I am grateful to have been a part of our Northern Illinois Synod delegation that visited our companion diocese, the Arcot Lutheran Church in India, in January. As I reflect back on this time with our siblings in Christ there, I was moved by the hospitality and love we received as we visited the churches and ministries there. Each community welcomed us with flower garlands, scarfs, gifts, and masala chai.
Newly-elected Bishop Peter Paul Thomas and other leaders are interested in further strengthening the companionship between our churches. They shared about the various existing ministries—from the Lutheran Weaving ministry at Lebanon Home for Women & Children in Tamil Nadu to the ALC Lutheran School and community garden in Mambalapattu. They also dreamed about ministries under development or redevelopment—from the ALC Community College in Parangipettai to the ALC Danish Missionary Hospital in Tirukoilur.
We heard so many stories of how people’s lives were being impacted through the ministries of the ALC. It was clear that the church is deeply committed to those on the margins of society: the Dalit (the lowest caste), the unemployed, the widows, and the transgender community.
We have much to learn from our Lutheran siblings in India. One of my main takeaways was the outward focus of the church and how the struggle for social justice is at the heart of everything the church does; it is the essence of their mission, ministry, and outreach. It drives the church’s vitality and growth. The people’s struggle is the church’s struggle. And people experience the love of Christ in tangible and transformational ways. I was truly inspired and renewed by these experiences and relationships.
To read more reflections, click a link below.
Bishop Stacie Fidlar's Reflections from India
Vice President Minnette Willard's Reflections from India
