First meeting of National Federation of Churches in India

Source: NFCI

The First Meeting of National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI) was held on September 18, 2026, at St John's National Academy of Health Sciences (SJNAHS), Bengaluru, along with the Fifth National Ecumenical Bishops' Fellowship (NEBF) Meeting. About 45 participants took part in the Meeting including the Archbishops, Bishops, Church Heads, and the delegates of various Christian Denominations. It started at 4pm with high-tea.

At the beginning of the Meeting, there was an Ecumenical Prayer Service for Christian Unity.

The Welcome and Inaugural Address was delivered by Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad, President of CBCI and Chairman of NFCI. He said: "As you are aware, at the present juncture the Churches in India are in a critical situation facing many serious challenges and grave difficulties, they make us realise the urgent need of a united front to face them … hence, during our previous Fellowship Meeting held here on 08th May 2026, we launched the National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI). Its membership is open exclusively to the Bishops and Church Heads of all the Churches and Christian Denominations even if they belong to other councils and synods. Certainly, NFCI is a step forward in our ecumenical journal and promoting the ecumenical movement in India. Indeed it is a gift of God for us for which we should be grateful to the Holy Spirit, the bond of love and communion."

After the self-introduction of the participants, Rev Fr Dr Anthoniraj Thumma, Secretary of CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism and Co-ordinator of NEBF, presented the Minutes of the previous NEBF Meeting. Archbishop Joseph D'Souza, President of the Good Shepherd Church in India (GSCI) and All India Christian Council (AICC), Convenor of NFCI, in his Introductory Address, suggested ways to counter the FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 and to respond to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on it, which was meeting for the first time at that very moment. Apart from Churches submitting a memorandum with their objections to the Bills, the NFCI should ask for a meeting with JPC, he stressed.

In his message Brother Dr Paul Dhinakaran, among other things, pointed out that the present time is "the day of the youth". He emphasised they should be empowered and provided with all opportunities to act to bring about the needed change. Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, the Chairman of the CBCI Office for Dialogue and the Desk for Ecumenism and Convener of NFCI, stated in his Closing Remarks, "We are privileged in a special way to take part in this unique Meeting of Fifth National Ecumenical Bishops' Fellowship and National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI)… The formation of the National Federation of Churches in India is a step towards the goal of full communion. We are grateful to God for this gift". He thanked the Bishops and Church Heads for the trouble taken by them to participate in the Meeting. He concluded quoting the words of Pope Leo XIV, ""We are one! We already are! Let us recognize it, experience it and make it visible!"

During the Ecumenical Dialogue in the Open Forum, Archbishop Peter Machado, Chairman of All Karnataka United Christian Forum for Human Rights (AKUCFHR), mentioned the efforts under his leadership to meet the Chief Minister of Karnataka and Indian National Congress party president Shri Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the repealing of the anti-conversion bill. He briefed about the case pending in the Supreme Court on the atrocities on Christians, churches and their institutions. Fr Anthoniraj Thumma updated the house about the current position of the long pending Supreme Court case on the Constitutional Rights and equal status for Dalit Christians and the Justice KG Balakrishnan Commission on the issue.

After due deliberation, the formation of Core Group of NFCI took place on the as envisaged in the approved Guidelines of NFCI, including the names suggested by the members, which can meet often and respond to the current issues. It was authorised to co-opt other members, and appoint Coordinators and Executive Secretaries to assist the NFCI who need not be Bishops and Church Heads. The Meeting came to end with the prayer and Benediction given by Cardinal Poola Anthony, and the photo-session at 6.30pm.

Fr Dr Anthoniraj Thumma is National Secretary, CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism & Coordinator, National Ecumenical Bishops' Fellowship Meeting.