KOTTAYAM: The Kerala Council of Churches (KCC), the ecumenical platform of protestant churches in the State, is stepping into an year-long fete in connection with the 70th year of its inception.
The fete will be marked by a slew of programmes, including social development initiatives and a study centre for it, exchange programmes, job training for the youth, national conclaves of sidelined and struggling sections of the society as well as primitive tribes, national education meet and inter-religious conclave, said KCC president Abraham Mar Paulose at a news conference here the other day.
Other programmes planned are national meets for youth and women, release of documentaries and souvenir compiling the history and the vision of the organisation, interventions in the health sector with focus on HIV/AIDS and setting up of a headquarters for KCC.
Bishop Mar Paulose, Bishop Sam Mathew, organising secretary and KCC secretary Philip N Thomas said that the inception of KCC was on a missionary tradition.
The three-day Sapthathi assembly commenced on Thursday at the CSI Retreat Centre here. A seminar on 'Towards a just, inclusive and sustainable society’ was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor Rajan Gurukkal.
The Sapthathi fete will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, with Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostum in the presidential chair on Saturday at 3 p.m. Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Didymos-I will give the benedictory address. Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy, bishops of various denominations and people’s representatives will offer felicitations.