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The Church of South India is a union of protestant Christian churches spread over South India. The inspiration for this Union was born out of ecumenism inspired by the self-pronouncing words of Jesus as found in Gospel of John, 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.

History

It was inaugurated in September 1947, and formed from the union of Anglican, Methodist, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches. Discussion of merging South India's main Protestant denominations began at a 1919 conference at Tranquebar (Tarangambadi), and the process was completed shortly after India's Independence.

Administration

The church is organized into 22 dioceses, each under the supervision of a bishop, including one diocese in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The Church as a whole is governed by a Synod, which every two years elects a presiding bishop, called a Moderator, who serves as head of the church. The Church has 3.8 million members in 14,000 congregations. The great majority of members are in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. International representations in Sri Lanka, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates

Order of worship

The church has its own service book and communion service, elements of which are drawn from the different denominations that made up the church. It is in full communion with the See of Canterbury and part of the Anglican Communion; its bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences and it has representation on the Anglican Consultative Council.

The Motto and The Cross

The symbols, the lotus and the Christian cross, used in the logo of the church possess a rich cultural heritage which help understand the call and mission of the CSI Church.

Lotus, a typical Indian flower, is a temple flower. Mythologically it is supposed to be the seat of the creator. Pankajam one of the Indian names for lotus has a very significant meaning, it mean 'that born in mud'. This flower blossom at the sunrise and withers away after sunset, in other words it lives as long as it receives the sunrays, hence it is also called 'THAMMIPUVE' the flower of the sun. All these meaning attributed to the flower suit us well to interpret the position, nature and role of the people in the bond of union.

The petals of the lotus and the cross are beautifully knitted together with the fiery-tongues of the Holy Spirit. It is an authentic Indian expression of people's communion with God. The original colors, red (for life) and purple (for piety and ecclesiastical) in white backdrop implicitly communicate the nature of the mystical union, where, an inseparable companionship is established which, again, a typical India thought form.

The words "THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE, CHURCH OF SOUTH INDIA" are embossed in a circle round the lotus and the cross. The words are taken from the high priestly 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.

"That they all may be one; that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I am in You.. (John 17:21)", is an inclusive affirmation which explicitly shows the centrality of Christ and the Church, His Body. Since it is also, the prayer of the Church that it is not only churches but all people of India to be united, a prayer for national integration is well taken care of in the emblem.

The imposing central position of the cross in the logo conveys the idea that it was the indefatigable, selfless supreme sacrifice that was made by Jesus on the cross is the base of the Church. The four ends of the cross painted in deep color indicating that it is the cross that guides all members inside and outside to join in one stream to pray and labor united for a peaceful coexistence and communal harmony.

Present Administrators

  • Moderator - Most Revd.B.P.Sungandhar, Bishop-in-Medak
  • Deputy Moderator - Rt.Revd.S.Vasantha Kumar, Bishop-in-Karnataka Central
  • General Secretary - Smt.Pauline Sathiamurthy
  • Treasurer - Sri Frederick William

Dioceses

Abbreviations of Colleges affiliated to the Serampore College, *: - For reasons best known to the author who edited this article, it is proposed that only Serampore recognised theological degrees be shown - however the author acknowledges that his knowledge about the theological educational background is limited only to a few of the Bishops whom he knows or has personal contact

in Andhra Pradesh

(Diocese / Cathedral / Present Bishop)

in Karnataka

  • Karnataka North */ Dharwad / Rt.Revd.P.J.K.Balmi
  • Karnataka Central * / Bangalore / Rt.Revd.S.Vasantha Kumar, B.D.(UTC), M.Th.(UTC)
  • Karnataka South */ Mangalore / Rt.Revd.B.Devaraj

in Tamil Nadu

in Kerala

in Ceylon

  • Jaffna / * / Colombo / Rt.Revd.S.Jebanesan

See also

External links

United Uniting churches | Anglican churches | Christian denominations | Members of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches | Christianity in India | 1947 establishments

Church of South India | Église de l'Inde du Sud

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Church of South India".

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