Some Christians might say "Hallelujah!" for his call to fasting and prayer but a closer examination shows the Moderator to be little more than a manipulator who talks a good line but is doing nothing to correct the massive corruption in the CSI.

Investigative Reports filed by Police, threats of ex-communications, abuse of power in a high-handed manner and various fraudulent activities have all been documented. The Moderator wants us to "change the world in 40 days" which he thinks is possible and challenges us fervently "to look at our daily actions". He extends hope to all congregations by instructing them through the bishops that they be "equipped to involve in saving creation, whose life and livelihood are under threat."

The same quality of hope, however, is wanting when it comes to solving the crisis the CSITA is facing. Bishop Oommen has proven himself to be an issue-dodger and subject-changer to protect his and his colleagues' personal agendas. George Simon, a leading expert on manipulators and other disturbed characters writes, "Evading a matter of central concern is a great way not only to dodge responsibility, but also to keep the light of illumination from shining on the behavior needing attention."

At the same time, the mention of a Lenten fast will only help give a good impression on the people by Bishop Oommen that he is a spiritual leader unlike the other Moderators. In fact the Report of the Registrar of Companies in Chennai (formerly Madras) presented to the Secretary of the Government of India on 12 January 2016 resulted in an inspection of the activities of the CSITA during the year 2012.

An opportunity was given to the CSITA to be heard on all the complaints that came from 34 members of the CSI. An offer made to the office-bearers of the CSITA to clarify matters in person, was completely ignored and none of the office-bearers respected the offer. According to the Report on Compliance (RoC) there were 27 types of violations committed by the CSITA against the Company Act and there were 43 prosecutions amounting to criminal cases filed against the Company by the Registrar of Companies at the Economic Offence Court for violations of very serious nature.

The Report said, "In spite of these criminal cases the same group is still occupying the Company management". The Report further noted, "Hence there is no control of the CSITA about the sale of property and other irregularities committed by Power of Attorney."

In this regard, books and records of the Company need to be examined through the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in order to unearth the malpractices alleged against the Company and its dioceses'. The Report concluded, "It appears that the business of the Company is carried on for a fraudulent/unlawful purpose."

The Report recommended the verification of accounts, records, and papers of the Company to be conducted by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, an organ of the Home Ministry of India. The order was passed on 8 July 2016. The Moderator moved the Church off-track in a very subtle manner so that the bishops and administrators kept themselves free to promote and protect their self-serving agendas.

The Moderator might consider it a political disadvantage for himself and for his team to stake out a clear position on the matter of the investigation by the SFIO. Carbon emission is far from the subject of the mismanagement of the finances and properties by the officers/directors of the CSITA. The hierarchy manipulates us into thinking that there is nothing wrong with them and all the troubles for the Church are due to some anti-church people thus shifting the blame on a section of the CSI members who are more faithful to their church than the bishops.

A manipulator will assert that his or her behavior is not as harmful or irresponsible as someone else is making it out to be! The SFIO investigation is opposed by the CSI hierarchy and they have obtained a 'stay' on the proceedings of the Investigation. Counter legal measures have been taken to lift the 'stay' and we are optimistic that it will happen and that the investigation will continue not only to throw light on the fraudulent activities but to pave the way for punishing those who committed them without fear for God and the laws of the land. (The court order in Kottayam issued at the dawn of the Synod meetings in January 2017 said that the Synod should not conduct elections for the posts in the CSITA). It has been reliably learnt that the judge posted the 'stay' case for final disposal after not agreeing to extend the stay. It is felt that the stay is likely to be completely lifted and after that it is expected that the SFIO will be in a position to continue their investigation in full swing.

The Moderator hopes that his highly academic and scientific vocabulary will carry the congregations' thought and deflect further away from the corruption and fraud that has defaced the episcopacy and damaged the image of the church.

The phrases 'renewable energy', 'energy efficiency' and 'additional Carbon sequestration' only aims at confusing the people to deflect attention away from the problems that continue to haunt the CSI/CSITA.

Terms such as repentance, confessing one's own sin are not meant by the Moderator in the way the biblical authors meant them. The circular down-plays the truth and evades the issues that are affecting the good, decent and orderly life of the CSI/CSITA. The Moderator finds in the verse of Micah 6: 8 "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8) a message 'to build an economy (eco-justice) that will support, not undermine, future generations.' But the prophet Micah is asking in preceding verses 6 & 7 "Fat calves and rivers of oil in sacrifices to God will not appease him" but living according to justice, love and truth (v. 8). Micah's challenge comes in the verse immediately following in the form of a question, "Is there to be no end of acquiring treasures by wickedness?" Let us first build an economy of the CSITA on solid foundations that Micah has recorded in the two verses that follow. The voice of the Lord is saying, "Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights?"

The message of Micah to the CSITA officers is "First set your wicked scales and clear the bag of dishonest weights and that will be the sincere service required to build God's economy." The Moderator also quotes Ezekiel 34:4, to assert that God condemns the kings for 'ruling' (subduing) with force and harshness, failing to strengthen the weak, to heal the sick, to bind the injured, to bring back the strayed, to seek the lost." However, the Moderator applies this verse to "care and stewardship' of creation". "Creation" means to him the trees, birds and animals but not humans. This completely evades the thrust of this message from Ezekiel by misleading the readers to see a strange message imposed on it other than what was intended by Ezekiel. The message to the shepherds of Israel is found in the preceding verse which is conveniently overlooked by Bishop Oommen. Thus says the Lord God, "Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat...but you do not feed the sheep." (Ez. 34: 3). Isn't quite fitting to describes the shepherds of the CSI are doing today? Why do you black out this message, O, Moderator? The Moderator is calling us "to engage in self-examination and penitence". But what he means is totally different from what the Scripture is calling us for.

This is the climax of his diverting tactics. The Moderator appeals, "In this context of ecological injustice (SIN) by the human hands, let us pledge to hold 40 days of 'Carbon Fast' - a call not only to repent our ecological sins, but also to restore eco-justice." Who committed ecological sins? The developed nations have exploited the resources of nature and creation for a long period of time with a far more percentage than the developing nations. On Carbon emission it is USA and China are the worst offenders. China has a record of 29.5% emission of Carbon-di-oxide and USA has 15%. India has 6. 5% and the figure arose to this level only in 2015. This does not mean that Indians ought not to be concerned about our actions against the 'Green' lives. Let us not blow up something for which we Indians are scarcely responsible. What about our sins committed in large measure over money spending, bribery and abuse of Church properties?

Also included are the sins fabricating minutes, concealing official documents from the view of the CSITA stake-holders, unconstitutional actions, perverting episcopacy, undermining the lay and defacing the priesthood. The Moderator is quite concerned about the year 2070 and not about sins committed and listed by the Report from the Registrar of Companies in 2016. The Moderator is telling the CSI Christians to do things (reduce, re-use refuse and recycle waste) which is what the multi-national Companies ought to be doing!

We, the CSI Christians, should continue to press the issue of maladministration and corruption within the ranks of the CSITA which is our prime responsibility at this season. We are convinced that purging the Church is in line with the will of God and for which we undertake a fast during the Lent to end corruption in the CSI/CSITA and to restore the episcopacy to its true foundations. We call on the Moderator & Co to keep the focus on the reformation of the CSI before calling for the undoing of the emission of carbon dioxide through regulating the use of energy for light, power and transport. Let us not forget the carbon waste emitted by the bishops' luxury cars and by unnecessary travels made other than for spiritual and pastoral activities?

Dr. Joseph G Muthuraj is former Professor of New Testament at United Theological College in Bangalore, India.