ELCA NEWS SERVICE
July 7, 2006
Lutherans in India Study Ziegenbalg's Influence on Mission, Society
06-097-FI
CHENNAI, India (ELCA) -- An international consultation on
"Post Modern Challenges to Christian Mission" July 5-6 followed a
seminar on "The Contribution of Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg to Civil
Society" July 4 as part of a full week of activities here at
Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute
marking the 300th anniversary of Ziegenbalg's arrival July 9,
1706, as a Lutheran missionary at Tranquebar on the southeast
coast of India.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and president of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF), Chicago, presented the inaugural address
for the mission consultation. He offered a description of what
is meant by "postmodern," what Lutherans have to offer to
Christian mission in the context of the contributions of
Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, and what themes emerge for study.
The seminar highlighted several of Ziegenbalg's
contributions to civil society in India, such as the printing and
translation of the Bible into Tamil, production of the first
Tamil grammar book and his pioneering work in herbal medicine.
Speakers noted that missionaries of his time were known to
require obedience to their beliefs and customs, while Ziegenbalg
first learned Tamil and Tamil philosophy.
"More than anything, postmodern is a way of recognizing that
the world is in a period of transition," Hanson said in his
written presentation.
"To be Lutheran is to live in a paradox between not knowing
and yet being expected to give social form to God's word," Hanson
told the gathering. "Ziegenbalg knew what it meant to be a
theologian of the cross," standing with and living among the
Tamil people of India, he said.
"The roots of this church deeply planted 300 years ago
continue to bear fruit as Lutherans in India remain steadfastly
committed to being engaged in God's mission for the life of the
world. You are clear that living the way of the cross calls you
and the people of India to the liberation of all Dalits. Your
absolute resolve that all Dalit people must be granted human
rights, dignity, and liberation is a sign to the whole world that
your discipleship is centered in the cross," Hanson wrote.
"As people of faith, we cannot be in service without being
in pursuit of justice," he said.
The consultation on Christian mission followed five themes:
Mission in Ecclesiology, Mission to the Oppressed, Mission and
Development/Diakonia, Mission to God's Creation, and Mission and
Self-Reliance.
The Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, executive director, ELCA
Global Mission, Chicago, served as a panelist on Mission to the
Oppressed.
"The ELCA's practice of mission is shaped by the concept of
accompaniment. Accompaniment is described as walking together in
solidarity that is characterized by mutuality and
interdependence," Malpica-Padilla said.
"From this perspective we do not engage in ministry to the
oppressed but in ministry with and among the oppressed," he said.
The subject of mission work is "an equal with whom we collaborate
in mission and ministry."
"Ziegenbalg's greatest contribution was his perception of
the Tamil people," Malpica-Padilla said. "Ziegenbalg engaged the
Tamils as people."
"Ziegenbalg relied on the gifts and skills of the local
people who taught him the Tamil language. He sat with the young
children on the floor and practiced writing the letters in the
sand. Ziegenbalg's ministry was one of accompaniment with and
among the Tamil people," Malpica-Padilla said.
"Engaging in mission and ministry with and among oppressed
and marginalized communities requires of us to revise our
attitudes, assumptions and motivations," he said.
The Academy of Ecumenical Indian Christian Theology and
Church Administration is hosting a convocation July 7 in honor of
those who contributed to the cause for which Ziegenbalg arrived
in India.
July 8 the celebration will move about 140 miles south to
the Indian Ocean's Bay of Bengal, to Tranquebar for a
rededication of the New Jerusalem Church, which Ziegenbalg first
dedicated in 1718. Ziegenbalg died the next year, at the age of
37, and his body was buried at the church.
An Ecumenical Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in Tranquebar
will mark the tercentenary July 9 to praise God for the service
of Ziegenbalg. Hanson and other international guests will lead
worship.
-- -- --
Gurukul Lutheran Theological College maintains information
on the tercentenary at http://www.gltc.edu/tercentenary/ on the
Web.
An ELCA delegation is hosting a blog (Web log) at
http://lutheransinindia.blogspot.com/ during the trip.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
