Name: Bishop Isaac Mar Philoxenos

Nationality: India

Church: Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar

Role: Bishop, chair of Department of Ecumenical Relations

Participating as: Central Committee member

Age: 59

First ecumenical involvement: 1998, with German Kindernothilfe programme

In the Indian and Asian context, the church has a responsibility to be a mediator in solving the issues producing conflict. The voice of the church has to be made effective especially in peace and reconciliation. Conflicts in human life are inevitable – how to deal with them is the role of the church, whether it’s political, social or religious.

In India, the change of seasons themselves is very evident and rising temperature is making it harder for our people to live, particularly with the shortage of water. Deforestation is another problem, which also is causing climate change. We have challenged every family to plant at least one tree every year on either their own property or on the church’s. We have partnered with the government to supply free seedlings.

The biggest challenge facing the churches and the ecumenical movement is poverty and the growing economic imbalance in society, causing people to lose their roots and migrate. To keep their affinity and affiliation with the church is a critical challenge to the churches, particularly its relationship with its young people. The churches and ecumenical movement must address this economic imbalance that produces so much restlessness, displacement and loss of loyalty. The ecumenical movement is key because the problems are global and partnership is essential to address these problems. Another tendency within the church is to go to the worldly life, which results in restrictions in community life and growing individualistic, selfish attitudes.