Ecumenical Meet in Nellore Advances Plan for District Action Committees

Nellore, February 27, 2026: A call for greater unity and coordinated Christian engagement marked an ecumenical consultation in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore on February 26, where Church leaders and representatives resolved to initiate District Action Committees (DACs) to address common concerns and strengthen collective witness.

The consultation, held at Jesus Centre, was organised by the Federation of Telugu Churches in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches. Nearly 200 delegates from multiple Christian traditions participated, reflecting a broad ecumenical spectrum.

The gathering was presided over by Bishop Moses D. Prakasam and Bishop Anthony Das Pilli, who underscored the growing need for Churches to respond collectively to social challenges and issues affecting Christian communities.

Participants included clergy, religious women, lay leaders and representatives from several denominations, among them the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of South India, the South Andhra Lutheran Church, the Salvation Army, along with Pentecostal and independent Church groups.

Providing institutional context, Msgr. Muvvala Prasad, Vicar General of the dioceses of Vijayawada and Executive Secretary of APFC, outlined the vision, structure and operational guidelines for the proposed District Action Committees. The DACs are envisaged as district-level platforms to facilitate coordination, dialogue and joint action among Churches.

Deliberations highlighted the importance of grassroots participation, particularly the involvement of youth, and stressed that the proposed committees should promote solidarity not only in addressing challenges faced by Christians but also in advancing the common good of society.

In his presidential address, Bishop Prakasam emphasised that visible unity among Churches serves as a compelling witness to Gospel values in the contemporary context. Bishop Das Pilli called for sustained collaboration across denominations to strengthen ecumenical initiatives at the district level.

The consultation concluded with a resolution to form an ad-hoc committee in Nellore as an initial step toward establishing the District Action Committee, signalling a concrete move toward structured ecumenical cooperation in the region.

By Fr. Anthaiah