Bhopal: 13/12/2009: An ecumenical meeting held in Bhopal called Christians to respect each denomination and beliefs of other religions. Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue organized a prayer meeting and an open discussion on various problems faced within Christian community in Bhopal. The meeting was chaired by Archbishop Dr. Leo Cornelio.

The ecumenical prayer meeting was called to prepare for Christmas. Pastors from Protestant Churches, Pentecostal churches and catholic priests too took part. The spontaneous prayer meeting ended with an open discussing on issues related to sheep steeling.

Many participants expressed hope that unity will help Christians to work together peacefully. The meeting discussed the issue of "sheep stealing" seriously. Mr.Bankheda highlighted the issue saying that some pastors are disturbing the established Churches. They lure its members to small churches through offering frequent prayers and short time aids." Reacting to this Pastor C P Singh, a senior Pastor told that pastors of "small" churches alone cannot be blamed for this; the inefficiency and carelessness of main-line churches contribute to this exodus to newer churches."

Archbishop in his message called on the Pastors to respect each other. He said, "Respect would mean care of each other." He also said that respecting just Christians is not enough; we should respect other religions also. "There are values in every religion, we need to recognize and respect them too, and abusing any religion is not a good practice."

Expressing his views on the demand of some pastors that if any one prefers to join any other denomination leaving their own Church then they should obtain NOC from the particular Church that they belong before they become member of other denomination Church, Archbishop said, "It would look like a denial of freedom of choice of denominations, so it would be better to call a transfer certificate from one Church to another if any one wishes to change denomination.

"It was approved by the meeting." The Secretary, Ecumenism and Dialogue, Fr. Anand Muttungal says, "It is a meeting aimed to unite Christians in the prayer of Lord Jesus that 'let they all be one.' Sheep stealing is one of the most important aspects of disunity in the Christian community. We will keep popularising these ideas. We will focus on it very specially during the upcoming Unity Octave 18th - 26th January.

The meeting set up a committee of four members to formulate an appeal to Christians and Pastors to respect each other. The appeal will ask people to stick to their own Churches. It will request pastors to restrain from registering believers of other churches in their own Church. It will also ask them to respect each denomination and believers of other religions too.

Sheela Shantiago, the president of women wing of Madhya Pradesh Isai Mahasangh, (MPIMS) explained that this ecumenical organization will do everything to unite the Christian denominations in the state.

Dr.Manis Mathew, General Secretary MPIMS, said that we will wait to have reactions from different groups but we will peruse this idea.

The meeting was attended by Fr.Anbu svd, Rishard D' Silva, Rajni Rawate and many pastors and leading lay people in the Christian Community.