Outcast God,

Born into poverty in an occupied land,

Living alongside the marginalised and the oppressed.

Dying between criminals to the jeers of the crowd,

Open our eyes, that we who seek to follow you may recognise your face in the faces of those who are reviled.

Open our ears, that we who seek to hear your word, may recognise your love in the stories which are often drowned out.

Open our hearts, that we who seek your way of life may be bold in witnessing to your longing for justice and peace.

Amen

Abundant God,

Those of us with plenty can observe the lives of those with nothing at the click of a switch.

At the push of a button, we can close down the images which frighten or revolt us, silence the stories which disturb and unnerve us.

Give us compassionate eyes to see clearly the world we live in. Move us from fear to compassion; from wilful ignorance to mindful action, from the complicity of silence to the joyful sings of solidarity.

We ask it in Jesus’ name,

Amen

We often hear it said that ‘The Poor will always be with us.’

Give us the courage then to say ‘Your Kingdom Come.’

We often hear it said that ‘It’s what they’re used to… they’re not like us.’

Give us the courage then to say ‘Your Kingdom Come.’

We often hear it said that ‘I don’t want to think about it – it makes me depressed.’

Give us the courage then to say ‘Your Kingdom Come.’

We often hear it said that ‘What did she expect – dressed like that.’

Give us the courage then to say ‘Your Kingdom Come.’

We often hear it said that ‘It’s the world – you can’t change it.’

Give us the courage then to say ‘Your Kingdom Come.’

Amen

A Dalit Creed

We believe in God the Creator, the sustainer and the redeemer of the whole of human kind and the cosmos. We believe that God has created all in God’s own image.

We believe in Jesus Christ, who was born and lived as a Dalit during his earthly life; who was born of the so-considered lowly Mary; who suffered unjust discrimination in the context of the Roman Empire. He suffered humiliating crucifixion for his voice of resistance against the hegemonic Empire. He part-took in the death of the martyrs to identify himself with death and the death-like lives of the Dalits. He ascended into life to bring about fullness of life in all.

We believe in the Holy Spirit who functions as an advocate and a counsellor to those who are marginalised, and empowers them towards liberation. We affirm our faith in the Holy Spirit, the Living Spirit of God, who empowers her children to break inhuman barriers, and the obstacles that negate life, justice and peace. It is this Spirit that strengthens us to suffer for justice, inspires us to stand against life-negating forces and prejudices, shaping us into a community of forgiven and freely accepted brothers and sisters, set apart for God’s service. Raised with Christ, we share in his work for God’s world of everlasting love, justice and peace.

We believe in the Church that rises above the caste-based structures and which overcomes prejudices by crossing boundaries and building bridges. We believe in One Holy Catholic Church that is called to risk its life to cross boundaries to incorporate everybody into the Body of Christ, irrespective of caste, creed, class, colour and gender; and to be in solidarity with the wounded communities.

We believe in the community of saints who share a common stance of acceptance of all in the sight of God and all humans; We believe in God’s forgiveness of sins when we repent of our dominant nature and seek forgiveness wholeheartedly from the victims of our oppressive nature; We believe in the resurrection of the body as a witnessing voice to liberation from oppressions; We believe in the life-everlasting, which ensures the restoration of an egalitarian cosmic family

Amen

(Prepared by the National Council of Churches, India – Commission on Dalits, 2009)