Mizoram Presbyterian Church
Encyclopedia
Mizoram Presbyterian Church is the largest Church in Mizoram
state in Northeast India
. It is one of the constituent bodies of a larger denomination Presbyterian Church of India
(PCI) which has its headquarters in Shillong
, Meghalaya
in Northeast India. Mizoram Synod, as it is known, is one of the three Churches pioneered by English missionaries in the 19th century. The other two are the Baptist Church of Mizoram
and the Evangelical Church of Maraland
.
Synod Mission Board established the Missionary Training Department from 1978. The Objective of this centre is to promote knowledge and understanding of the Bible, Missiology and Theology, growth in Christian discipleship and developing skill for cross cultural ministry. In 1991, a pre-service training for the 'would be' missionaries was instituted, and has become a one year course, which each missionary of the Church has to go through. This missionary training centre was upgraded in 2010, and it became Missionary Training College, where anyone can study Missiology.
Aizawl Theological College is the only theological Institution with M.Th. studies in the State. It is affiliated to Serampore College (University) as a graduate and post graduate college. This theological college is founded by the first Presbyterian missionary in Mizoram, Rev. DE Jones in 1907. The Master of Theology (M. Th) programme in Christian Theology had been introduced since 2002 and M. Th. (New Testament and Missiology) respectively are also being introduced from 2007 academic session. The college plans to add M. Th. studies in other disciplines in the years ahead. The college has already become a local centre for Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S), Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.S.), and Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) programmes of the Senate of Serampore College.
Mizoram
Mizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
state in Northeast India
India
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...
. It is one of the constituent bodies of a larger denomination Presbyterian Church of India
Presbyterian Church of India
The Presbyterian Church of India is one of the mainline Protestant Churches in India, with over one million adherents, mostly in Northeast India. It is the largest Christian denomination in that region. The PCI was founded in 1841 by missionaries from the Presbyterian Church of Wales...
(PCI) which has its headquarters in Shillong
Shillong
-Connectivity:Although well connected by road, Shillong has no rail connection and a proper air connection. Umroi Airport exists but has only limited flights.-Roadways:Shillong is well connected by roads with all major north eastern states...
, Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
in Northeast India. Mizoram Synod, as it is known, is one of the three Churches pioneered by English missionaries in the 19th century. The other two are the Baptist Church of Mizoram
Baptist Church of Mizoram
Baptist Church of Mizoram, abbreviated BCM is a Protestant denomination of India and the second biggest Church in Mizoram state in Northeast India....
and the Evangelical Church of Maraland
Evangelical Church of Maraland
Evangelical Church of Maraland is a Church in southern Mizoram in Northeast India. It was founded by English missionary Rev. & Mrs Reginald Arthur Lorrain in 1907. It is the largest Church among Mara people. It is one of the three Mizoram Churches pioneered by English Missionaries in the 19th century...
.
Founder
Mizoram Presbyterian Church was established and founded by a Welsh Missionary named Rev. D.E. Jones in 1897. The first missionary who came to Mizoram was Rev. William Williams, a Welsh missionary who at that time was a missionary in Khasi Hills, North East India (now Meghalaya). He came into Mizoram in 1891 and preached the Gospel among some of the villages. On January 11, 1894, F.W. Savidge and J.H. Lorrain, commissioned by Arthington Aborigines Mission, reached Mizoram. They stayed for four years. On August 31, 1897, Welsh Calvinistic Methodist's (later changed Presbyterian Church of Wales) missionary David Evan Jones set foot on Mizoram and founded the Church.Statistics
- Presbyteries 40
- Pastorates 251
- Churches 1360
- Branch Churches 467
- Ordained Ministers 441
- Probationary Pastors 53
- Ordained Elders 4495
- Families 116,028
- Communicants 367,019
- Total membership 550,560
Women Fellowship (Kohhran Hmeichhia)
Women Fellowship is a fellowship for women under Mizoram Presbyterian Church, and its members are mainly married women. According to the report of General Secretary of Kohhran Hmeichhia, on December 2009, it has 1,43,159 members from 91,423 families.Kristian Thalai Pâwl
This is a youth fellowship, and is an useful instrument of the Church. In 2010, Biennial General Conference was held at Mamit, and according to the report in this conference, the KTP (Kristian Thalai Pawl) has 1,21,415 members and 783 branches, and supports more than one thousand missionaries, inside and outside Mizoram.Mission
Synod Mission Board is the body in charge of the missionary works of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church, within and outside India. It looks after 15 mission fields in India (including Nepal), and sends missionaries to Taiwan, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, China, Nepal, United Kingdom, Samoa, Madagascar, American Samoa and Kiribati. Under Synod Mission Board, 1,758 workers are working for the Kingdom of God.Synod Mission Board established the Missionary Training Department from 1978. The Objective of this centre is to promote knowledge and understanding of the Bible, Missiology and Theology, growth in Christian discipleship and developing skill for cross cultural ministry. In 1991, a pre-service training for the 'would be' missionaries was instituted, and has become a one year course, which each missionary of the Church has to go through. This missionary training centre was upgraded in 2010, and it became Missionary Training College, where anyone can study Missiology.
Education
The Mizo Synod operates many schools, from primary level to secondary level. Synod Higher Secondary School, Aizawl has a strength of 58 teaching staff and 870 students. 40% of its seats are reserved for students from rural areas. Presbyterian Girls' School is of Middle School level with 32 teaching staff and non-teaching staff and 484 students. Besides, there are 73 schools, run by the Churches with financial grant from the Synod.Aizawl Theological College is the only theological Institution with M.Th. studies in the State. It is affiliated to Serampore College (University) as a graduate and post graduate college. This theological college is founded by the first Presbyterian missionary in Mizoram, Rev. DE Jones in 1907. The Master of Theology (M. Th) programme in Christian Theology had been introduced since 2002 and M. Th. (New Testament and Missiology) respectively are also being introduced from 2007 academic session. The college plans to add M. Th. studies in other disciplines in the years ahead. The college has already become a local centre for Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S), Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.S.), and Doctor of Ministry (D. Min) programmes of the Senate of Serampore College.
Mizo Sunday School Union
The Sunday School Ministry of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church is a ministry that puts the Mizoram Church at a very important and outstanding place from all others Churches in India. There are 42,483 sunday school teachers and 373,650 learners (students).Association/Affiliation
- National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) : A member.
- World Council of Churches (WCC) - a member.
- World Alliance of Reformed Churches - a member.
- Maraland Presbyterian Church is an affiliated church under Mizoram Presbyterian Church.