We arrive at 'MCC'.
Lesslie Newbigin visited in 1988 to celebrate 50 years since the International Mission Council which was held here at Tambaran in 1938. The building was new then (the institution is much older). The IMC was transferred here from Japan in view of the looming world crisis.
The IMC in 1938 used the John Anderson Hall
It was lovely to be in the place where Jashua Durairaj Asir- from St Paul's - studied. We are to discover that this is a unique institution. Set in hundreds of acres, using the land ecologically, including a farm as well as scrub-jungle.
We are told there are probably vipers though didn'to spot any!
We are welcomed at MCC by the Principal and Secretary, Dr Alexander Jesudasan. He is a close friend of Jayaseelan and Jashua, and has visited St Paul's in Harlow. He has kindly dug out some papers which will be most helpful; and we make our way to the Council Room for the addresses. There are portraits of John Anderson, who founded Madras Christian College, and two other great Scottish leaders on the wall. Bishop Newbigin was on the Council for many years. It is appropriate to meet in the Council Room.
A small group leads in a Prayer Song and there is an opening prayer led by Mr C. Sundaraj, the Bursar at MCC. We are welcomed and introduced by Dr Jesudasan, who makes the opening remarks.
Our subject was Lesslie Newbigin and the Challenges of a Multi-Cultural Society
In our presentations, I spoke about the challenges and the current position in Europe from a personal perspective. Paul spoke about how Bishop Newbigin can help us addressing the challenges.
I spoke about the Olive Branch Project in Southend and more recent experiences. The Olive Branch Project worked towards a cultural event of the Abrahamic faiths. This led to a Faiths Forum for all faith traditions.
Underlying our experiences are that in Europe we seek to have:
- empty public space (in public life, faith is privatised, very different to India). Secularism seeks to push religion out of public conversation.
- an ethic of 'tolerance', which falls far short of Christian 'love'
- this means there is no language to speak about religious issues in the public realm such as we face today.
Paul began with how Lesslie Newbigin began afresh from John's gospel. He sought to develop a new kind of 'knowing', an indwelt knowing.
Western cultural values seek to push the ideology of pluralism very strongly. 'Pluralism' says that no one faith is superior. How can we speak of Christ as Lord of all in this context?
Newbigin was happy with the cultural fact of plurality, but unhappy with the relativising of faith: i.e. the view that all roads lead to some form of reconciliation.
Lesslie was very clear that Jesus Christ is the way of truth. So this put him in a dilemma when returning to the UK after retirement as to how to be a Christian in England.
How do we face this dilemma? If we feel we have something unique, what right do we have to share it with others?
Newbigin is very helpful. He uses a lot 'as the Father has missioned me, so have I missioned you' - John 20:21). Thus our calling is:
- to be present with others, to live amongst others'! not over and against. Thus Jesus was someone who was known as someone who dined with those who were outcasts. Newbigin modelled this very strongly, e.g. in his through knowledge of the Tamil language which, I am told, is hard to learn.
- to be amongst those of other faiths means giving oneself to others, stepping outside our comfort zone. 'Kemosis', self-emptying, like Jesus. Newbigin stressed the 'as' of John 20:21. In speaking to his disciples Jesus showed them his wounds. Thus the woundedness must characterise the church. Jesus empties himself and meets us in our emptiness.
- then, and only then, do we get the opportunity to speak. Newbigin says that our role is simply to tell the story of Jesus. (In the UK, the average person knows almost nothing of the story of Jesus.) "the ess rial contribution of the Christian to the dialogue will simply be the teLling of the story, the story of Jesus'.
There is an opportunity for conversation. Revd Dr Arun Gopal speaks, amongst others, and tells of his notes on Lesslie Newbigin's understanding of Christian ministry, which is very close to the heart of what I am exploring. I realise how close this is to the 'Transforming Ministry' ministry development of Chelmsford Diocese. Even better, he has brought a copy of his notes from 1986 which he passes to me. I give thanks to God. This is exactly the sort of thing I had hoped might occur. Indeed, the whole morning is very rich.
We are thanked by Dr Joshua Kalapati (Director of the Centre for Peace Studies at MCC). The closing prayers are led by Revd Lalrokhuma Hmar, Chaplain-in-Charge at MCC, and we are invited for lunch.
(Photo: Dr Jesudasan - 2nd from left) with Jayaseelan, Mandy, Ginny and Paul)
In the afternoon we are given a fascinating tour around the campus. This is an unique institution of a very impressive standard aiming to be one of the top colleges India in offering degrees etc. The grounds are beautiful and impressively used not only as a campus but e.g. ecologically (all water Used at the College is harvested in the grounds.)
No comments:
Post a Comment