The FOCUS Movement in 2003

[The following is a summary report of the 3rd FOCUS Seminar held at the Santhigiri Ashram, Aluva, Kerala, August 27-30, 2003, circulated to participants in October, 2003. We are publishing it now because it resonates with the theme for the January 2023 and April 2023 FOCUS issues, the Kerala Christian Diaspora. The motto of the FOCUS Movement is ‘For the generosity to give and the humility to receive.’ It is good to look back and see what has happened over the last 20 years to the FOCUS Movement, which began as a lay movement within the Mar Thoma Church in the late 1990s We thank God for the continued growth of the Movement through the FOCUS Journal.]

"It is still nowhere of its true scope", Revd Dr. Valson Thampu commented, following his excellent leadership of the third FOCUS seminar at Santhigiri Ashram, Aluva, Kerala, August 27-30, 2003. We thank everyone for travelling together over the last eight years for attending the earlier two seminars in 1999 and 2001, to reach where we are now in 2003, looking forward to the future under the grace of God.

What should we do now? Should we stand and stare, admire all the things we have done, mourn about the lost opportunities or go forward for more and more spiritually oriented diasporic experiences. "By the rivers of the Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, " (Ps 137:14). When those Israelites sat down, they also hung their harps and they could not sing. Sitting down or standing still was one of their problems. As a diaspora community, we need to go forward. We started this journey together and we are bound to find obstacles or comfortable detours or other issues which may distract our pilgrimage. It is up to all of us to stay together, pray together and work together to reach out and find the true potential of our dynamic Movement.

We should not forget that it was in the course of the journey from Egypt to Canaan that a Jewish nation was born; it was in the dispersion of the members of our Church that the Mar Thoma Church has become a global Church. God has blessed us abundantly to be a part of this transformation. In utter humility we must continue to receive and recognise these amazing opportunities and in limitless generosity we should open ourselves to give until it hurts; to create opportunities for others as far as we can reach out. We also have immense responsibilities in nurturing the faith of our younger generation. We should not be afraid in sharing the 'life management skills' that we learnt so painstakingly from our experiences and God's ever caring and loving blessings with our youngsters. They are perhaps searching for role models and it is really up to us to realise this and provide a means for providing young people through our Christian lifestyles and the way we conduct ourselves in all activities. We should also be sensitive to the needs of suffering neighbouring communities around us.

At the FOCUS-2003 seminar we had 35 registered delegates, about 30 local guests and 20 other leaders from the Mar Thoma Church: Most Revd Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Metropolitan, Rt. Revd Dr. Joseph Mar Irenaeus Suffragan Metropolitan, Rt. Revd Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, Rt. Revd Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos and Rt. Revd Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos, Revd Dr. Valson Thampu, Revd Dr. M. J. Joseph, Revd Dr. M. V. Abraham Revd K.G. Joseph. Lay leaders, including Professor Sukumar Azhikode, Dr. T. M. Thomas, Dr. George Zachariah, Mrs. Elzi Zac-Varghese, Mr. Mathew Kallumpram, Mrs. Susan Kallumpram, Dr. Roy Joseph, Dr. Sam Chacko, Dr. Abraham Thomas, Dr. Mariamma Thomas, Mr. George John and Mr. Abraham Mattackal provided leadership and contributed to the success of the seminar The conference theme, "Will the Diaspora community ever become a local community?", guided the discussions on the territorial and spiritual dimensions of the Mar Thoma diasporic existence.

We also used the opportunity to felicitate the Mar Thoma Metropolitan on his Golden Jubilee and 28 years of Episcopal ministry of the Suffragan Metropolitan. We honoured colleagues, by presenting them with traditional 'Ponnada' and bouquet, who had played a major role in getting FOCUS of the ground. These included: Dr. T. M. Thomas, Mrs. Leelamma Thomas; Professor George K. Zachariah; Dr. Thomas Abraham and Dr. Mariamma Thomas, Dr. P. O. Thomas and Mrs. Mary Thomas; Mr. Abraham Mattackal and Mrs Kunjamma Mattackal; Dr. P. J. Alexander, Mr. George John, Mr. Philip Mathew; Mrs. Sara K. A. Mathew, Dr. Zac Varghese and Mrs. Elzi ZacVarghese. We had honoured Mr. Mathew Kallumpram and Mrs. Susan Kallumpram at the previous FOCUS seminar. Chrysostom Thirumeni blessed them and congratulated them on their contributions.

Chrysostom Thirumeni emphasized that the diasporic existence is through God's action. Thirumeni noted that Jacob's journey was a pilgrim march. The Mar Thoma Diaspora community was not driven out of Kerala, but people had left voluntarily. Thirumeni spoke about diasporic adjustments involving transformation which results from not creating islands of isolation but creating communities without walls and initiating productive discussions. He talked about childhood marriages of the past where girl-brides grew up with bridegroom's family and in the process inherited the heritage of the adopted family. In identifying, one does not lose one's identity, but recover one’s identity. Incarnation is all about sharing and identifying. Jesus shared all the religious rites of the Jews but challenged them as well and lived as a human being. Likewise, we should incarnate into our diasporic situations. Thirumeni stated that isolation is not good, since it only creates a ghetto mentality. He talked about salvation and 'moksha': salvation is state of becoming full and 'moksha' is merging with God.

Revd Valson Thampu stressed the importance of 'sentness' of the diaspora, both territorially and spiritually. From a spiritual perspective, truth is the sword of the spirit, spirituality, the ability to respond to the world outside, and creativity, the purity of spirituality. Perhaps it is time for a revisionist view of Babylon as a place of creativity rather than oppression. The benefit of integration with diverse alien cultures should provide the possibilities of a powerful creative energy in a challenging pluralistic context away from the motherland comforts. We have to become an authentic Christian diaspora to become a local community. As a diaspora Christian community, we can indwell the local community like the 'leaven in the lump' (Mt 6:11-12; Gal 5:9). If not, over a period of time, the Christian diaspora will get assimilated into the local community and lose its distinctiveness forever and would be remembered, if at all, as an aborted diasporic enterprise. In this context, it is good to see the establishment of the ‘Diaspora Sunday’ annually on the 4th Sunday in November in the Diocese of North America and Europe from 2020. We are grateful to Zacharias Thirumeni’s blessings and leadership for establishing this thanksgiving Sunday, and we hope and pray that it would become a world-wide event in all the diaspora regions of our Church.

We discussed at length questions regarding identity, mission and integration with the local community in two workshops, including a unified concept of diaspora. In a special session, we also discussed various issues with Chrysostom Thirumeni and Theodosius Thirumeni. In particular, the need for continuity in pastoral ministry was discussed, given the three-year terms of clergy and seven-year appointments of bishops. One solution may be lay leadership training and involvement in all aspects of parish life and the community. Other topics discussed include: Mar Thoma Church’s response to gay ordination; centre-periphery relationships, balance between Episcopal nature of the Church and its democratic organisational structure.

We also discussed with our Metropolitan and Theodosius Thirumeni about the independent nature of the FOCUS movement and the general consensus was that we are a very helpful supporting Movement for the Church in generating ideas and supporting its pastoral activities. It was felt that its usefulness will always be as an independent lay Movement with a much wider perspective and participation.

We discussed the topic of declining membership of the Mar Thoma Church, noting that our membership is not 10 lakhs but about five lakhs. In part, the decline has been due to shortfalls in pastoral care for families and communities We emphasised the need for continuing diocesan programs, notwithstanding the periodic Episcopal transfers and the three-year transfer of clergy, noting the need for more coordination through the Episcopal Synod.

Another topic of discussion was the challenges faced by Mar Thoma young people when they leave home for College, and lose interest in home parish activities. Dr. T.M. Thomas, who has done much work for the Sunday schools in the United States, assured us that it is similar to the experience of other Christian denominations, albeit a concern.

There were also concerns regarding the diminishing roles of laity in our parishes, especially in diaspora settings, where the Church seems to have moved from being a 'church of the people' to a 'Church for the people', and more clergy-centred. We discussed the need for alterna tive forms of worship and more lay participation in spiritu al matters of the parish.

The theme for the next FOCUS seminar in August 2005 was agreed as “Renewal of the Church." It was also decided to have regional seminars, in addition to FOCUS2005.

The FOCUS movement is unique. It has emerged in response to a clear and pressing need: to manage the challenges and opportunities of a diaspora community with a spiritual commitment, remaining faithful to a cherished Kerala Christian heritage. As we move forward, we thank the Lord Almighty for what He has done through FOCUS, and ponder the following.

1. Has FOCUS truly become a movement? What more must we do? Is there an internalisation of the original vision and mission, leading to unity and participation?

2. Is there a danger of FOCUS being drawn into the tensions between individuals and groups? It is imperative for members to embrace FOCUS as a Spirit-directed movement and incarnate a shared vision, without which efforts and resources may be directed to the familiar and the comfortable. It is important to remember that a movement is not the sum of good intentions, but a focused pursuit of its stated purpose. We must guard against the danger of the FOCUS movement becoming only a series of projects and events, different from the original aspirations.

3. As a movement, FOCUS is juxtaposed between the diaspora community and the Mother Church. Historically, the Church has been self-enclosed institution, lacking objectivity. The diaspora experience, underpinned by crosscultural insights, can therefore bring an element of objectivity into the Church. The Mar Thoma diaspora must value their spiritual perspectives as well as financial contributions to various projects in India. While funding the activities of the Church must be deemed as a desirable response of the Mar Thoma diaspora, that is not the most valuable contribution it can make to the Church, from a spiritual perspective. These considerations suggest that creating a Diaspora centre in Kerala for the future diaspora community, perhaps at the Santhigiri Ashram, will be vital for maintaining the historical links with the mother Church.

4. The foremost missional concern of the FOCUS movement must be the predicament of the second-generation diaspora. The Mar Thoma Church does not have the experience or expertise to minister to them. FOCUS must become a partner with the Church to develop spiritual resources for this ministry, including a Diaspora Centre in Kerala.

5. Therefore, FOCUS is still not a movement. Going forward, the emphasis should be on the following:

(a) A wider and more active participation of the diaspora in FOCUS is vital.

(b) A clear definition of the vision and mission of FOCUS is essential.

(c) Enable members to internalize and incarnate the mission and vision of FOCUS in their own contexts.

(d) Reinforce the research and communication elements of the FOCUS movement, through a periodic newsletter.

(e) Publish a book to chronicle he saga of diaspora pioneers.

(f) Provide objective diaspora experience feedback to the mother church. For the International committee:

Dr. Sam Chacko (Philadelphia)

Dr. Roy Joseph (Singapore)

Dr. Zac Varghese (London)

October 3, 2003

The Psalmist says: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity” (Ps 133:1). Jesus desired unity for the whole world in His high priestly prayer: “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:21). We see this theme of harmony repeated several times by St. Paul in his letters to various Churches, to the Church in Rome he wrote: “Be in harmony with one another. Do not have a high opinion of yourselves, but be in agreement with common people. Do not give yourselves an air of wisdom” (Rom 12:16); to Corinthians he wrote: “ I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Cor 1:10); to Ephesians, “Make every effort to keep unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3); to Philippians, “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded , having the same love, being one in spirit and one of mind (Phi 2:2). St. Peter repeats the call for harmony: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Peter 3:8). Therefore, living for God under His love means living in harmony with others. Truth, love, justice, and compassion are rooted in Jesus. These are the values that we are expected to cultivate in our diasporic existence.

May your continued contributions and prayers help our readers to live in harmony.

For the Editorial Board