Presbyterian Church of India
Encyclopedia
The Presbyterian Church of India (PCI) 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
(formerly the Calvinistic Methodist
Church). Geographical spread and the merger of several (though not all) Presbyterian groups made the original denominational names obsolete, and the name 'Presbyterian Church of India' (PCI) was adopted as an official name in 1992 by a General Assembly of the Synod.
PCI is an apex body comprising eight Synods such as Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod, Cachar Hill Tribes Synod, Manipur Presbyterian Church Synod, Biateram Presbyterian Church Synod, Ri Bhoi Presbyterian Church Synod, Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi (KJP Synod Sepngi), KJP Synod Mihngi, and Zou Presbyterian Church Synod.
The PCI has its headquarters in Shillong
, the capital of Meghalaya
state in Northeast India. The PCI subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith
and maintains relationships with related denominations such as the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
, the Presbyterian Church of Korea
, and the Uniting Church in Australia
. It is also supported by its Welsh parent church. Locally, it has ties with the Council of Baptist Churches in North-East India (CBCNEI) and the Church of North India
.
on 22 June 1841. By 1901 there were over 15,000 Christians in this area. The Rev. D.E Jones began working among Mizo people in 1897, and a century later, over 85% of people in Mizoram
were Christian.
Many other Presbyterian missionaries also served in India, for example Samuel H. Kellogg
, translator of the Bible into Hindi.
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...
, with over one million adherents, mostly in Northeast India. It is the largest Christian denomination
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 that region. The PCI was founded in 1841 by missionaries from the Presbyterian Church of Wales
Presbyterian Church of Wales
The Presbyterian Church of Wales , also known as The Calvinistic Methodist Church , is a denomination of Protestant Christianity. It was born out of the Welsh Methodist revival and the preaching of Hywel Harris Howell Harris in the 18th century and seceded from the Church of England in 1811...
(formerly the Calvinistic Methodist
Calvinistic Methodists
Calvinistic Methodists are a body of Christians forming the Presbyterian Church of Wales and claiming to be the only denomination of the Presbyterian order in Wales which is of purely Welsh origin.-Early history:...
Church). Geographical spread and the merger of several (though not all) Presbyterian groups made the original denominational names obsolete, and the name 'Presbyterian Church of India' (PCI) was adopted as an official name in 1992 by a General Assembly of the Synod.
PCI is an apex body comprising eight Synods such as Mizoram Presbyterian Church Synod, Cachar Hill Tribes Synod, Manipur Presbyterian Church Synod, Biateram Presbyterian Church Synod, Ri Bhoi Presbyterian Church Synod, Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian Synod Sepngi (KJP Synod Sepngi), KJP Synod Mihngi, and Zou Presbyterian Church Synod.
The PCI 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...
, the capital of 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...
state in Northeast India. The PCI subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
and maintains relationships with related denominations such as the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America
The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America was a Presbyterian denomination in the United States. It was organized in 1789 under the leadership of John Witherspoon in the wake of the American Revolution and existed until 1958 when it merged with the United Presbyterian Church of North...
, the Presbyterian Church of Korea
Presbyterian Church of Korea
The Presbyterian Church of Korea or PCK is a mainline Protestant denomination based in South Korea and currently has the second largest membership of any Presbyterian denomination in the world...
, and the Uniting Church in Australia
Uniting Church in Australia
The Uniting Church in Australia was formed on 22 June 1977 when many congregations of the Methodist Church of Australasia, the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Congregational Union of Australia came together under the Basis of Union....
. It is also supported by its Welsh parent church. Locally, it has ties with the Council of Baptist Churches in North-East India (CBCNEI) 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...
.
Founders
Rev. & Mrs. Thomas Jones from the Welsh Presbyterian Church arrived in the Khasi HillsKhasi Hills
The Khasi Hills are part of the Garo-Khasi range in the Indian state of Meghalaya, and is part of the Patkai range and of the Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion...
on 22 June 1841. By 1901 there were over 15,000 Christians in this area. The Rev. D.E Jones began working among Mizo people in 1897, and a century later, over 85% of people in Mizoram
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...
were Christian.
Many other Presbyterian missionaries also served in India, for example Samuel H. Kellogg
Samuel H. Kellogg
Dr Samuel Henry Kellogg was an American Presbyterian missionary in India who played the major role in revising and retranslating the Hindi Bible...
, translator of the Bible into Hindi.
Membership
According to 2008 statistics the Presbyterian Church of India had a total strength of more than 1,200,000 members and 2,931 local churches, with Mizoram Presbyterian synod and the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian assembly makes up more than a million out of the 1.2 million members.Affiliations
- National Council of Churches in IndiaNational Council of Churches in IndiaNational 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....
(NCCI) : A member. - ouncil for World Mission (CWM) - a member.
- World Communion of Reformed ChurchesWorld Communion of Reformed ChurchesThe World Communion of Reformed Churches is an ecumenical Christian body formed in June 2010 by the union of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Ecumenical Council...
(WCRC) - a member.