An Ecumenical Workshop on Folk Arts was orgainsed from the 4th to the 9th September 1995 at Mahabalipuram. This was sponsored by the Traditional Media Unit of ICMC and the Association of Communication and Ecumenical Services. The objective of this Workshop was to emphasise effective communication of the Gospel and to create awareness among the neglected sections of the society like women and Dalits for social action through traditional media, such as Street Theatre; Kummi, Kollattam; Villupattu; and Katha Kaletchebam.

This Consultation was organised for the Church leaders from all over Tamilnadu and also from a few other States in India. This was sponsored by the Asian Human Rights Commission of the UN and the Unit III of the NCCI. The Rt.Rev. John Franklin, Bishop, Arcot Lutheran Church inaugurated the Consultation. Mr. Basil Fernando, Executive Director of the AHRC participated in it, besides Dr.J.A. Oliver, Vice-President of the NCCI and other Church leaders. Justice Mr. David Annusuamy, Rtd. Judge, Madras High Court, Rev.Dr.V. Devasahayam, Prof. Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Mr. Moses P. Manohar of the NCCI were the Resources Persons. The deliberations emphasized that the Church must address the issue of poverty and join hands with concerned Groups and Organisations in eradicating it. It further emphasised that in this age of violation of human rights in all parts of the world, the Church should take into account the reality of this issue. The other point was that poverty was a human creation so eradication of it was a human responsibility.