fbpx
Wikipedia

Church of South India

The Church of South India (CSI) is a united Protestant Church in India. It is the result of union of a number of Protestant denominations in South India that occurred after the independence of India.[3][7]

Church of South India
Logo of the Church of South India
AbbreviationCSI
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationUnited and uniting
PolityEpiscopal[1][2]
Leader/ModeratorA. Dharmaraj Rasalam
Leader/Deputy ModeratorK. Reuben Mark
Distinct fellowshipsChristian Conference of Asia,
National Council of Churches in India,
Communion of Churches in India
AssociationsAnglican Communion,
World Methodist Council, World Council of Churches,
World Communion of Reformed Churches
RegionAndhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Telangana and Sri Lanka
Origin27 September 1947 (Day of Union, not date of establishment)
Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu (Presently Under the Pastorate of Karaikal - Tranquebar, Tiruchirappalli - Thanjavur Diocese)
Merger ofAnglican Church, the Methodist Church, South India United Church (which was a union in 1904 of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches), Basel Mission Churches in South India[3]
SeparationsAnglican Church of India (1964)
Anglican Catholic Church (1984)
Congregations14,000[4][5]
Members3,800,000[4][5][6]
Ministers3,300[4]
Hospitals104[5]
Secondary schools2000 schools, 130 colleges[5]
Official websitewww.csi1947.com

The Church of South India is the successor of a number of Protestant denominations in India, including the Church of England; Church of India, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican); the United Church of Christ (Congregationalist); the British Methodist Church; and the Church of Scotland after Indian Independence. It combined the South India United Church (union of the British Congregationalists and the British Presbyterians); the then 14 Anglican dioceses of South India and one in Sri Lanka; and the South Indian District of the Methodist church.[8]

The Church of South India is a member of the Anglican Communion, World Methodist Council and World Communion of Reformed Churches.[9][3] It is one of four united Protestant churches in the Anglican Communion, World Methodist Council and World Communion of Reformed Churches, with the others being the Church of North India, the Church of Pakistan, and the Church of Bangladesh.

Being a United Protestant denomination, the inspiration for the Church of South India came from ecumenism and the words of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John (17.21); as such "That they all may be one" is the motto of the Church of South India.[5]

With a membership of nearly four million,[4][5] it is the second-largest Christian church based on the number of members in India.

History

Origins

Four different church traditions were brought together in the CSI; Anglican, Congregational, Presbyterian, and Methodist. All these churches had been established in India through the missionary work of churches in Europe, America, and Australia, which had started their work in India at different periods from the beginning of the 18th century.

The Church of South India Scheme was the first practical attempt of its kind toward a union, on the basis of the following points enunciated in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral:

  • The Holy Scripture of the Old and the New Testaments as containing all things necessary to salvation and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith.
  • The Apostles' Creed as the Baptismal Symbol and the Nicene Creed as sufficient statement of the Christian faith.
  • The two sacraments, ordained by Christ Himself — Baptism and the Supper of the Lord — ministered with the unfailing use of Christ's words of Institution and elements ordained by Him.
  • The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying need of the nations and people called of God into the union of His Church.[10][11]

The first three points could be accepted without any controversial question. But the fourth became contentious, as the Anglican Church maintained episcopal polity within the historical episcopate and believed that all its bishops and priests could trace an unbroken line of succession from St. Peter; whereas the rest of the churches in the negotiations conformed to other ecclesiastical polities and did not subscribe to the Anglican views on apostolic succession. After extensive dialogues, an agreement was reached that all who were already ordained in any of the uniting churches would be received as ministers in the united Church; provided all new ordinations after the union, would be conferred by episcopally ordained bishops of the united Church, with the imposition of hands. The intention was to introduce an episcopate in historic succession (from Anglicanism) into the new united Church and to ensure its maintenance in the future, by keeping all subsequent ordinations episcopal.[12][13][14][15][16]

The Church of South India as it exists today came into being with the perseverance and committed efforts of Rev. Vedam Santiago,[citation needed] who for a long period of time took leadership of the SIUC, the South Indian United Churches, which later, with the joint efforts of Rev. V Santiago[citation needed] and Bishop Azariah became the Church of South India.

Formation

The Church of South India union ceremony happened at St George's Cathedral in Madras on 27 September 1947, a month after India achieved its independence from the United Kingdom. It was formed from the union of the SIUC, (South India United Church itself a union of churches from the Congregational Presbyterian and Reformed traditions); the southern provinces of the (Anglican) Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon; and the Methodist Church of South India.[17] The inaugural service was presided by Bishop Rt. Rev. C. K. Jacob, of the Anglican diocese of Travancore and Cochin.[18] As part of it, nine new bishops, drawn from all the traditions, were consecrated to serve with five Anglican bishops already in the office.[18] Each new bishop was ordained with the imposition of hands by the presiding bishop, along with two more Anglican bishops (Rt. Rev. A. M. Hollis and Rt. Rev. G. T. Selwynthe) and six presbyters from the uniting Churches, also laying hands.[18] This reconciliation of the Anglican views with those of the other uniting denominations, on the doctrine of apostolic succession, realized in the formation of the Church of South India, is often cited as a landmark in the ecumenical movement.[19][20][21][18]

 
Rt. Rev. Dr. C. K. Jacob presiding over the Church of South India inaugural service
 
St George's Cathedral

The logo of the Church of South India consists of a Cross superimposed on a stylized Lotus flower in a white backdrop; around which the motto and name of the Church, is embossed.[22] It was designed by Prof. J. Vasanthan of the American College, Madurai.

The imposing central position of the Cross denotes the foundation of the Church and its faith, while its four arms of the same length promulgates equality. The Lotus flower, called Pankaj meaning "mud-born" in Sanskrit, has been of great spiritual and symbolic significance in India, since ancient times.[23][24] Its placement in the Logo, proclaims the indigenous nature of the Church of South India and its dependence on the grace of God, just as a Lotus that blooms at sunrise and closes at sunset, depends on the Sun. The stylized rendering, makes the Lotus petals simultaneously depict the fiery split tongues of the Holy Spirit. The motto of the CSI embossed on the logo, which is an excerpt of Jesus's prayer in John 17:21, is used as an inclusive affirmation of the need for the unity of all people.[25][22][26]

Beliefs and practices

The Church of South India is a Trinitarian Church that draws from the traditions and heritage of its constituent denominations. The Church accepts the Chalcedonian Christological Definition,[27][28] as well as the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed. Both creeds are included in the Church liturgy as the profession of faith.[29][30] The Church practices infant baptism for children born in Christian homes and adult or believer's baptism for others. Baptized children are members of the church and share in the privileges and obligations of membership so far as they are capable of doing so.[31][32]

The Church of South India practices the rite of Confirmation, by which the confirmands (those being confirmed) upon profession of their Christian faith, obtain confirmation of their baptisms and thereafter, gets to partake fully in the privileges and obligations associated with Church membership. Secondarily, this is also a coming of age ceremony. Confirmation is almost always administered by a Bishop with the imposition of hands and occasionally by a Presbyter who is authorized to confirm.[29][33][34]

Social issues

The Church of Social India opposes the death penalty.[35]

In 2013, the CSI consecrated its first female bishop, Eggoni Pushpalalitha.[36] The Church of South India, since 1984, has allowed women's ordination.[37] Additionally, "it has taken up issues of gender, dalits and landlessness."[37][38][39][40]

In 2008, CSI supported the conservative faction of the Anglican Church—Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON)—on the battle over allowing gay clergy.[41] Indian bishops sided with traditionalists on the issue of homosexuality.[42] The church does not ordain clergy in same-sex relationships.[43] However, in 2015, St. Mark's Cathedral in Bangalore hosted an event, co-led by the Rev. Vincent Rajkumar, aimed at denouncing homophobia.[44] CSI clergy, working with the National Council of Churches in India, also co-led a consultation speaking out against homophobia.[45] Currently, the Church of South India is also listed as among the Anglican provinces open to blessing same-sex couples.[46][47] In August 2016, the CSI's publication expressed concern that the "Christian church and Christian mission to a large extent are homophobic. It has excluded the gender minorities from the church and its worship".[48] In 2016, a seminary affiliated with the CSI offered a seminar on LGBT issues. "The Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in Madurai held a two-hour seminar on gender and sexuality..."[49]

The church has confirmed that transgender persons may be ordained as clergy.[50] On transgender issues, the Diocese of Madras has a ministry specifically for transgender people.[51] Moreover, the CSI has opened up ordained ministry to transgender clergy.[50] In 2012, the denomination invited a transgender pastor to preach.[52] The CSI also published resources for special Sunday celebrations for transgender people including an invitation for transgender members to preach in churches.[53]

The Department of Mission and Evangelism of the CSI Synod stated their position that, "It is our bounden duty to declare our solidarity through the constant accompaniment towards the broken communities like Adivasi-Dalit, LGBTQ, and other less-privileged and underprivileged communities."[54] The church, via its monthly publication, has also taken a stance of solidarity with the Dalit community, women, and the LGBT community. One ministry, led by a priest, "took a session on 'working towards an inclusive Church' with special reference to the transgenders", and the church celebrates the "self-liberation" of the Dalit community.[55] Additionally, the church's publication stated that "the Church leaders expressed their concerns about the neglected people such as LGBT and those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS...[and] urged the listeners(Church Leaders)...[to] not only show solidarity but also moving beyond in accommodating them".[56]

Liturgy

The CSI Synod Liturgical Congress has developed several new orders for worship for different occasions.[57] The order for the Communion service, known as the CSI Liturgy, has been internationally acclaimed as an important model for new liturgies. The committee has also produced three different cycles of lectionaries for daily Bible readings and "propers", and collects for Communion services. In addition, the committee has also brought out a supplement to the Book of Common Worship.[57] Cherishing the reformation principle of worship in the native language, the CSI liturgy and church services are completely in the vernacular, in all the different South Indian states and Northern Sri Lanka, which comprise its ecclesiastical province.[58][59][60]

Observances and festivals

The important observances and festivals include Lent (including its first day, Ash Wednesday), Passion Week, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Ascension Thursday, Pentecost, Lammas and Christmas.[61]

Constitution

The Constitution of the CSI is the key document that governs the administration and management of the church. It comprises 14 chapters detailing rules for the functioning of the Church at every level, from local congregations to the pastorate, dioceses and the Synod.[62] The most important part of the CSI Constitution is "The Governing Principles of the Church" which sets out 21 governing principles on which the other chapters of the Constitution and the rules contained therein rest. While amending any part of the Constitution can be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Synod, amending the Governing Principles requires a three-fourths majority.[63]

Ecumenism

As a united Protestant Church, the Church of South Indian is a member of the World Methodist Council, as well as the World Communion of Reformed Churches; as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion and its bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences.[3] It also has representation in the Anglican Consultative Council.[3] Consequently, the CSI is in full communion with the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht[64][65] and the Philippine Independent Catholic Church.[66] It is a member of the World Council of Churches, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, Christian Conference of Asia and the National Council of Churches in India. Through the Communion of Churches in India, it is also in partnership and full communion with the Church of North India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

The Church of South India maintains close partnerships with the Church of Scotland, Episcopal Church of the United States, Methodist Church of Great Britain, Presbyterian Church in Korea, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea, Presbyterian Church of India, Presbyterian Church (USA), Reformed Church in America, United Church of Christ and the Uniting Church in Australia.[67]

Administration

The church accepts the Lambeth Quadrilateral as its basis and recognises the historical episcopate in its constitutional form.[6] Like Anglican and most other episcopal Churches, the ministry of the Church of South India is structured with three holy orders of Bishops, Priests and Deacons.[68][69][70]

Synod

The church is governed by a synod based in Chennai and headed by a presiding bishop bearing the title of Moderator, who is elected every three years. The new Moderator of the Church of South India is the Most Reverend A. Dharmaraj Rasalam, Bishop of South Kerala Diocese, since his election at the Synod on 11 January 2020.[71] The Deputy Moderator is the Right Reverend Reuben Mark, Bishop of the Karimnagar Diocese.[72]

The church runs 2,300 schools, 150 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 600 residential hostels for a total of 50,000 children.[5]

Dioceses

The church is further divided into twenty-four dioceses, 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.[73] Each church will have representation in diocesan council based on their membership. The diocese is headed by the Bishop, who is a presbyter elected through the Diocesan Council. He is considered as the head of the diocese and all the institutions belonging to the diocese. Other than the Bishop, the following are the important administrative posts of each diocese:

  • Clergy Secretary: Manages all the activities of the pastoral & evangelical workers in the diocese
  • Lay Secretary: Manages all the lay workers' activities in the diocese
  • Educational Secretary: Manages all educational institutions and the workers of those institutions
  • Diocesan Treasurer: Manages all the income and expenditures of the diocese.

The Diocesan Council also consists of Diocesan Executive Committee, Diocesan Standing Committee, and Pastorate Committee.

Name Headquarters Location Bishop
(The Right Reverend)
Krishna-Godavari Diocese Machilipatnam Andhra Pradesh T. George Cornelious
Nandyal Diocese Nandyal E. Pushpa Lalitha
Rayalaseema Diocese Kadapa P. Issac Vara Prasad
Dornakal Diocese Dornakal Telangana Dr. K. Padmarao
Medak Diocese Medak A. C. Solomon Raj
Karimnagar Diocese Karimnagar K. Reuben Mark
Karnataka Central Diocese Bangalore Karnataka Prasana Kumar Samuel
Karnataka Northern Diocese Dharwad Martin C Borgai
Karnataka Southern Diocese Mangalore Moderator's Commissary
East Kerala Diocese Melukavu Kerala VS Francis
Cochin Diocese Kochi Baker Ninan Fenn
Kollam-Kottarakara Diocese Kollam Oommen George
Madhya Kerala Diocese Kottayam Malayil Sabu Koshy Cherian
Malabar Diocese Kozhikode Royce Manoj Kumar Victor
South Kerala Diocese Trivandrum Dharmaraj Rasalam
Coimbatore Diocese Coimbatore Tamil Nadu Timothy Ravinder
Kanyakumari Diocese Nagercoil A R Chelliah
Madras Diocese Chennai Jayaraj George Stephen
Madurai-Ramnad Diocese Madurai Jeyasingh Prince Prabhakaran
Thoothukudi-Nazareth Diocese Thoothukudi Timothy Ravinder (Moderator's Commissary)
Tirunelveli Diocese Tirunelveli A.R.G.S.T. Barnabas
Trichy-Tanjore Diocese Tiruchirappalli Dhanraj Chandrasekaran[74]
Vellore Diocese Vellore Sharma Nithiyanandam
Jaffna Diocese Jaffna Sri Lanka Daniel Thiagarajah
 

Affiliations

Theological education

The church recognizes theological degrees granted by institutions affiliated with the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College. These include:

See also

References

  1. ^ "History". Church of South India. 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2020. The Church of South India is the result of the union of churches of varying traditions Anglican, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian, and Reformed. It was inaugurated in September 1947, after protracted negotiation among the churches concerned. Organized into 22 dioceses, each under the spiritual supervision of a bishop, the church as a whole is governed by a synod, which elects a moderator (presiding bishop) every 2 years. Episcopacy is thus combined with Synodical government, and the church explicitly recognizes that Episcopal, Presbyterian, and congregational elements are all necessary for the church's life.
  2. ^ Watkins, Keith (3 November 2014). The American Church that Might Have Been: A History of the Consultation on Church Union. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp. 14–15. ISBN 978-1-63087-744-6. The Church of South India created a polity that recognized Episcopal, Presbyterian, and Congregational elements and developed a book of worship that bridged the liturgical traditions that came into this new church. It set up a plan by which existing ministries were accepted while including processes which would lead to the time, a generation later, when all ministers would have been ordained by bishops in apostolic succession. The Church of South India was important as a prototype for a new American church because two factors had come together: the cross-confessional nature of its constituent parts and the intention to be, in effect, the Protestant Christian presence in communities all across the southern territories of its nation.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Church of South India". World Methodist Council. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020. The Church of South India is a United Church that came into existence on 27 September 1947. The churches that came into the union were the Anglican Church, the Methodist Church, and the South India United Church (a union in 1904 of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches). Later the Basel Mission Churches in South India also joined the Union. The Church of South India is the first example in church history of the union of Episcopal and non-Episcopal churches, and is thus one of the early pioneers of the ecumenical movement. The CSI strives to maintain fellowship with all those branches of the church which the uniting churches enjoyed before the union. It is a member of the World Methodist Council, the Anglican Consultative Council, the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Council for World Mission, and the Association of Missions and Churches in South West Germany.
  4. ^ a b c d Team, CWM Communications (7 March 2018). "Member Church Feature: Church of South India (CSI)". Council for World Mission.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Church of South India International Resource Center". CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan. 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b . Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  7. ^ Author:Sushil Mittal, Gene Thursby -Religions of South Asia: An Introduction
  8. ^ "oikoumene.org". Oikoumene.org. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  9. ^ "The Church of North India (United)". Anglican Communion Office. Retrieved 17 September 2018. Along with the Church of South India, the Church of Pakistan, and the Church of Bangladesh, it [the Church of a North India] is one of the four United Churches.
  10. ^ Davidson, Randall Thomas (1920). The five Lambeth Conferences. London : S.P.C.K.
  11. ^ "The historic episcopate in Anglican ecclesiology the esse perspective". Consensus. 12 (1). 1986. ISSN 2369-2685.
  12. ^ "Lausanne, Lambeth and South India, by N.P. Williams (1930)". Anglicanhistory.org.
  13. ^ "Some Comments on the South India Scheme". Anglicanhistory.org.
  14. ^ "Church of South India". Oxford Reference.
  15. ^ "The Lambeth Conference and the Union of Churches in South India. --". biblehub.com.
  16. ^ "Church of South India Contributes to Anglican Communion". anglicannews.org.
  17. ^ "Anglican Communion official website – The Church of South India (United)". Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  18. ^ a b c d "The Order of Service for the Inauguration of Church Union in South India (1947)". Anglicanhistory.org.
  19. ^ "'A Church Is Born' Records, 1947 – 1948 Church of South India Inauguration" (PDF) – via The Burke Library Archives. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. ^ "The Church of South India and Reunion in England" (PDF). Biblicalstudies.org.uk.
  21. ^ "The Historic Episcopate in the Light of South Indian Experience" (PDF). Churchsociety.org.
  22. ^ a b "CSI SYNOD". csisynod.com.
  23. ^ "The Lotus Flower". Facts about Hindu Religion. 2 September 2011.
  24. ^ "Lotus Flower, Hindu Sacred Flower, Lotus Flower Symbolism". lotussculpture.com.
  25. ^ "CSI Logo". Melbourne CSI Church.
  26. ^ "Church of South India". csiseafordchurch.org.
  27. ^ Bindley, T. Herbert (Thomas Herbert) (1899). "The oecumenical documents of the faith [microform]. The creed of Nicaea. Three epistles of Cyril. The tome of Leo. The Chalcedonian definition". London : Methuen & Co.
  28. ^ "Chalcedonian Definition". Episcopal Church. 22 May 2012.
  29. ^ a b "Beliefs and Practices". redeemercsichurch.org.
  30. ^ "CSI Order of Service" (PDF). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  31. ^ "Holy Baptism of Infants (CSI)" (PDF). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  32. ^ "Holy Baptism of Persons Able to Answer for Themselves (CSI)" (PDF). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  33. ^ "An Order of Service for the Reception of Baptized Persons into the Full Fellowship of the Church Commonly Called Confirmation (CSI)" (PDF). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  34. ^ "Confirmation". ReligionFacts.
  35. ^ "CSI SYNOD". csisynod.com. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  36. ^ ACNS staff. "Church of South India appoints first female bishop". episcopaldigitalnetwork.com. Episcopal Digital Network. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  37. ^ a b M G Radhakrishnan (26 September 2011). "Rising cases of sexual abuse within the church in Kerala force clergy to rethink on homosexuality". India Today. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  38. ^ Paul, Cithara. "Protestants support gay rights". The Daily Telegraph. Kolkota. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  39. ^ deepak. . efionline.org. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  40. ^ Today, Christian. . Christian Today. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  41. ^ "Gay priests not acceptable: India's Anglican churches". Hindustan Times. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  42. ^ Nair, Manoj R. (27 May 2008). "No gay priests, please". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 5 January 2023. But a large group of conservative bishops who do not agree with the meeting's host, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams's liberal views on homosexuality and gay priests will defy him and hold an 'alternative Lambeth' next month. The Indian counterparts of the Anglican church, the Church of North India (CNI) and the Church of South India (CSI) have a conservative stand on the issue.
  43. ^ "Gay priests not acceptable: India's Anglican churches". Hindustan Times. 2 July 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  44. ^ Silthou, Makepeace. . The Wire. Archived from the original on 11 December 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  45. ^ "International Consultation on Church and Homophobia". Joseph N. Goh. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  46. ^ "Church split over homosexuality would be a failure - Welby". BBC News. 11 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  47. ^ "സവവരഗ രതിയം വിവാഹവം: ആംഗലികകന കമയണിയനില ഭിനനത രകഷം". sanghamam.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  48. ^ "Horizons of Freedom" (PDF). CSI Life: Magazine of the Church of South India. 14.
  49. ^ "Awesome! This Tamil Nadu seminary is teaching pastors to accept the LGBT community". The News Minute. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  50. ^ a b "CSI to ordain transgender a priest". The Hindu. 6 February 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  51. ^ . www.csimadrasdiocese.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  52. ^ "Transgender in a fix over spiritual path - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  53. ^ "CSI SYNOD". csisynod.com. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  54. ^ "CSI Life: Magazine of Church of South India" (PDF). CSI Synod. April 2021. (PDF) from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  55. ^ Samuel, Joseph; Victor, James Cecil (February 2016). "CSI Life" (PDF). Magazine of the Church of South India. XIV (2). Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  56. ^ "Church Leaders and Key Affected People: A Dialogue" (PDF). CSI Life: Magazine of the Church of South India. XIII (5). May 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  57. ^ a b "Church of South India Liturgy: CSI Order of Services". CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  58. ^ "Where worship began with Canarese hymns". The New Indian Express.
  59. ^ "Book of Common Prayer in Tamil (1885)". justus.anglican.org.
  60. ^ "Anglicans Online: Books of Common Prayer". anglicansonline.org.
  61. ^ Comparative Religion For Dummies. For Dummies. 2011. ISBN 9781118052273. This is the day Lent begins. Christians go to church to pray and have a cross drawn in ashes on their foreheads. The ashes drawn on ancient tradition represent repentance before God. The holiday is part of Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, and Episcopalian liturgies, among others
  62. ^ "Constitution". redeemercsichurch.org.
  63. ^ The Constitution of the Church of South India. Christian Literature Society. 1952.
  64. ^ "Old Catholic Church in the United States". Old Catholic Confederation.
  65. ^ "Old-Catholic churches". World Council of Churches.
  66. ^ "Anglican Communion: Churches in Communion". Anglican Communion Website.
  67. ^ "CSI SYNOD". csisynod.com. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  68. ^ "The Church of South India and Reunion in England" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  69. ^ "Final Action on the Church of South India by General Convention 1958". 24 July 2018. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  70. ^ "Orders for the Ordination of Deacons/Deaconesses; The Ordination of Presbyters; The Consecration of Bishops" (PDF). Church of South India: Congregation of Dallas.
  71. ^ Anglican Communion News Service, 13 January 2020 — New Moderator elected for the united Church of South India (Accessed 20 February 2020)
  72. ^ "Officers of the Synod". Church of South India.
  73. ^ . Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2008.
  74. ^ "South India-Trichy-Tanjore". Anglican Communion. Retrieved 15 August 2014.

External links

  • CSI Synod
  • Church of South India, Dallas, Texas, USA
  • Church of South India, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Church of South India, Karnataka Central Diocese, India
  • Church of South India, Diocese of Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Final Action on the Church of South India by General Convention 1958

church, south, india, united, protestant, church, india, result, union, number, protestant, denominations, south, india, that, occurred, after, independence, india, logo, abbreviationcsiclassificationprotestantorientationunited, unitingpolityepiscopal, leader,. The Church of South India CSI is a united Protestant Church in India It is the result of union of a number of Protestant denominations in South India that occurred after the independence of India 3 7 Church of South IndiaLogo of the Church of South IndiaAbbreviationCSIClassificationProtestantOrientationUnited and unitingPolityEpiscopal 1 2 Leader ModeratorA Dharmaraj RasalamLeader Deputy ModeratorK Reuben MarkDistinct fellowshipsChristian Conference of Asia National Council of Churches in India Communion of Churches in IndiaAssociationsAnglican Communion World Methodist Council World Council of Churches World Communion of Reformed ChurchesRegionAndhra Pradesh Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu Puducherry Telangana and Sri LankaOrigin27 September 1947 Day of Union not date of establishment Tranquebar Tamil Nadu Presently Under the Pastorate of Karaikal Tranquebar Tiruchirappalli Thanjavur Diocese Merger ofAnglican Church the Methodist Church South India United Church which was a union in 1904 of the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches Basel Mission Churches in South India 3 SeparationsAnglican Church of India 1964 Anglican Catholic Church 1984 Congregations14 000 4 5 Members3 800 000 4 5 6 Ministers3 300 4 Hospitals104 5 Secondary schools2000 schools 130 colleges 5 Official websitewww wbr csi1947 wbr comThe Church of South India is the successor of a number of Protestant denominations in India including the Church of England Church of India Burma and Ceylon Anglican the United Church of Christ Congregationalist the British Methodist Church and the Church of Scotland after Indian Independence It combined the South India United Church union of the British Congregationalists and the British Presbyterians the then 14 Anglican dioceses of South India and one in Sri Lanka and the South Indian District of the Methodist church 8 The Church of South India is a member of the Anglican Communion World Methodist Council and World Communion of Reformed Churches 9 3 It is one of four united Protestant churches in the Anglican Communion World Methodist Council and World Communion of Reformed Churches with the others being the Church of North India the Church of Pakistan and the Church of Bangladesh Being a United Protestant denomination the inspiration for the Church of South India came from ecumenism and the words of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of John 17 21 as such That they all may be one is the motto of the Church of South India 5 With a membership of nearly four million 4 5 it is the second largest Christian church based on the number of members in India Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 1 2 Formation 2 Logo 3 Beliefs and practices 4 Social issues 5 Liturgy 6 Observances and festivals 7 Constitution 8 Ecumenism 9 Administration 10 Synod 11 Dioceses 12 Affiliations 12 1 Theological education 13 See also 14 References 15 External linksHistory EditOrigins Edit Four different church traditions were brought together in the CSI Anglican Congregational Presbyterian and Methodist All these churches had been established in India through the missionary work of churches in Europe America and Australia which had started their work in India at different periods from the beginning of the 18th century The Church of South India Scheme was the first practical attempt of its kind toward a union on the basis of the following points enunciated in the Chicago Lambeth Quadrilateral The Holy Scripture of the Old and the New Testaments as containing all things necessary to salvation and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith The Apostles Creed as the Baptismal Symbol and the Nicene Creed as sufficient statement of the Christian faith The two sacraments ordained by Christ Himself Baptism and the Supper of the Lord ministered with the unfailing use of Christ s words of Institution and elements ordained by Him The Historic Episcopate locally adapted in the methods of its administration to the varying need of the nations and people called of God into the union of His Church 10 11 The first three points could be accepted without any controversial question But the fourth became contentious as the Anglican Church maintained episcopal polity within the historical episcopate and believed that all its bishops and priests could trace an unbroken line of succession from St Peter whereas the rest of the churches in the negotiations conformed to other ecclesiastical polities and did not subscribe to the Anglican views on apostolic succession After extensive dialogues an agreement was reached that all who were already ordained in any of the uniting churches would be received as ministers in the united Church provided all new ordinations after the union would be conferred by episcopally ordained bishops of the united Church with the imposition of hands The intention was to introduce an episcopate in historic succession from Anglicanism into the new united Church and to ensure its maintenance in the future by keeping all subsequent ordinations episcopal 12 13 14 15 16 The Church of South India as it exists today came into being with the perseverance and committed efforts of Rev Vedam Santiago citation needed who for a long period of time took leadership of the SIUC the South Indian United Churches which later with the joint efforts of Rev V Santiago citation needed and Bishop Azariah became the Church of South India Formation Edit The Church of South India union ceremony happened at St George s Cathedral in Madras on 27 September 1947 a month after India achieved its independence from the United Kingdom It was formed from the union of the SIUC South India United Church itself a union of churches from the Congregational Presbyterian and Reformed traditions the southern provinces of the Anglican Church of India Pakistan Burma and Ceylon and the Methodist Church of South India 17 The inaugural service was presided by Bishop Rt Rev C K Jacob of the Anglican diocese of Travancore and Cochin 18 As part of it nine new bishops drawn from all the traditions were consecrated to serve with five Anglican bishops already in the office 18 Each new bishop was ordained with the imposition of hands by the presiding bishop along with two more Anglican bishops Rt Rev A M Hollis and Rt Rev G T Selwynthe and six presbyters from the uniting Churches also laying hands 18 This reconciliation of the Anglican views with those of the other uniting denominations on the doctrine of apostolic succession realized in the formation of the Church of South India is often cited as a landmark in the ecumenical movement 19 20 21 18 Rt Rev Dr C K Jacob presiding over the Church of South India inaugural service St George s CathedralLogo EditThe logo of the Church of South India consists of a Cross superimposed on a stylized Lotus flower in a white backdrop around which the motto and name of the Church is embossed 22 It was designed by Prof J Vasanthan of the American College Madurai The imposing central position of the Cross denotes the foundation of the Church and its faith while its four arms of the same length promulgates equality The Lotus flower called Pankaj meaning mud born in Sanskrit has been of great spiritual and symbolic significance in India since ancient times 23 24 Its placement in the Logo proclaims the indigenous nature of the Church of South India and its dependence on the grace of God just as a Lotus that blooms at sunrise and closes at sunset depends on the Sun The stylized rendering makes the Lotus petals simultaneously depict the fiery split tongues of the Holy Spirit The motto of the CSI embossed on the logo which is an excerpt of Jesus s prayer in John 17 21 is used as an inclusive affirmation of the need for the unity of all people 25 22 26 Beliefs and practices EditThe Church of South India is a Trinitarian Church that draws from the traditions and heritage of its constituent denominations The Church accepts the Chalcedonian Christological Definition 27 28 as well as the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed Both creeds are included in the Church liturgy as the profession of faith 29 30 The Church practices infant baptism for children born in Christian homes and adult or believer s baptism for others Baptized children are members of the church and share in the privileges and obligations of membership so far as they are capable of doing so 31 32 The Church of South India practices the rite of Confirmation by which the confirmands those being confirmed upon profession of their Christian faith obtain confirmation of their baptisms and thereafter gets to partake fully in the privileges and obligations associated with Church membership Secondarily this is also a coming of age ceremony Confirmation is almost always administered by a Bishop with the imposition of hands and occasionally by a Presbyter who is authorized to confirm 29 33 34 Social issues EditThe Church of Social India opposes the death penalty 35 In 2013 the CSI consecrated its first female bishop Eggoni Pushpalalitha 36 The Church of South India since 1984 has allowed women s ordination 37 Additionally it has taken up issues of gender dalits and landlessness 37 38 39 40 In 2008 CSI supported the conservative faction of the Anglican Church Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans GAFCON on the battle over allowing gay clergy 41 Indian bishops sided with traditionalists on the issue of homosexuality 42 The church does not ordain clergy in same sex relationships 43 However in 2015 St Mark s Cathedral in Bangalore hosted an event co led by the Rev Vincent Rajkumar aimed at denouncing homophobia 44 CSI clergy working with the National Council of Churches in India also co led a consultation speaking out against homophobia 45 Currently the Church of South India is also listed as among the Anglican provinces open to blessing same sex couples 46 47 In August 2016 the CSI s publication expressed concern that the Christian church and Christian mission to a large extent are homophobic It has excluded the gender minorities from the church and its worship 48 In 2016 a seminary affiliated with the CSI offered a seminar on LGBT issues The Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in Madurai held a two hour seminar on gender and sexuality 49 The church has confirmed that transgender persons may be ordained as clergy 50 On transgender issues the Diocese of Madras has a ministry specifically for transgender people 51 Moreover the CSI has opened up ordained ministry to transgender clergy 50 In 2012 the denomination invited a transgender pastor to preach 52 The CSI also published resources for special Sunday celebrations for transgender people including an invitation for transgender members to preach in churches 53 The Department of Mission and Evangelism of the CSI Synod stated their position that It is our bounden duty to declare our solidarity through the constant accompaniment towards the broken communities like Adivasi Dalit LGBTQ and other less privileged and underprivileged communities 54 The church via its monthly publication has also taken a stance of solidarity with the Dalit community women and the LGBT community One ministry led by a priest took a session on working towards an inclusive Church with special reference to the transgenders and the church celebrates the self liberation of the Dalit community 55 Additionally the church s publication stated that the Church leaders expressed their concerns about the neglected people such as LGBT and those affected and infected with HIV AIDS and urged the listeners Church Leaders to not only show solidarity but also moving beyond in accommodating them 56 Liturgy EditThe CSI Synod Liturgical Congress has developed several new orders for worship for different occasions 57 The order for the Communion service known as the CSI Liturgy has been internationally acclaimed as an important model for new liturgies The committee has also produced three different cycles of lectionaries for daily Bible readings and propers and collects for Communion services In addition the committee has also brought out a supplement to the Book of Common Worship 57 Cherishing the reformation principle of worship in the native language the CSI liturgy and church services are completely in the vernacular in all the different South Indian states and Northern Sri Lanka which comprise its ecclesiastical province 58 59 60 Observances and festivals EditThe important observances and festivals include Lent including its first day Ash Wednesday Passion Week Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Good Friday Easter Ascension Thursday Pentecost Lammas and Christmas 61 Constitution EditThe Constitution of the CSI is the key document that governs the administration and management of the church It comprises 14 chapters detailing rules for the functioning of the Church at every level from local congregations to the pastorate dioceses and the Synod 62 The most important part of the CSI Constitution is The Governing Principles of the Church which sets out 21 governing principles on which the other chapters of the Constitution and the rules contained therein rest While amending any part of the Constitution can be approved by a two thirds majority of the Synod amending the Governing Principles requires a three fourths majority 63 Ecumenism EditAs a united Protestant Church the Church of South Indian is a member of the World Methodist Council as well as the World Communion of Reformed Churches as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion and its bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences 3 It also has representation in the Anglican Consultative Council 3 Consequently the CSI is in full communion with the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht 64 65 and the Philippine Independent Catholic Church 66 It is a member of the World Council of Churches the World Alliance of Reformed Churches Christian Conference of Asia and the National Council of Churches in India Through the Communion of Churches in India it is also in partnership and full communion with the Church of North India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church The Church of South India maintains close partnerships with the Church of Scotland Episcopal Church of the United States Methodist Church of Great Britain Presbyterian Church in Korea Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea Presbyterian Church of India Presbyterian Church USA Reformed Church in America United Church of Christ and the Uniting Church in Australia 67 Administration EditThe church accepts the Lambeth Quadrilateral as its basis and recognises the historical episcopate in its constitutional form 6 Like Anglican and most other episcopal Churches the ministry of the Church of South India is structured with three holy orders of Bishops Priests and Deacons 68 69 70 Synod EditMain article Church of South India Synod The church is governed by a synod based in Chennai and headed by a presiding bishop bearing the title of Moderator who is elected every three years The new Moderator of the Church of South India is the Most Reverend A Dharmaraj Rasalam Bishop of South Kerala Diocese since his election at the Synod on 11 January 2020 71 The Deputy Moderator is the Right Reverend Reuben Mark Bishop of the Karimnagar Diocese 72 The church runs 2 300 schools 150 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 600 residential hostels for a total of 50 000 children 5 Dioceses EditThe church is further divided into twenty four dioceses 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 73 Each church will have representation in diocesan council based on their membership The diocese is headed by the Bishop who is a presbyter elected through the Diocesan Council He is considered as the head of the diocese and all the institutions belonging to the diocese Other than the Bishop the following are the important administrative posts of each diocese Clergy Secretary Manages all the activities of the pastoral amp evangelical workers in the diocese Lay Secretary Manages all the lay workers activities in the diocese Educational Secretary Manages all educational institutions and the workers of those institutions Diocesan Treasurer Manages all the income and expenditures of the diocese The Diocesan Council also consists of Diocesan Executive Committee Diocesan Standing Committee and Pastorate Committee Name Headquarters Location Bishop The Right Reverend Krishna Godavari Diocese Machilipatnam Andhra Pradesh T George CorneliousNandyal Diocese Nandyal E Pushpa LalithaRayalaseema Diocese Kadapa P Issac Vara PrasadDornakal Diocese Dornakal Telangana Dr K PadmaraoMedak Diocese Medak A C Solomon RajKarimnagar Diocese Karimnagar K Reuben MarkKarnataka Central Diocese Bangalore Karnataka Prasana Kumar SamuelKarnataka Northern Diocese Dharwad Martin C BorgaiKarnataka Southern Diocese Mangalore Moderator s CommissaryEast Kerala Diocese Melukavu Kerala VS FrancisCochin Diocese Kochi Baker Ninan FennKollam Kottarakara Diocese Kollam Oommen GeorgeMadhya Kerala Diocese Kottayam Malayil Sabu Koshy CherianMalabar Diocese Kozhikode Royce Manoj Kumar VictorSouth Kerala Diocese Trivandrum Dharmaraj RasalamCoimbatore Diocese Coimbatore Tamil Nadu Timothy RavinderKanyakumari Diocese Nagercoil A R ChelliahMadras Diocese Chennai Jayaraj George StephenMadurai Ramnad Diocese Madurai Jeyasingh Prince PrabhakaranThoothukudi Nazareth Diocese Thoothukudi Timothy Ravinder Moderator s Commissary Tirunelveli Diocese Tirunelveli A R G S T BarnabasTrichy Tanjore Diocese Tiruchirappalli Dhanraj Chandrasekaran 74 Vellore Diocese Vellore Sharma NithiyanandamJaffna Diocese Jaffna Sri Lanka Daniel Thiagarajah Affiliations EditTheological education Edit The church recognizes theological degrees granted by institutions affiliated with the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College These include Kerala United Theological Seminary KUTS Trivandrum Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College MBCBC Shamshabad Hyderabad Andhra Christian Theological College ACTC Hyderabad Bethel Bible College BBC Gunter Gurukul Lutheran Theological College amp Research Institute GLTCRI Chennai Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary TTS Madurai Union Biblical Seminary UBS Pune United Theological College Bangalore UTC South Asia Theological Research Institute SATHRI Bangalore Karnataka Theological College KTC Mangalore Bishops College BC Calcutta Serampore College SC SeramporeSee also Edit Christianity portalAnglican Communion Church of North India Christianity in India Christianity in Kerala Christianity in Tamil Nadu Christianity in Karnataka Telugu Christian St Thomas ChristiansReferences Edit History Church of South India 2010 Retrieved 22 August 2020 The Church of South India is the result of the union of churches of varying traditions Anglican Methodist Congregational Presbyterian and Reformed It was inaugurated in September 1947 after protracted negotiation among the churches concerned Organized into 22 dioceses each under the spiritual supervision of a bishop the church as a whole is governed by a synod which elects a moderator presiding bishop every 2 years Episcopacy is thus combined with Synodical government and the church explicitly recognizes that Episcopal Presbyterian and congregational elements are all necessary for the church s life Watkins Keith 3 November 2014 The American Church that Might Have Been A History of the Consultation on Church Union Wipf and Stock Publishers pp 14 15 ISBN 978 1 63087 744 6 The Church of South India created a polity that recognized Episcopal Presbyterian and Congregational elements and developed a book of worship that bridged the liturgical traditions that came into this new church It set up a plan by which existing ministries were accepted while including processes which would lead to the time a generation later when all ministers would have been ordained by bishops in apostolic succession The Church of South India was important as a prototype for a new American church because two factors had come together the cross confessional nature of its constituent parts and the intention to be in effect the Protestant Christian presence in communities all across the southern territories of its nation a b c d e Church of South India World Methodist Council 9 November 2019 Retrieved 25 June 2020 The Church of South India is a United Church that came into existence on 27 September 1947 The churches that came into the union were the Anglican Church the Methodist Church and the South India United Church a union in 1904 of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches Later the Basel Mission Churches in South India also joined the Union The Church of South India is the first example in church history of the union of Episcopal and non Episcopal churches and is thus one of the early pioneers of the ecumenical movement The CSI strives to maintain fellowship with all those branches of the church which the uniting churches enjoyed before the union It is a member of the World Methodist Council the Anglican Consultative Council the World Alliance of Reformed Churches the Council for World Mission and the Association of Missions and Churches in South West Germany a b c d Team CWM Communications 7 March 2018 Member Church Feature Church of South India CSI Council for World Mission a b c d e f g Church of South India International Resource Center CSI Congregation of Great Lakes Michigan 2007 Retrieved 11 January 2013 a b World Council of Churches The Church of South India Archived from the original on 11 June 2008 Retrieved 21 June 2008 Author Sushil Mittal Gene Thursby Religions of South Asia An Introduction oikoumene org Oikoumene org Retrieved 15 August 2014 The Church of North India United Anglican Communion Office Retrieved 17 September 2018 Along with the Church of South India the Church of Pakistan and the Church of Bangladesh it the Church of a North India is one of the four United Churches Davidson Randall Thomas 1920 The five Lambeth Conferences London S P C K The historic episcopate in Anglican ecclesiology the esse perspective Consensus 12 1 1986 ISSN 2369 2685 Lausanne Lambeth and South India by N P Williams 1930 Anglicanhistory org Some Comments on the South India Scheme Anglicanhistory org Church of South India Oxford Reference The Lambeth Conference and the Union of Churches in South India biblehub com Church of South India Contributes to Anglican Communion anglicannews org Anglican Communion official website The Church of South India United Retrieved 21 June 2008 a b c d The Order of Service for the Inauguration of Church Union in South India 1947 Anglicanhistory org A Church Is Born Records 1947 1948 Church of South India Inauguration PDF via The Burke Library Archives a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help The Church of South India and Reunion in England PDF Biblicalstudies org uk The Historic Episcopate in the Light of South Indian Experience PDF Churchsociety org a b CSI SYNOD csisynod com The Lotus Flower Facts about Hindu Religion 2 September 2011 Lotus Flower Hindu Sacred Flower Lotus Flower Symbolism lotussculpture com CSI Logo Melbourne CSI Church Church of South India csiseafordchurch org Bindley T Herbert Thomas Herbert 1899 The oecumenical documents of the faith microform The creed of Nicaea Three epistles of Cyril The tome of Leo The Chalcedonian definition London Methuen amp Co Chalcedonian Definition Episcopal Church 22 May 2012 a b Beliefs and Practices redeemercsichurch org CSI Order of Service PDF CSI Congregation of Great Lakes Michigan Holy Baptism of Infants CSI PDF CSI Congregation of Great Lakes Michigan Holy Baptism of Persons Able to Answer for Themselves CSI PDF CSI Congregation of Great Lakes Michigan An Order of Service for the Reception of Baptized Persons into the Full Fellowship of the Church Commonly Called Confirmation CSI PDF CSI Congregation of Great Lakes Michigan Confirmation ReligionFacts CSI SYNOD csisynod com Retrieved 25 October 2016 ACNS staff Church of South India appoints first female bishop episcopaldigitalnetwork com Episcopal Digital Network Retrieved 12 January 2016 a b M G Radhakrishnan 26 September 2011 Rising cases of sexual abuse within the church in Kerala force clergy to rethink on homosexuality India Today Retrieved 29 April 2016 Paul Cithara Protestants support gay rights The Daily Telegraph Kolkota Archived from the original on 14 September 2012 Retrieved 12 January 2016 deepak Church pressed to rethink and embrace the LGBT community efionline org Archived from the original on 28 August 2016 Retrieved 26 August 2016 Today Christian Church pressed to rethink and embrace the LGBT community Christian Today Archived from the original on 29 January 2018 Retrieved 29 January 2018 Gay priests not acceptable India s Anglican churches Hindustan Times 2 July 2008 Retrieved 9 January 2022 Nair Manoj R 27 May 2008 No gay priests please Mumbai Mirror Retrieved 5 January 2023 But a large group of conservative bishops who do not agree with the meeting s host Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams s liberal views on homosexuality and gay priests will defy him and hold an alternative Lambeth next month The Indian counterparts of the Anglican church the Church of North India CNI and the Church of South India CSI have a conservative stand on the issue Gay priests not acceptable India s Anglican churches Hindustan Times 2 July 2008 Retrieved 29 November 2021 Silthou Makepeace A Theological Challenge to Christian Homophobia The Wire Archived from the original on 11 December 2015 Retrieved 12 January 2016 International Consultation on Church and Homophobia Joseph N Goh 8 December 2014 Retrieved 23 May 2016 Church split over homosexuality would be a failure Welby BBC News 11 January 2016 Retrieved 12 January 2016 സവവരഗ രത യ വ വ ഹവ ആ ഗല കകന കമയണ യന ല ഭ നനത രകഷ sanghamam com Retrieved 4 May 2017 Horizons of Freedom PDF CSI Life Magazine of the Church of South India 14 Awesome This Tamil Nadu seminary is teaching pastors to accept the LGBT community The News Minute 15 July 2016 Retrieved 11 December 2017 a b CSI to ordain transgender a priest The Hindu 6 February 2012 ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 29 April 2016 Church of South India CSI Chennai Diocese CSI Diocese of Madras www csimadrasdiocese org Archived from the original on 13 February 2018 Retrieved 29 April 2016 Transgender in a fix over spiritual path Times of India The Times of India Retrieved 1 May 2016 CSI SYNOD csisynod com Retrieved 25 October 2016 CSI Life Magazine of Church of South India PDF CSI Synod April 2021 Archived PDF from the original on 30 November 2021 Retrieved 29 November 2021 Samuel Joseph Victor James Cecil February 2016 CSI Life PDF Magazine of the Church of South India XIV 2 Retrieved 24 August 2018 Church Leaders and Key Affected People A Dialogue PDF CSI Life Magazine of the Church of South India XIII 5 May 2015 Retrieved 24 August 2018 a b Church of South India Liturgy CSI Order of Services CSI Congregation of Great Lakes Michigan Where worship began with Canarese hymns The New Indian Express Book of Common Prayer in Tamil 1885 justus anglican org Anglicans Online Books of Common Prayer anglicansonline org Comparative Religion For Dummies For Dummies 2011 ISBN 9781118052273 This is the day Lent begins Christians go to church to pray and have a cross drawn in ashes on their foreheads The ashes drawn on ancient tradition represent repentance before God The holiday is part of Roman Catholic Lutheran Methodist and Episcopalian liturgies among others Constitution redeemercsichurch org The Constitution of the Church of South India Christian Literature Society 1952 Old Catholic Church in the United States Old Catholic Confederation Old Catholic churches World Council of Churches Anglican Communion Churches in Communion Anglican Communion Website CSI SYNOD csisynod com Retrieved 25 July 2016 The Church of South India and Reunion in England PDF a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Final Action on the Church of South India by General Convention 1958 24 July 2018 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Orders for the Ordination of Deacons Deaconesses The Ordination of Presbyters The Consecration of Bishops PDF Church of South India Congregation of Dallas Anglican Communion News Service 13 January 2020 New Moderator elected for the united Church of South India Accessed 20 February 2020 Officers of the Synod Church of South India About Kanyakumari Diocese Archived from the original on 27 August 2008 Retrieved 21 June 2008 South India Trichy Tanjore Anglican Communion Retrieved 15 August 2014 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of South India CSI Synod Church of South India General Secretary Church of South India Dallas Texas USA Church of South India Toronto Ontario Canada Church of South India Karnataka Central Diocese India Church of South India Diocese of Madras Tamil Nadu India Final Action on the Church of South India by General Convention 1958 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Church of South India amp oldid 1142124224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.