Church of South India
Encyclopedia
The Church of South India (commonly known as CSI) is the successor of the Church of England
in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches
in South India
. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church
after the Roman Catholic Church in India. CSI is one of four united churches in the Anglican Communion
.
The inspiration for the Church of South India was born from ecumenism
and inspired by the words of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John
, 17.21
That they all may be one is also the motto of the Church of South India.
The CSI was inaugurated on 27 September 1947 at St. George's Cathedral Chennai, only a month after India achieved its independence from the United Kingdom
. It was formed from the union of the South India United Church (itself a union of churches from the Congregational
, Presbyterian and Reformed traditions) and the southern provinces of the Anglican Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and the Methodist Church of South India. In the 1990s, a small number of Baptist
and Pentecostal churches also joined the union.
The presiding bishop of the inaugural function was the Rt Revd C. K. Jacob of the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin. A vast congregation gathered in the cathedral at Madras from all over the world. The following historical declaration made by Bishop Jacob at the inaugural.
Discussions about the merging of South India's Protestant denominations began at a 1919 conference at Tranquebar
(today known as Tharangambadi). This famous conference on church union is known as Tranquebar 1919. One of the main leaders of this conference and later negotiations was Bishop V. S. Azariah of the Dornakal diocese, who was the first Indian bishop of the Anglican Church. The Church of South India is considered the result of twenty-eight years of prayers and discussions. By the independence of India in 1947, the union was achieved and the CSI officially established.
The inauguration of the Church of South India opened a new chapter in the history of the churches. This was the first time in history such a union was realised between episcopal and non-episcopal churches. By this union four traditions came together, i.e., Anglican (Episcopal), Congregational, Presbyterian, and Methodist.
One of the three churches to come into the Church of South India was the South India United Church (S.I.U.C.). S.I.U.C. was formed in 1908. This was a union between Congregationalists and Presbyterians. The Basal Mission, district of Malabar also joined the S.I.U.C. in 1919.
When C.S.I. was inaugurated there were fourteen dioceses. Today the church has twenty-two dioceses and more than 2 million members. There are eight dioceses in Tamil Nadu, six in Andhra Pradesh, four in Kerala, three in Karnataka, and one in Sri Lanka.
and the Christian cross
used in the logo
possess a rich cultural heritage in India and is used to symbolize the call and mission of the CSI.
In Indian mythology, the lotus flower is the seat of the Creator
. It is also known variably as those that are born in mud and the flower of the sun. These symbolisms are adopted to interpret the position of God and the nature and role of the people in the CSI.
The petals of the lotus and the cross are knitted together with the symbol of the fiery-tongues of the Holy Spirit
as referenced in the book of the Acts of the Apostles
. It is an expression of the people's communion with God. The original colors, red (for life) and purple (for piety and ecclesiastical) on a white backdrop communicate the nature of the mystical union where an inseparable companionship is established between God and humanity.
The motto and the name of the CSI is placed in a circle around the lotus and the cross. The words are taken from the prayer of Jesus Christ who prayed not only for the church but also for the whole world. This universality is portrayed by placing the words in a form of circle, a symbol which also represents the universe. It calls for the unity of both the church and all peoples of India.
The central position of the cross in the logo conveys the idea that it was the sacrifice
that was made by Jesus on the cross that is the foundation of the Church. The four ends of the cross painted in deep color indicates that it is the cross that guides all Christians to join in one stream to pray and labor united for a peaceful coexistence and communal harmony.
The church accepts the Lambeth Quadrilateral as its basis and recognises the historical episcopate
in its constitutional form. The CSI Church is the second largest church in India based on the population of members, next to the Roman Catholic Church, and also the largest Protestant denomination
in the country.
based in Chennai
and headed by a presiding bishop
bearing the title of Moderator who is elected every two years. The current moderator is S. Vasanta Kumar, Bishop of the Diocese of Karnataka Central.The deputy moderator is G. Devakadatcham, Bishop of the Diocese of Kanyakumari.
s, each under the supervision of a bishop
, including one diocese encompassing Jaffna
, Sri Lanka
. The dioceses are governed by diocesan councils composed of all clergy
in the diocese as well as lay people elected from the local congregations.
, congregations exist in Sri Lanka
where a full diocese is organized, the United States
, the United Kingdom
, Australia
, Canada
, Bahrain
, Kuwait
, Qatar
and the United Arab Emirates
. CSI members also worship in different parts of India including New Delhi, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bhilai, Mumbai,Pune.
the CSI south kerala diocise also runs a medical college at karakonam, Trivandrum.
The School for Small Farmers is a specific agency catering to the needs of the farming communities in their Dalit
and Adivasi
congregations.
. These include:
and its bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences
and has representation on the Anglican Consultative Council
. It is also a member in the World Council of Churches
, World Alliance of Reformed Churches
, and the National Council of Churches in India
. The CSI is in full communion with the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of India
and the Church of North India
(CNI).
The CSI, CNI, and Mar Thoma Church jointly formed the Communion of Churches in India
(CCI) in 1978 for mutual recognition of the ministry and leaders, intercommunal relationship, and to explore possibilities of working together especially in the field of evangelization in India and other areas of cooperation in the fulfillment of the mission of the Church.
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
after the Roman Catholic Church in India. CSI is one of four united churches in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
The inspiration for the Church of South India was born from ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
and inspired by the words of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
, 17.21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
That they all may be one is also the motto of the Church of South India.
History
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It was formed from the union of the South India United Church (itself a union of churches from the Congregational
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, Presbyterian and Reformed traditions) and the southern provinces of the Anglican Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and the Methodist Church of South India. In the 1990s, a small number of Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and Pentecostal churches also joined the union.
The presiding bishop of the inaugural function was the Rt Revd C. K. Jacob of the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin. A vast congregation gathered in the cathedral at Madras from all over the world. The following historical declaration made by Bishop Jacob at the inaugural.
"Dearly beloved brethren, in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ the head of the church, who on the night of his passion prayed that his disciples might be one, and by authority of the governing bodies of the uniting churches whose resolutions have been read in your hearing and laid in your prayer before Almighty God; I do hereby declare that these three churches, namely - the Madras, Madura, Malabar, Jaffna, Kannada, Telugu, Travancore Church councils of the South India United Church; the Methodist Church of South India, Trichinopoly, Hyderabad and Mysore districts; the Madras, Travancore and Cochin, Tinnevelly and Dornakal dioceses of the Churches of India, Burma and Ceylon; are become one Church of South India, and these bishops, presbyters, deacons and probationers who have assented to the basis of union and accepted the constitution of the Church of South India, whose names are laid upon this holy table, are bishops, presbyters and deacons of this church. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen."
Discussions about the merging of South India's Protestant denominations began at a 1919 conference at Tranquebar
Tranquebar
Tharangambadi is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, 15 km north of Karaikal, near the mouth of a distributary of the Kaveri River. Its name means "place of the singing waves"...
(today known as Tharangambadi). This famous conference on church union is known as Tranquebar 1919. One of the main leaders of this conference and later negotiations was Bishop V. S. Azariah of the Dornakal diocese, who was the first Indian bishop of the Anglican Church. The Church of South India is considered the result of twenty-eight years of prayers and discussions. By the independence of India in 1947, the union was achieved and the CSI officially established.
The inauguration of the Church of South India opened a new chapter in the history of the churches. This was the first time in history such a union was realised between episcopal and non-episcopal churches. By this union four traditions came together, i.e., Anglican (Episcopal), Congregational, Presbyterian, and Methodist.
One of the three churches to come into the Church of South India was the South India United Church (S.I.U.C.). S.I.U.C. was formed in 1908. This was a union between Congregationalists and Presbyterians. The Basal Mission, district of Malabar also joined the S.I.U.C. in 1919.
When C.S.I. was inaugurated there were fourteen dioceses. Today the church has twenty-two dioceses and more than 2 million members. There are eight dioceses in Tamil Nadu, six in Andhra Pradesh, four in Kerala, three in Karnataka, and one in Sri Lanka.
Logo
The logo of the CSI is a cross superimposed on a stylized lotus and surrounded by the motto and the name of the church. The symbols of the lotusNelumbo nucifera
Nelumbo nucifera, known by a number of names including Indian Lotus, Sacred Lotus, Bean of India, or simply Lotus, is a plant in the monogeneric family Nelumbonaceae...
and the Christian cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
used in the logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
possess a rich cultural heritage in India and is used to symbolize the call and mission of the CSI.
In Indian mythology, the lotus flower is the seat of the Creator
Creator deity
A creator deity is a deity responsible for the creation of the world . In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator deity, while polytheistic traditions may or may not have creator deities...
. It is also known variably as those that are born in mud and the flower of the sun. These symbolisms are adopted to interpret the position of God and the nature and role of the people in the CSI.
The petals of the lotus and the cross are knitted together with the symbol of the fiery-tongues of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
as referenced in the book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts of the Apostles
The Acts of the Apostles , usually referred to simply as Acts, is the fifth book of the New Testament; Acts outlines the history of the Apostolic Age...
. It is an expression of the people's communion with God. The original colors, red (for life) and purple (for piety and ecclesiastical) on a white backdrop communicate the nature of the mystical union where an inseparable companionship is established between God and humanity.
The motto and the name of the CSI is placed in a circle around the lotus and the cross. The words are taken from the prayer of Jesus Christ who prayed not only for the church but also for the whole world. This universality is portrayed by placing the words in a form of circle, a symbol which also represents the universe. It calls for the unity of both the church and all peoples of India.
The central position of the cross in the logo conveys the idea that it was the sacrifice
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
that was made by Jesus on the cross that is the foundation of the Church. The four ends of the cross painted in deep color indicates that it is the cross that guides all Christians to join in one stream to pray and labor united for a peaceful coexistence and communal harmony.
Organization
Episcopal polity
Episcopal polity is a form of church governance that is hierarchical in structure with the chief authority over a local Christian church resting in a bishop...
in its constitutional form. The CSI Church is the second largest church in India based on the population of members, next to the Roman Catholic Church, and also the largest Protestant denomination
Christianity in India
Christianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...
in the country.
Synod
The church is governed by a synodSynod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
based in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and headed by a presiding bishop
Presiding Bishop
The Presiding Bishop is an ecclesiastical position in some denominations of Christianity.- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America :The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the chief ecumenical officer of the church, and the leader and caretaker for the bishops of the...
bearing the title of Moderator who is elected every two years. The current moderator is S. Vasanta Kumar, Bishop of the Diocese of Karnataka Central.The deputy moderator is G. Devakadatcham, Bishop of the Diocese of Kanyakumari.
Dioceses
The church is further divided into 22 dioceseDiocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s, each under the supervision of a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, including one diocese encompassing Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. The dioceses are governed by diocesan councils composed of all clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
in the diocese as well as lay people elected from the local congregations.
Congregations
The church has 14,000 local congregations with 3.8 million members worldwide. While the majority of the members are in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, congregations exist in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
where a full diocese is organized, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
and the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. CSI members also worship in different parts of India including New Delhi, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bhilai, Mumbai,Pune.
| Name | Headquarters | Location | Bishop | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dornakal Diocese | Dornakal Dornakal Dornakal is a town in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. The town is important as a railway junction from where a branch line emanates to Manuguru and is also on the Vijayawada - Warangal mainline it connects South India... |
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third... |
B. Satyanandam Devamani | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=488&view=alpha |
| Karimnagar Diocese Karimnagar Diocese The Diocese of Karimnagar is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India.- Bishops :* 1945-1955 – A. B. Eliott* 1955-1978 – P. Solomon* 1978-1982 – B. Prabhudass* 1982-1987 – G. B. Devasahayam* 1987-1992 – K. E. Swamidass... |
Karimnagar Karimnagar As of 2011 India census Estimation, Karimnagar city had a population of 2,99,660. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% has an average literacy rate of 86.75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.61%, and female literacy is 80.79%. In Karimnagar, 12% of... |
P. Surya Prakash P. Surya Prakash The Right Reverend P. Surya Prakash is the Bishop of the Karimnagar Diocese in the Church of South India. The Cathedra of the Bishop is placed in Wesley Cathedral in Karimnagar.... |
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=492&view=alpha | |
| Krishna-Godavari Diocese | Machilipatnam Machilipatnam Machilipatnam is a city and a special grade municipality in the Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located south east of state capital, Hyderabad.-History:... |
G. Dyvasirvadam | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=496&view=alpha | |
| Medak Diocese | Secunderabad Secunderabad Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment... |
T. S. Kanaka Prasad T. S. Kanaka Prasad T. Samuel Kanaka Prasad is the sixth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak in the Church of South India .-Divinity and pastorship:Kanaka Prasad studied theology at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.-Bishopric:... |
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=499&view=alpha | |
| Nandyal Diocese | Nandyal Nandyal Nandyal or Nandyala is a town in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a major centre of trade, commerce, education and industries in the region and is also important because of its religious significance and Rich water resources. The town derives its name from Nandi, the vehicle of... |
P. J. Lawrence | http://www.dioceseofnandyal.org/ | |
| Rayalaseema Diocese | Kadapa Kadapa Kadapa , formerly Cuddapah, is a city in the south-central part of Andhra Pradesh, India . The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate... |
K. B. Yesuvaraprasad | http://www.csirdimt.org/ | |
| Central Karnataka Diocese | Bangalore Bangalore Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and... |
Karnataka Karnataka Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava... |
Suputhrappa Vasantha Kumar | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=493&view=alpha |
| Karnataka Northern Diocese | Dharwad Dharwad Dharwad, also known as Dharwar, is a city and a DISTRICT PLACE in India's Karnataka state.Dharwad is the administrative seat of the Dharwad District. The municipality of Hubli-Dharwad covers an area of 200.23 km²... |
J. Prabhakara Rao | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=494&view=alpha | |
| Karnataka Southern Diocese | Mangalore Mangalore Mangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western... |
John S. Sadananda | http://www.csiksd.org/ | |
| East Kerala Diocese | Melukavumattom | Kerala Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions.... |
K. G. Daniel | http://www.csieastkerala.org/ |
| Madhya Kerala Diocese Madhya Kerala Diocese The Madhya Kerala Diocese is one of the twenty-two dioceses of the Church of South India covering the central part of Kerala. When the Church of South India was inaugurated on 27 September 1947, it was called the Diocese of Central Travancore and was renamed the Diocese of Madhya Kerala... |
Kottayam Kottayam Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative... |
Thomas K Oommen | http://www.mkdworld.com/common/ | |
| North Kerala Diocese | Shoranur Shoranur Shoranur is a town and a municipality in Palakkad district, Kerala,located on the banks of the Bharathapuzha River spread over an area of 32.28 km2.it is a major transport hub , having the largest railway station in the state .Kerala Kalamandalam which is the premier centre for the learning... |
K. P. Kuruvila | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=501&view=alpha | |
| South Kerala Diocese South Kerala Diocese South Kerala Diocese is a diocese of the Church of South India. In 2010 the diocese has 352 ordained pastors, 49 retired pastors and more than 200 church workers. There are 60 districts and 623 churches in this diocese.-History:... |
Trivandrum | A Dharmaraj Rasalam | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=503&view=alpha | |
| Coimbatore Diocese Diocese of Coimbatore The Diocese of Coimbatore is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India . It is based at Immanuel Cathedral, Coimbatore, in the state of Tamil Nadu, southern India. The current Bishop of Coimbatore is the Rt. Rev. Dr. Manickam Dorai. The diocese has 105 pastorates, 112 pastors,... |
Coimbatore Coimbatore Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India".... |
Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh... |
Currently Governed by the Synod | http://www.csicoimbatorediocese.com/ |
| Kanyakumari Diocese | Nagercoil Nagercoil Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District... |
G. Davakadasham | http://www.csi-kanyakumari.org/ | |
| Madras Diocese | Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
V. Devasahayam | http://www.csimadrasdiocese.org/ | |
| Madurai-Ramnad Diocese | Madurai Madurai Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and... |
A. Christopher Asir | http://www.csidmr.net/ | |
| Thoothukudi - Nazareth Diocese | Thoothukudi Thoothukudi Thoothukudi , also known as Tuticorin, is a port city and a Municipal Corporation in Thoothukudi district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thoothukudi is the headquarters of Thoothukudi District.... |
J. A. D. Jebachandran | http://www.csitnd.org/ | |
| Tirunelveli Diocese | Tirunelveli Tirunelveli Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu... |
J. J. Christudoss | http://www.csitirunelveli.org/ | |
| Trichy-Tanjore Diocese Trichy-Tanjore Diocese -The Church of South India - Tiruchirappalli Thanjavur Diocese:The CSI Tiruchirappalli Thanjavur Diocese was one of the first 14 Dioceses to be formed at the inaugural of the Church of South India in 1947. This is headed by the Church of South India Synod... |
Tiruchirappalli | G. Paul Vasanthakumar | http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/diocese.cfm?Idind=505&view=alpha | |
| Vellore Diocese | Vellore Vellore Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati... |
Yesuratnam William | http://www.csivellorediocese.org.in/ | |
| Jaffna Diocese Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India The Jaffna Diocese is the Church of South India diocese for northern Sri Lanka. The current bishop is Dr Daniel Thiagarajah.-History:... |
Jaffna Jaffna Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical... |
Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the... |
Daniel Thiagarajah | http://www.csijaffnadiocese.com/ |
Agencies
The church runs 2000 schools, 130 colleges and 104 hospitals in South India. In the 1960s the church became conscious of its social responsibility and started organising rural development projects. There are 50 such projects all over India, 50 training centres for young people and 500 residential hostels for a total of 35,000 children.the CSI south kerala diocise also runs a medical college at karakonam, Trivandrum.
The School for Small Farmers is a specific agency catering to the needs of the farming communities in their Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
and Adivasi
Adivasi
Adivasi is an umbrella term for a heterogeneous set of ethnic and tribal groups claimed to be the aboriginal population of India. They comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India...
congregations.
Theological education
The church recognises theological degrees granted by institutions affiliated with the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore CollegeBoard of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College
The Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College is the arm of theological education under the Senate of Serampore College...
. These include:
- Kerala United Theological SeminaryKerala United Theological SeminaryKerala United Theological Seminary is run by the Church of South India with an ecumenical outlook. It was founded in 1943, and is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College , West Bengal. KUTS is located in Kannammoola in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.-Courses offered:KUTS offers the degrees of...
(KUTS), Trivandrum - Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC), Hyderabad
- Bishops CollegeBishops CollegeBishops College is a high school located in central St. John's, Newfoundland. It is next to another high school called Booth Memorial High.-Mascot:The Mascot for Bishops, is The Bishops Baron, sometimes depicted as Snoopy dressed as the Red Baron....
(BC), Calcutta - Gurukul Lutheran Theological College & Research InstituteGurukul Lutheran Theological CollegeGurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute is an ecumenical seminary situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, South India. It is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College .-Background:...
(GLTCRI), ChennaiChennaiChennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... - Karnataka Theological CollegeKarnataka Theological CollegeKarnataka Theological College is an ecumenical seminary catering to the Kannada-speaking students wishing to pursue the priestly vocation. KTC is located in Mangalore of Karnataka in South India, and is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College .The Karnataka Theological College was...
(KTC), MangaloreMangaloreMangalore is the chief port city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is located about west of the state capital, Bangalore. Mangalore lies between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghat mountain ranges, and is the administrative headquarters of the Dakshina Kannada district in south western... - South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI), BangaloreBangaloreBengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
- Serampore CollegeSerampore CollegeSerampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.The college consists of two entities:*The theological faculty*A separate college with faculties of arts, science, commerce...
(SC), SeramporeSeramporeSerampore is a city and a municipality in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. It is a pre-colonial town on the right bank of the Hoogli River... - Tamil Nadu Theological SeminaryTamil Nadu Theological SeminaryTamilnadu Theological Seminary is an ecumenical venture of Tamil churches in Arasaradi, Madurai, South India.TTS is affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College and Madurai Kamaraj University. The Principal is Dr...
(TTS), MaduraiMaduraiMadurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and... - United Theological College, Bangalore (UTC)
- Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore (KTC)
Ecumenism
The CSI is a member of the Anglican CommunionAnglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
and its bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences
Lambeth Conferences
The Lambeth Conferences are decennial assemblies of bishops of the Anglican Communion convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The first such conference took place in 1867....
and has representation on the Anglican Consultative Council
Anglican Consultative Council
The Anglican Consultative Council or ACC is one of the four "Instruments of Communion" of the Anglican Communion. It was created by a resolution of the 1968 Lambeth Conference...
. It is also a member in the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
, World Alliance of Reformed Churches
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin...
, and the National Council of Churches in India
National Council of Churches in India
National Council of Churches in India or NCCI is an ecumenical organisation of the protestant and Orthodox Churches in India. NCCI is a member of ACT Development, a global alliance of churches and related agencies....
. The CSI is in full communion with the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of India
Mar Thoma Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It has an entirely different identity when compared with other Churches in India. Most Christian churches around the world are divided into...
and the Church of North India
Church of North India
The Church of North India , the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India, is a united church established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the main Protestant churches working in northern India...
(CNI).
The CSI, CNI, and Mar Thoma Church jointly formed the Communion of Churches in India
Communion of Churches in India
The Communion of Churches in India is a representative body of three mainland Protestant Churches in India: The Church of North India, The Church of South India, and the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The three churches are in full communion with each other...
(CCI) in 1978 for mutual recognition of the ministry and leaders, intercommunal relationship, and to explore possibilities of working together especially in the field of evangelization in India and other areas of cooperation in the fulfillment of the mission of the Church.
See also
- Association of Theologically Trained Women of IndiaAssociation of Theologically Trained Women of IndiaThe Association of Theologically Trained Women of India is an association of Indian women theologians which was constituted in 1979 in Chennai.It is an ecumenical organisation with more than 500 members.-History:...
(ATTWI) - Christianity in IndiaChristianity in IndiaChristianity is India's third-largest religion, with approximately 24 million followers, constituting 2.3% of India's population. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings and 14th century Portuguese missionaries created an illusion to convert Indians that Christianity was introduced to...
- Christianity in Tamil NaduChristianity in Tamil NaduChristianity in the state of Tamil Nadu, India is believed to be 2000 years old. It possibly was introduced to Tamil Nadu by St. Thomas Didymus , one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ between 52-72 AD. But the colonial age brought a large number of Portuguese, Dutch, British and Italian Christians...
- Church of North IndiaChurch of North IndiaThe Church of North India , the dominant Protestant denomination in northern India, is a united church established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together the main Protestant churches working in northern India...
- Church of South India Boys Higher Secondary SchoolChurch of South India Boys Higher Secondary SchoolC.S.I Boys Higher Secondary School was founded in 1831 as the first school in Coimbatore in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Over 2000 students attend every year. It was founded by the Church of South India ....
- Communion of Churches in IndiaCommunion of Churches in IndiaThe Communion of Churches in India is a representative body of three mainland Protestant Churches in India: The Church of North India, The Church of South India, and the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The three churches are in full communion with each other...
- Serampore CollegeSerampore CollegeSerampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.The college consists of two entities:*The theological faculty*A separate college with faculties of arts, science, commerce...
- St. Thomas Christians
- Telugu ChristianTelugu ChristianTelugu Christians or Telugu Kraistava are an ethno-religious community who form the second largest religious minority in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh...