The Church’s Responses to the Mumbai Bombings
John Thomas sends a letter to our India Partners and Global Ministries’ Southern Asia Office consults with our United Church Board for World Mission Office in Mumbai.
John Thomas sends a letter to our India Partners and Global Ministries’ Southern Asia Office consults with our United Church Board for World Mission Office in Mumbai.
Dear Enos [Rev. Enos Das Pradhan, General Secretary of the Church of North India] and Pauline [Dr. Pauline Sathiamurthy, General Secretary of the Church of South India]:
Grace to you and peace in the name of our Risen Christ.
I write to assure you and your churches of our prayers in the aftermath of the horrific bombings yesterday in Mumbai. In addition to the terrible loss of life and injury for so many, such an attack provokes deep uncertainty and causes many, I’m sure, to live in great fear. This frightening event reminds us all of our profound vulnerability in the current context of global terror and of the temptation to respond in kind with violence and military force. May we help each other remember the call of Christ to seek a security that rejects violence in all its forms, and rests instead on justice and compassion for all.
May the friendship of colleagues throughout the world, and their gratitude for your witness, be a sustaining presence with you and your churches.
Sincerely,
John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
A Phone Update from our Partner in Mumbai:
Rev. James Vijayakumar spoke to Mr. S.K. Solomon in our UCBWM office in Mumbai. He and his staff and all their families are fine. One of his staff, Alice, has miraculously escaped. She was in one of those trains and got off at a station. As she was coming out, one of the blasts went off, and it was a narrow escape for her. She and all of them are grateful for her escape, yet at the same time sad about all those who have become victims. Rev. Vijayakumar conveyed our greetings and assured them of our prayers for the bereaved, injured and the suffering, as well as for peace. Mr. Solomon said that it is very unlikely that communal violence could break our between Muslims and Hindus because of this. On the other hand, it seems they stand united as they face this tragedy. It is remarkable and we praise God for that. WeI hope and pray that it stays that way. Mr. Solomon also said that train services have resumed in most places. At this point we do not know if any of the churches in Mumbai are able to get involved in any significant way with the present crisis. If they do, he assured us that they would let us know.