A colorful opening of the XXVI Quadrennial Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India on 1st May 2008 began with a procession from the Student field to the Jaiaw Presbyterian Church, the venue of the Assembly. Hundreds of local Christians in traditional costumes with music and singing and two hundred eighty delegates representing the thirty members churches of Protestant and Orthodox tradition, seventeen Regional Christian Councils, seventeen All India Christian Organizations and Seven Related Agencies went through the streets of Shillong, the capital of India's northeastern Meghalaya state, in the foothills of the Himalayas, surrounded by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. The theme of the Assembly was ‘Together in Mission: Empowering Local Congregations’. The Assembly  was hosted by the Presbyterian Church of India. 

The Inaugural Ceremony was attended by the Delegates of the Assembly, Pre-Assemblies and local church members. Participatory inaugural worship was led by Rev. Awala Longkumer with melodious choirs.

The Moderator of Presbyterian Church of India, Rev. E.F. Lyngdoh extended a warm welcome for coming back to Shillong after 40 years.

The greetings during the Assembly were conveyed by Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of  Meghalaya: Hopingstone Lyngdoh, the leader of the opposition: Dr D. Lapang,  Archbishop Dominic Jala,  representing Catholic Bishops Conference of India, Dr Mathews George Chunakara,  Programme Executive for Asia and Human Rights on behalf of Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of World Council of Churches, Rev Dr Deenabandhu Manchala Programme Executive, Unity, Mission and Spirituality, World Council of Churches, Mr. & Mrs. Graeme Mundine, Executive Secretary, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission of the NCC Australia, Ven. Bikku Dr. V.M. Mouriya Methapal representing the InterFaith Community, Rev Dr Rienzie Perera, Associate General Secretary of Christian Conference of Asia and Rev. Richard Howell, General Secretary of Evangelical Fellowship of India.

Rev Dr Samuel Kobia in his greetings conveyed, “The theme you have set for this Assembly is pertinent and contextual, especially in the changing ecclesial landscape of today. It reminds us of the need to discern the way and articulate our missiological and ecclesiological concepts in the 21st century. The tradition and bold vision of a truly universal Christian Theology and the need for a new missiological paradigm articulated by V.S.Azariah at 1910 Edinburgh Mission Conference was a challenge to churches around the globe”.

The Keynote address by Dr K. Rajratnam was a call 'back to the roots': “The Power and message of the Cross can be experienced by those who witness as well as the people, who can be witnesses to this power and message of the Cross are only at the Congregational level……The very image of the Church rests with the congregation” "The sellers of the prosperity gospel are doing great disservice by selling the Gospel to those who seek success in their business, profession and student examinations". Rajaratnam asserted, "we also have rampant secular commercialization of the administration and elections of the Church….. There are some churches, where this evil has not permeated and we thank God for them." Unless churches clean the life of the Church, we are forfeiting the moral right to proclaim the Gospel, thus invalidating the legal rights we possess” With poverty being the "bane of Indian society", he urged the churches to be "models of development of rural people" for the government and civil society.

In his address the NCCI President Bishop Jeyapaul David also made critical comments about any evangelization that did not respect and empower local congregations. The struggle for equal rights for Dalit Christians has not seen the reality of its day. Dalits still in India are oppressed in the name of caste and Church has not been an exception in being casteist”. Looking forward to the “centenary celebrations of the 1910 Edinburgh Mission Conference and centenary of the Council  in  2014, he gave a call as a council to revisit our missiological goals and priorities”. 

The General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in India, Bishop D. K. Sahu in his extensive report drew the landscape of ecumenical movement both local and global in changing and changed scenario of the world with challenges, opportunities and suggesting priorities for the new quadrennium. “Churches too are caught in the trap of seeing people primarily as individual customers, and the Christian faith becomes a product to be marketed,". “This phenomenon expresses itself in the form of an unholy alliance between 'evangelism' and 'consumerism'. He asserted, "In the marketplace of religious ideas and persuasion, free and competitive denominationalism contradicts the basis of being a Church."The institutional aspect of service is slowly deviating from service to commercialization. One can only earn the right to speak, in becoming the voice of the voiceless, excluded, marginalized.  The ‘hearth’ or ‘Fire-place’ is centre of formation of identity of the family or community in north-east context. Perhaps this distinct feature of story telling and hospitality around the fire place could be a contributive factor in formation of our understanding of being church in India.

The Assembly received an important document: ‘Policy on HIV & AIDS: A Guide to Churches in India’. The document is the result of an initiative of NCCI Commission on Life to involve the individual churches and institutions to review the work done thus far and formulate a policy on HIV & AIDS.  On the concluding day in the Press Conference the Vice-President Rev. PBM Basaiawmoit reaffirmed the commitment of NCCI to address the issue  as a priority.

Three important books were released. The first was “A Christian Outlook on Yoga” by Fr. Abraham Oommen, published by ISPCK.  The second was “Ronnie's Bible” by Rev Daniel Premkumar, published by Bible Society of India for the People Living with HIV/AIDS. The third was “Bonding with Mission: Faith Activism in Local Congregations” by Rev Dr Daniel Premkumar jointly published by Inter Church Service Agency and NCCI.

The Assembly was an occasion once in four years to come together to be a credible Christian community within the wider human community.

The two bible studies led by Rev Dr Roger Gaikwad, Principal Aizawl Theological College, Mizoram and Archbishop John Chew, President of NCC Singapore laid the biblical foundation from two different perspectives.

Dr. Gaikwad said “The NCCI has asserted the essentiality of mission in the life of the Church. Yes, it is necessary to remind ourselves that “the Church exists by mission as fire exists by burning”.

“Many church leaders today are using the management mantra to empower congregations. Churches are taught to write projects professionally and to execute them efficiently. Management may be successful but would it be fruitful?”

The five interactive workshops in groups:HIV & AIDS, Jan, Jal, Jangal & Jamin, Trafficking: Women & Children, Peace with Justice, Transcending Tradition and Modernity and two plenaries were an opportunity for the participants to express their views on the theme, sub-themes and setting priorities for 2008-12. The participants had an opportunity to worship with the local congregation on Saturday evening.  The message was  delivered by Rt. Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam.

The Assembly expressed solidarity with all victims of violence, Dalit Christians, Indigenous and Tribal people, marginalized community of women, youth and physically challenged, people affected with HIV and AIDS and families affected with farmers' suicide. It discussed the effects of globalization, climate change, and migration. The call was given to the churches to consciously exercise their right to vote to retain the secular democratic credentials of our nation. 

Former Presidents: Dr K.Rajratnam, H.G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, former General Secretaries: Rev K.Lungmuana, Rev Dr Ipe Joseph were honoured. Assembly also recognized the presence of former secretaries: Rev Y.Moses, Rev Packiam T. Samuel, Mr Dinesh Suna,  Fr Philip Kuruvilla and SAEPP coordinator: Rev Vinod Victor. The Assembly honoured Mrs Libera Moses, Administrative Assistant, recognizing her 43 years of devoted and committed service.

Rev Laldawngliana, Rev Lalramliana, Rev S.S.Majaw the three administrative secretaries of the Presbyterian Church of India and host of members of local churches put their efforts together  to make  the  Assembly a success. Perhaps this is the first Assembly of NCCI when the delegates had a chance to stay in the homes of members of churches. The ‘Khasi Drum’ as a symbol of our bonding togther was presented to the PCI team.

“The Drum calls communities to the Assembly, announces and communicates news and information for the general public, warns people  of approaching danger, provides rhythm for uniformity and stability, enriches the music and culture of people”. 

The climax of the Assembly was the Ecumenical Sunday Worship in morning and afternoon on 4th May 2008 in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

Almost all local protestant churches in Shillong were closed on Sunday the 4th May and more than fifty thousand worshippers wearing colourful tribal attire and some even traveling more than one hundred kilometers made an effort to attend the Sunday worship. Many were seen watching the orthodox and Marthoma bishops in vestments mixed with CNI, CSI and Methodist Bishops. The worship was a wonderful experience for the local Christians to notice the diversity in Christianity. The Honorable Chief Minister:  Donkupar Roy and his wife Mrs. Roy, Honorable Deputy Chief Minister: Hopingstone Lyngdoh of Meghalaya and Rev. Richard Howell, General Secretary of Evangelical Fellowship of India took part in the worship.  The vibrant and melodious choirs in traditional local costumes during the morning and afternoon services were a memory to cherish.

The morning service speaker Dr Wati Aier, Principal of Oriental Theological Seminary, Nagaland, said “ Transcending exclusivism must be the theological agenda of the north-east. Christian in north-east India should take the lead to turn upside down the deep-rooted divisions that have led to insurgency based on tribal identity. Reconciliation comes through Cross and not through swords.

The message in the afternoon Sunday Service was delivered by Rev. Dr. Robert Cunville, the former Youth Secretary of NCCI and now the Associate Evangelist with Dr. Billy Graham.  The message was a reminder of the roots of ecumenical movement and a call ‘to be transformed with the power of the gospel’.

The fore-runners to the Assembly were the six pre-assemblies.

1.  The national consultation on “Dalits & Tribals: Together in Mission” was held at CNI Bhavan, New Delhi, 2-4 April 2008. “The Dalit issue in general and Dalit Christian rights in particular should be on a priority on the mission agenda of the entire Christian community in India and the imago dei echoes the human worth of every individual.”

2. The People's Forum: A Pre-Assembly Workshop was organised by the NCCI-URM, at Hyderabad, April 15-17, 2008. “The onslaught of a particular development model represented by Special Economic Zones (SEZ), and the ongoing suicides due to the agrarian crises where more than 125 farmers have committed suicide in Vidarbha since the announcement of the Rs.60,000 crore farm loan waiver by the Prime Minister two months ago in February this year” “ the leaders of the Church are urged to commit themselves to mitigate the pain of the farmers.  

3. The Interfaith Pre-Assembly  was held in KJP Assembly Conference Hall, Shillong from April 26th to May 1st 2008. The deliberation of the Pre-Assembly was on ‘Climate Change, Global Terrorism & HIV/AIDS: Interfaith Mission Challenges’. In unequivocal terms the participants affirmed that inter religious cooperation is a must in order to effectively counter Climate Change, Global Terrorism and HIV/AIDS. 

4. The Youth Pre-Assembly was held at Laban Presbyterian Church, Shillong, 27th- 30th April, 2008.  “The  identity crisis of the marginalized youth in the competitive world of globalization leading to their exclusion, growing ecological degradation, the legacy and prospects of the participation of youth in ecumenical movement, necessity to educate young people about human sexuality and HIV/AIDS, oppressive patriarchal structures perpetuating gender discrimination among youth”.

5. The Pre-Assembly on  Tribal/Adivasi and North East, was held at Phudmuri Presbyterian Church, Shillong, Meghalaya, 26-29 April 2008. “Various issues which impact on Indigenous and North East peoples, in particular consideration was given to human rights violations; tourism and human trafficking; conflict and violence resulting from alienation from land resulting in the internally displacement; violence against women, drug abuse, alienation from land through the manipulation of legal system”.  

6. The Pre-Assembly of All India Council of Christian Women, was held from 27th -29th April, 2008 at Umlyngka Presbyterian Church. “The increase in violence against women all over, results in women being degraded, broken, condemned, neglected and destroyed, leaving the community also broken and shattered. A community cannot progress and develop if one section is oppressed and in pain. The silence of the Church and the Christian community in this regard, should see this as a great omission in its mission and purpose.”

The Assembly elected Office Bearers and Executive Committee Members for the quadrennium 2008-12.  Bishop Dr Taranath Sagar of the Methodist Church of India as President, Rev P.B.M.Basaiawmoit of the Presbyterian Church of India as Vice-president, Ms.Sushma Ramswami of the Church of North India as Vice-President (woman), Mr Angelious Michael of the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church as Vice-President (Youth) and Advocate Suresh Koshy of the Marthoma Church as Treasurer.  The newly elected office bearers were installed in the public worship.  The President, Bishop Taranath Sagar spoke: “our challenge is to foster greater collaboration and unity at local congregational level and it is time for Churches in India to take up Environment seriously.