Communion of Churches in India
Encyclopedia
The Communion of Churches in India (CCI) 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. They accept each other's clergy, interpretation of the Bible, creeds, and mutually accept one another’s Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry.
In 1973, Theological Commissions from each of the three churches met to consider the matter. At the very outset, representatives of the Mar Thoma Church
led by the present Metropolitan
made it clear that they had no intention to enter into an organic union with the other Churches which would involve merging of the three Churches. The Mar Thoma Church
wished 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.
As the Mar Thoma Church has oriental
traditions which it wishes to preserve, the Church did not agree to lose its identity by merging with the other Churches. The C.S.I. and C.N.I., formed by the merging of different denominations from the Western tradition, did not have difficulty with the idea of again merging to form a new Church. Still, recognizing the need for working together and growing together in the spirit of unity - all the three Churches agreed to form a joint council of the three Churches consisting of 30 representatives from each Church including five Bishops, ten presbyters and fifteen lay members (of which five should be women).
A constitution of the joint council was drawn up and sent to the three Churches for their approval. Any decision of the Joint Council would be binding on any of the constituent Churches only when the Church's supreme legislative body accepted the decision. The three Churches considered the recommendation made by the negotiating body and accepted the constitution. Thus, the Joint Council was formed and inaugurated at Nagpur
on July 4, 1978.
One of the recommendations made by the Joint Council to the Churches was the adoption of a common name for the three Churches. This question was discussed by the different Churches. The C.N.I. and Mar Thoma Church decided against having a common name. The C.S.I. suggested the name "Church of India." The Mar Thoma Church did not accept the suggestion to have a common name as a new Church did not come into existence.
The Mar Thoma Sabha Mandalam (General Meeting) which met in May 1985 however resolved to recommend to the Joint Council that the Joint Council be renamed as "The Council of Churches in Communion - C.N.I., C.S.I., M.T.C.", in order to express clearly the bond of unity realized by the communion relationship among the three Churches. The Joint Council did not accept the recommendation.
The name change to the Communion of Churches in India was declared a meeting of the delegates of the Joint Council assembled at Santhigiri, Aluva
, Kerala
from 7 to 10 March 2004.
It has also appointed three commissions to explore the ways of working together:
(1) Commission on Mission to find out the possibility of opening new mission centers in different language areas of India in cooperation with one another
(2) Commission on Theological matters: to study the implication of closer relationships
(3) Commission on Peace and Justice: to consider national and international issues pertaining to Justice and Peace and the response of the Church to such situations.
The CCI publishes a common Lectionary
and Diary for the regular use of congregations and individuals each year.
The second Sunday in November is set apart as Unity Sunday in all three churches to celebrate the unity that has been already attained, and local parishes are encouraged to conduct joint services.
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...
: 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...
, The Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India 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...
, and the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The three churches are in full communion with each other. They accept each other's clergy, interpretation of the Bible, creeds, and mutually accept one another’s Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry.
Formation and History
Prior to 2004, the CCI was known as the Joint Council of Churches in India which constituted of the same member churches. The Joint Council of Churches was formed on July 4, 1978 after a 5 year study by a Joint Theological Commission of delegates from the member churches to explore possible areas of cooperation and unity.In 1973, Theological Commissions from each of the three churches met to consider the matter. At the very outset, representatives of the Mar Thoma Church
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...
led by the present Metropolitan
Alexander Mar Thoma
Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan was the head of the Mar Thoma Church with its center in Kerala state in south-western India. About his life he wrote in his autobiography, “My life was a filled with trials and tribulations, joy and sorrow, pain and gain, struggles and rewards...
made it clear that they had no intention to enter into an organic union with the other Churches which would involve merging of the three Churches. The Mar Thoma Church
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...
wished 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.
As the Mar Thoma Church has oriental
Oriental Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodoxy is the faith of those Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the First Council of Ephesus. They rejected the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon...
traditions which it wishes to preserve, the Church did not agree to lose its identity by merging with the other Churches. The C.S.I. and C.N.I., formed by the merging of different denominations from the Western tradition, did not have difficulty with the idea of again merging to form a new Church. Still, recognizing the need for working together and growing together in the spirit of unity - all the three Churches agreed to form a joint council of the three Churches consisting of 30 representatives from each Church including five Bishops, ten presbyters and fifteen lay members (of which five should be women).
A constitution of the joint council was drawn up and sent to the three Churches for their approval. Any decision of the Joint Council would be binding on any of the constituent Churches only when the Church's supreme legislative body accepted the decision. The three Churches considered the recommendation made by the negotiating body and accepted the constitution. Thus, the Joint Council was formed and inaugurated at Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
on July 4, 1978.
One of the recommendations made by the Joint Council to the Churches was the adoption of a common name for the three Churches. This question was discussed by the different Churches. The C.N.I. and Mar Thoma Church decided against having a common name. The C.S.I. suggested the name "Church of India." The Mar Thoma Church did not accept the suggestion to have a common name as a new Church did not come into existence.
The Mar Thoma Sabha Mandalam (General Meeting) which met in May 1985 however resolved to recommend to the Joint Council that the Joint Council be renamed as "The Council of Churches in Communion - C.N.I., C.S.I., M.T.C.", in order to express clearly the bond of unity realized by the communion relationship among the three Churches. The Joint Council did not accept the recommendation.
The name change to the Communion of Churches in India was declared a meeting of the delegates of the Joint Council assembled at Santhigiri, Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
, 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....
from 7 to 10 March 2004.
Purpose
The CCI:- Aims to serve as a common organ for visible manifestation of unity, witness and service.
- Will assist the churches to address the issues affecting and threatening life.
- Will focus on issues of peace, justice and integrity of creation.
- Will explore new avenues to share and affirm God’s love through diakonia.
- Will seek other churches in India to consider joining this union
It has also appointed three commissions to explore the ways of working together:
(1) Commission on Mission to find out the possibility of opening new mission centers in different language areas of India in cooperation with one another
(2) Commission on Theological matters: to study the implication of closer relationships
(3) Commission on Peace and Justice: to consider national and international issues pertaining to Justice and Peace and the response of the Church to such situations.
Present Administration
- Rev. Dr. Abraham P. Athyal, General Secretary, CCI
- Executive Committee of 18 members including the chief executives of the three Churches
- Commissions and Committees to organise programmes and activities among bishops, pastors, youths, women, and children
The CCI publishes a common Lectionary
Lectionary
A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...
and Diary for the regular use of congregations and individuals each year.
The second Sunday in November is set apart as Unity Sunday in all three churches to celebrate the unity that has been already attained, and local parishes are encouraged to conduct joint services.
See also
- Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
- 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 IndiaChurch of South IndiaThe Church of South India 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...
- 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...