‘Blessed are the peace-makers; for they shall be called the Children of God’ – St. Matt. 5:9

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) receives with sadness the ‘Calling to Glory’ of Archbishop Desmond Tutu; a true and trustworthy Servant of God.

 

As an embodiment for ‘racial justice’ amidst the clamor and quest for deliverance from the modern-day slavery of sinful and oppressive rule of ‘apartheid’ in the strife-torn nation of South Africa, Archbishop Tutu committed himself untiringly providing the much-needed leadership through the ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’ (TRC) thereby supporting and strengthening the work of late President, Nelson Mandela towards peaceful co-habitation and unified living of its people.

 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was a moral compass to South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy. Throughout that process and beyond, this servant of God was considered as an example of honesty, conviction, inclusiveness and human coexistence. 

 

In a world divided and beset with religious superiority, suspicion and violence, Archbishop Tutu In his writing ‘God is not Christian’ embraces and introduces God as ‘Love and Light’ accessible and made manifest by truth and love. His meeting and interaction with the Spiritual Leader. Dalai Lama speaks volumes of ‘inter-faith dialogue’ and collaborative endeavors.

 

As a strong proponent of ‘gender equality’, Archbishop Tutu played a pioneering role within the Church of ‘patriarchal influence’ with the ‘ordination of women’ and his call for inclusion of women for well- deserved and right development in the world.

 

  Though we have lost a true Disciple of Christ; the legacy of AB Tutu, his knowledge of life, the un-reserved commitment and strong courage for world peace and harmonious living of all people, we believe, should be a light in our path in our own endeavors and efforts for a Unified Sri Lanka embracing the rights for dignified living. 

‘We are not responsible for what breaks us, but we can be responsible for what puts us back together again. Naming the hurt is how we begin to repair our broken parts’

 

‘Forgiveness is nothing less than the way we heal the world. We heal the world by healing each and everyone of our hearts. The process is simple; but it is not easy’

 

‘It you are neutral in situations of injustice; you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality’ - Sayings of Archbishop Desmond Tutu

 

This statement was signed by Rev, W. P. Ebenezer Joseph,  Chairperson of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and  President, Methodist Church of Sri Lanka, Rt. Rev. Dushantha Rodrigo –Bishop of Colombo, Church of Ceylon, Diocese of Colombo, Rt. Rev. Keerthisiri Fernando – Bishop of the Church of Ceylon , Diocese of Kurunegala, Rt. Rev. Dr. Daniel S. Thiagarajah, Bishop of Jaffna Diocese, Church of South India, Rev. Heshan De Silva, and President, Sri Lanka Baptist Sangamaya, Rev. Saman Perera President, Presbytery of Lanka, Rev. Shirley Faber, President, Christian Reformed Church, Colonel Nihal Hettiarachchi, Territorial Commander, The Salvation Army, Rev. G. Nadarajah, President, Lanka Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr. Chrisso Handy, General Superintendent/Chairman, Assemblies of God of Ceylon, Rev. George Niranjan, Church of the Four-Square Gospel Church in Sri Lanka and  Rev. Maxwell Doss, General Secretary, National Christian Council of Sri Lanka

The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka also represents:

 

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Student Christian Movement (SCM), The Ceylon Bible Society, Christian Literature Society, Theological College of Lanka and Back to the Bible Broadcast