40th Ordinary Meeting of the Delhi Diocesan Council
The 40th Ordinary Meeting of the Delhi Diocesan Council, took place from May 22nd to May 24th, 2023, at the St. Thomas’ Girls Senior Secondary School, Mandir Marg, New Delhi-110001. The council, comprising clergy and representatives from different churches and institutions in the Diocese of Delhi, gathered to address crucial matters concerning the community and its future direction.
On the 22nd of May 2023 the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr Paul Swarup, presided over the Clergy Synod during which he encouraged the clergy members by providing spiritual guidance, support, and pastoral care. Furthermore, he emphasised the need for a healthy work environment, promoted professional development, and addressed the needs of the clergy. The Bishop emphasised on fostering a strong and mature relationship between the clergy and the laity. In addition, he highlighted the importance of unity and collaboration in addressing the challenges encountered by the Church in the modern age. After the opening remarks, the Bishop led the Inaugural Service, conducting the communion, while Revd. Victor Masih delivered the ministry of the word to all presbyters, deacons, and ordinands.
The 23rd of May 2023 commenced with a Lord's Supper celebration for all participants, led by Bishop Swarup. Following this, the Secretary, Rev. Sunil Ghazan, proceeded with the roll call, leading to the formal constitution of the council by Bishop Swarup. Then the delegates declared their assent to the constitution of the Church of North India. Bishop Swarup, the President of the Delhi Diocesan Council, delivered an address to the assembly to which the members of the house responded.
In the afternoon session, Rev. Sunil Ghazan presented the Secretary's report. The report was met with a response from the members of the house and was subsequently passed. The Treasurer, Dr Anuradha Amos, presented the audited statements of accounts for the past financial years 2019-2022. The budget for 2023-2024 was presented along with the projected budgets for the next five financial years. The accounts and the reports were scrutinised and subsequently passed by the house. The council focused on pastoral initiatives and community outreach from the Churches and the diocesan committees. Reports from the churches for the last three years were shared by the Presbyters of all pastorates and heads of institutions within the Diocese of Delhi. The discussions covered a wide range of topics within the local Church, including youth engagement, evangelisation, social justice, charitable initiatives, and upcoming projects. The participants engaged actively in discussions, sharing their experiences and ideas to tailor these initiatives according to the local context. The day concluded with cultural performances from Queen Mary’s School Northend, Queen Mary’s School Tis Hazari, St. Thomas’ School Mandir Marg, St. Stephen’s Hospital Tis Hazari, and St. Stephen’s College Delhi.
The final day of the council began with morning worship, led by Rev. Samuel Shekhar, and the ministry of the Word was brought by Rev. Dr. Suresh Kumar. The Council felicitated the Most Revd Bijaya K. Nayak, the Moderator of the Church of North India, where he addressed and extended his greetings to the Diocese of Delhi. The Minutes of the 39th Ordinary Meeting of the Delhi Diocesan Council, Special Delhi Diocesan Council, and all the Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Delhi Diocese were adopted and approved. The administrative reports for the Diocese were presented, detailing the allocation of funds for various projects and ministries. The participants engaged in constructive dialogue, discussing ways to streamline administrative processes and improve transparency in financial management.
The Nomination Committee recommended the names for the Delhi Diocesan Council office bearers and were unanimously passed by the house with efforts made to have a diverse representation from different churches. The newly appointed Office Bearers for the Delhi Diocesan Council are Rev. Dr. Monodeep Daniel as the Vice-President, Mr. Rohit David as the Secretary, and Dr. Anuradha Amos as the Treasurer. The session concluded with the formation of subcommittees responsible for further developing and implementing the Diocesan programs.
Throughout the three days, moments of prayer, reflection, and liturgical celebrations were woven into the agenda. These spiritual elements invoked a sense of communion among the attendees and reminded them of the core mission of the Church. The council concluded with a closing ceremony, during which Bishop Swarup expressed gratitude to all participants for their active engagement. He encouraged them to carry forward the spirit of the council in their respective parishes.
The two-day Diocesan Council provided a valuable platform for collaboration and dialogue among the various stakeholders within the Diocese. The discussions and initiatives formulated during the council will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the Diocese of Delhi community. By addressing pastoral challenges, promoting community involvement, and enhancing the administrative processes the council has set the stage for a vibrant and responsive Diocese committed to serving the spiritual needs of its members.
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