Youth Inaugurate Series of Reformation Anniversary Events in India

"Give Us Space" to Contribute to Church's Renewal

Youth participating in inaugural series of events to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in India, urged church elders and leaders to "give us the space" to contribute to the renewal of the church and society.

On 16 May, Young Minds Rendezvous (YMR) 2013 kicked off events that will lead up to the 2017 Reformation anniversary celebrations in India, coordinated locally by the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI). Nearly 100 young people from Lutheran and other churches around the Tamil Nadu capital Chennai, discussed the theme, "Aspirations: Yearning for Love, Justice and Peace."

Greeting the YMR participants, UELCI Executive Secretary Rev. Dr Augustine A. G. Jeyakumar said the Reformation anniversary in 2017 "is not merely a celebration but a call to reform ourselves and our churches." In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Castle Church in Germany, an event widely regarded as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

Reformation is not a one-day event as it involved centuries of committed hard work for Luther and other reformers. Neither is it a one-time event, but "a process that needs to continually happen in our churches," said Jeyakumar, a member of the LWF Council and chairperson of the Committee for World Service.

At the international level, the LWF is planning how best to mark the anniversary in a way that recognizes the global aspect of the Reformation, its ongoing relevance and gifts, and that it is ecumenically accountable.

Aspiring for Justice and Peace in Society

In his keynote speech to the YMR participants, Mr J. S. Anbu, executive director of the Christian Institute of Management in Chennai, encouraged the youth to "aspire for greatness." He emphasized that "a church that gives preference to the views of the youth and children will thrive." Bishop Dr M. Prakash, chairperson of the State Minorities Commission of Tamil Nadu, also addressed the gathering, describing young people as the most vibrant and dynamic segment of every society. "They are not only future leaders but can also be leaders of the present if space and opportunities are given to them," said Prakash, who represents the Christian community on the government commission.

In India, Christians are mainly Dalit and tribal people, consisting of nearly six percent of the population of over 1.2 billion people.

Reflecting on the YMR 2013 theme, UELCI Youth Secretary Rev. Cand Chrisida Nithyakalyani said, "We [youth and children] make friends and build relationships irrespective of caste, color or class. We see others as ourselves. This is one of our characteristics that illuminates us to aspire for renewal and to yearn for love, justice and peace in our churches and society." Joshua from the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) emphasized youth contribution to initiatives that promote peace and justice in church and society. "We believe in building bridges and not walls. [Hence] it becomes natural for us to aspire for things that unite people," said the 17-year old.

Potential Leaders but Aspirations Are Silenced

Jeyakumar had noted that many churches today "lack peace and the struggle for power and positions have taken centre stage," a concern that the youth discussed further.

"It will be memorable to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. But, it is sad that our churches are still entangled in the clutches of power and politics. It is time we need another Martin Luther and I wish the youth would take up his role of renewing and transforming the churches," said TELC member, Hannah Sheeba.

More often than not, youth aspirations are silenced in church and in society, said Annes Brida Rose, Arcot Lutheran Church. "We lose our confidence and the interest to be productive when we are silenced. [While] we aspire for peace and justice in the church, we are unable to achieve our aspirations," she added.

The UELCI youth secretary concurred, saying, many young people become discouraged when they hear remarks such as, "You are not grown enough to speak here [in church meetings].'" She stressed the need for church leaders to respect the dignity of youth and their perspectives.