Church of South India

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Anglicanism Portal
CSI St. Mary's Church inside Fort St. George, Chennai. This is the first Anglican Church in India
CSI St. Mary's Church inside Fort St. George, Chennai. This is the first Anglican Church in India

The Church of South India (C.S.I.) is a union of many Protestant Christian churches spread throughout South India. It is the largest Protestant Church in India and second largest denomination in terms of size (after the Catholic Church in India). It is one of the four United Churches in the Anglican Communion.

The inspiration for this Union was born out of ecumenism inspired by the self-pronouncing words of Jesus Christ 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. "That they all may be one" is on the logo and is the motto of the Church of South India.

Contents

CSI St. George's Cathedral Chennai
CSI St. George's Cathedral Chennai

The C.S.I. was inaugurated in September 1947 at St. George's Cathedral Chennai. It was formed from the union of Anglican, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian, and Reformed churches in South India. Later in the 1990's, a small number of Baptist and Pentecostal churches joined the movement. The decision of merging South India's Protestant denominations began at a 1919 conference at Tranquebar (Tarangambadi), and the process was completed shortly after India's Independence. The creation of the Church of South India was a historic event in Christendom where, for the first time, churches with Episcopal and non-Episcopal traditions decided to form a union. The C.S.I. was one of the earliest forms of the united and uniting church.

Communion service at CSI Church of the Risen Redeemer
Communion service at CSI Church of the Risen Redeemer

The church is organized into 22 Dioceses, each under the supervision of a Bishop, including one Diocese within Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The Church is governed by a Synod with headquarters in Madras (Chennai), 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 worldwide. The great majority of members are in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. There are International representations in Sri Lanka, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates The

C.S.I. runs 2000 schools, 130 colleges and 104 hospitals in South India. In the 1960s the Church became conscious of its social responsibility and started organizing rural development projects. There are 50 such projects all over India, 50 training centers for young people, and 500 residential hostels for a total of 35,000 children.

  • Moderator - The Most Revd. Dr. B P Sugandhar, Bishop in Medak
  • Deputy Moderator - Rt. Revd. S. Vasantha Kumar, Bishop-in-Karnataka Central
  • General Secretary - Dr. Mrs. Pauline Sathiamurthy
  • Treasurer - Mr. V. Kasthuri

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Church of South India Logo
Church of South India Logo

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.

CSI Anderson Church, Chennai
CSI Anderson Church, Chennai

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.

CSI English Wesley Church in Broadway, Chennai. This is one of the oldest Methodist Churches in the Asia Pacific region
CSI English Wesley Church in Broadway, Chennai. This is one of the oldest Methodist Churches in the Asia Pacific region

Institutions that grant theological degrees which are recognized by the C.S.I. List of Theological Institutes affiliated with Serampore College, Serampore

Affiliations with other churches

The Church of South India is a member of the Anglican Communion. Its Bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences and it has representation on the Anglican Consultative Council. The C.S.I. is in full communion with the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of India and the Church of North India (CNI). It is a member in the World Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches in India.

The CSI, CNI, and Mar Thoma Church jointly formed the Communion of Churches in India (CCI) in 1978 for mutual recognition of the ministry and leaders, intercommunal relationship, and 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.

(Diocese name / Headquarters / Present Bishop)

A CSI Church at Nangamangalam, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh
A CSI Church at Nangamangalam, in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh

  • Karnataka North [7]/ Dharwad / Rt.Revd.J.Prabhakara Rao M.A(England), B.D(Bishop`s College)
  • Karnataka Central [8] / Bangalore / Rt.Revd. S. Vasantha Kumar, B.D.(UTC), M.Th.(UTC)
  • Karnataka South [9]/ Mangalore / Rt.Revd. B. Devaraj
CSI Church of the Risen Redeemer in Kodambakkam, Chennai
CSI Church of the Risen Redeemer in Kodambakkam, Chennai

  • Jaffna / [25] / Colombo / The Right Rev. Dr Daniel S. Thiagarajah


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