India: Church-Sponsored Mediation Centre in Secunderabad Aims to Strengthen Christian Unity

In a significant step towards promoting peace and communal harmony among Christians, a Christian Community Mediation Centre was inaugurated at the Amruthavani Communication Centre, Secunderabad, in the southern Indian state of Telangana, on August 19.

The centre was formally opened by Panchsakhsri, Member Secretary of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA). Addressing the gathering, he emphasized the importance of mediation in reducing unnecessary litigation and providing people with opportunities to resolve disputes amicably.

The mediation centre is staffed by certified mediators of the High Court of Telangana, who will offer their services voluntarily and free of cost. The initiative is designed particularly to assist members of the Christian community in Secunderabad and surrounding areas, enabling them to pursue peaceful settlements before resorting to legal proceedings.

Special gratitude was expressed to Bishop Jaya Rao Polimera, Chairman of the Amruthavani Communication Centre, and Fr. Sudhakar, its Director, for generously allocating space for the centre rent-free, thereby facilitating this noble initiative. Mohd. Asif Amjad, an advocate, also gave a brief introduction about the mission of the mediation centre.

The initiative drew inspiration from Scripture, Matthew 5:25 and Luke 12:58, reminding the faithful of the Christian call to reconciliation and harmony in resolving conflicts.

The establishment of the mediation centre comes with the blessing and consent of Cardinal Poola Anthony, Archbishop of Hyderabad, who stressed the need for such centres across the Archdiocese to strengthen peace, unity, and fraternity within the Christian community.

Organizers expressed hope that this centre will become a model of Christian witness, where disputes are settled in the spirit of dialogue, forgiveness, and justice.

With inputs from Pujitha Nagalli