; Subrata Gorai, treasurer of the Synod; and Raghab Naik, a member of the executive committee.
A relationship standing the test of time
Describing the longstanding and close relationship between CWM and CNI as uniquely historical, CWM General Secretary Rev. Dr Jooseop Keum reaffirmed CNI’s importance as a key partner in CWM’s missional work in South Asia.
“CNI was the first Asian church established by the London Missionary Society (LMS) after its work in the Pacific. It therefore holds a special position as a historical LMS church in the region and has been a strong partner since the inception of LMS in the 18th century and of CWM in 1977,” said Keum.
He also commended CNI for its outstanding leadership as part of the Global South’s decolonised and ecumenical Christian community.
Echoing Keum’s sentiments, Canning expressed his appreciation for CWM’s training programmes, noting that he had personally benefited from them and that they provided him with a strong foundation for his ministerial responsibilities.
Staying faithful amid local challenges
Tracing its roots to the pastoral work of LMS missionaries in India in 1815, CNI—having celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2025—is a union of six churches representing different Christian traditions. This unification journey began in 1924 and culminated in 1970.
Today, CNI continues to faithfully proclaim the salvation of Christ through its ministry across 28 dioceses in northern India.
Sharing his vision for CNI, Canning emphasised the importance of holistic growth—spiritual, social, and physical—for all members of the church. This vision forms the basis of the theme for his tenure: “Growing in Christ.”
In addition to presenting an overview of the church’s programmes over the past year, the CNI delegation spoke candidly about the challenges facing the church amid India’s complex sociopolitical landscape.
These include declining membership, persecution arising from anti-Christian religious fundamentalism and public policies, as well as internal tensions stemming from differing theological perspectives.
Despite these challenges, Kumar expressed hope that CNI’s community of “praying, giving, and sacrificing people will lead the church forward.”
“Above all,” he affirmed, “mission belongs to God.”
The visit, marked by the warmth of a familial homecoming, concluded with an informal exchange of gifts and a tour of the Singapore office, allowing the CNI delegation and local staff to connect through relaxed and spontaneous conversations.
