An appeal to all Laity Associations
in the Dioceses
An amendment for
closure of all Laity Associations is proposed
Existing
Clause: CSI Constitution Chapter VIII – 5c
The Council shall encourage the formation and functioning
within the diocese, of ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE LAITY ASSOCIATION, Youth Movement, Women’s Fellowship,
Socio-economic institutions, Centres for study and dialogue and Movements for
Justice, Peace and ecological concerns.
Proposed amendment
The Council shall encourage the
formation and functioning within the diocese, of fellowships like Men’s
Fellowship, Youth Fellowship, Women’s Fellowship, Senior Citizen’s Fellowship,
Christian Education, and Socio-economic institutions, Centers for study and
dialogue and Movements for Justice, Peace and ecological concerns.
It is a direct and daring attack on
the Laity by the Moderator & Bishops. who attempt to snatch away the rights and
privileges of the laity which are already provided in the CSI Constitution. The
General Secretary and the Treasurer of Synod too joined the group in silencing 'Laity Voice'.
When the Church compulsorily collects
subscription from the members for membership, the members have every right to
have their own Associations/Unions within the Organization to protect their membership right and
their properties vested in CSITA for their benefit. Indian Constitution too
provides for formation of such Associations/Unions.
While the provision that “the Council
shall encourage the formation and functioning within the diocese, of ORGANIZATIONS LIKE LAITY ASSOCIATION” is
still in force, instead of encouraging the functioning, the Krishna
Godavari Diocesan
Council in which the Moderator is the Bishop, has passed a Resolution to
withhold the membership of a person for operating Laity Association in
the
diocese for the welfare of the worshipping members of the diocese. The
affected brave person is said to be sacked since he has raised questions
against the Moderator. How a
Moderator can morally continue to be a Bishop while nearly six FIRs have
been registered
against him in the Police Stations including on charges of misbehaving
with a
Pastor’s wife and how a Bishop can run an Educational Society in the
name of
Krishna Godavari Diocesan Educational Society using the name of CSI
Diocese
without approval of the Synod and whether the income derived from the
society
and foreign donations received are
credited in the Diocesan accounts and incorporated
in the consolidated statement of CSITA. Whether such income is declared
before
the IT authorities and Registrar of Companies?. Money collected for
construction of shopping complex has not been credited to the church
account
and why unauthorized persons are allowed to indulge in such criminal
activities with the
knowledge of the Bishop.
Any proposal seeking amendment in the
existing provision of the constitution shall be supported by proper and
agreeable reasons for the amendment. No reason is put forth that the Laity
Associations are Anti-Church or disturbing the peace of the church. Of course,
these Associations expose the perpetrators’ corruption and kickbacks received
from illegal sale/lease of church lands by land Mafia. These Associations fight against the immoral
activities of Bishops. It is the reason that the Bishops want to pluck the
rights and privileges provided in the constitution for laity.
Therefore, all the Office bearers of
Laity Associations in the Dioceses are kindly requested to participate in the
proposed meeting of People’s Synod on Saturday the 28th March, 2015
at Chennai to discuss and pass a unanimous Resolution against the proposed
amendment which shall be sent to all the members of Synod with a request to
vote against the “Anti Laity Move by the Synod”.
I request all of our members, Coordinators and laity association members in the dioceses
to forward this mail to the local Laity Associations/office bearers WITH THEIR COMMENTS on the subject.
Dr.
John S. Dorai
General
Secretary
CSITA
Beneficiaries Association®