Church of North India

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The Church of North India (CNI), 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 merger, which had been in discussions since 1929, came eventually between the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican), The United Church of Northern India (Congregationalist and Presbyterian), the Baptist Churches of Northern India (British Baptists), the Churches of the Brethren in India, The Methodist Church (British and Australia Conferences) and the Disciples of Christ denominations.

CNI's jurisdiction covers all states of the Indian Union with the exception of the four states in the south (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and has approximately 1,250,000 members in 3,000 pastorates. ^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Beliefs and Practices 2.1 Liturgy 2.2 Governance 2.3 Social Involvement 2.4 Ecumenism 3 Present Administrators 4 Dioceses 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] History

Ecumenical discussions with a view to a unified church was initiated by The Australian Churches of Christ Mission, Australian Methodist Church, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church and United Church of Northern India during a round table meeting in Lucknow in 1929.

A negotiation committee was set up in 1951 using the plan of Church Union that resulted from the earlier consultations as its basis. The committee comprised of representatives from the Baptist Churches in Northern India, The Church of India, Pakistan and Ceylon, The Methodist Church (British and Australia Conferences), The Methodist Church in Southern Asia and the United Church of Northern India. ^{[2] [3]}. In 1957, the Church of the Brethren in India and the Disciples of Christ denominations joined in the negotiations as well.

A new negotiation committee was set up in 1961 with representatives from all the abovementioned denominations. In 1965, a finalised plan of Church Union, known as the "White Paper", was made. The union was formalised on 29 November 1970 when all the negotiating churches were united as the Church of North India with the exception of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia which decided not to join the union.

In 1994 at a synod in Etah, a decision was made by the then dioceses of Agra and Lucknow to withdraw from the CNI and revive the United Church of Northern India of which they belonged prior to the union. ^[4]

[edit] Beliefs and Practices

The CNI is a trinitarian church that draws from the traditions and heritage of its constituent denominations. The basic creeds of the CNI are the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed of 381 AD.

[edit] Liturgy

The liturgy of the CNI is of particular interest, as it combines many traditions, including that of the Methodists and such smaller churches as the Church of the Brethren and the Disciples of Christ. Provision is given for diverse liturgical practices and understandings of the divine revelation.

[edit] Governance

The CNI is organised on an Episcopal structure and is subdivided into 26 dioceses, each under the supervision of a bishop. The main administrative and legislative body is the Synod, which meets once every three years to elect a presiding bishop, called a Moderator, and an Executive Committee. The Moderator acts as the head of the church.

[edit] Social Involvement

Social involvement is a major emphasis in the CNI. There are synodal boards in charge of various ministries: Secondary, Higher, Technical and Theological Education, Health Services [1] , Social Services [2], Rural Development, Literature and Media. There is also a synodal Programme Office [3] which seeks to protect and promote peace, justice, harmony and dignity of life.

The CNI currently operates 65 hospitals, nine nursing schools, 250 educational institutions and three technical schools. Some of the oldest educational institutions in India like Bishop's College and the Scottish Church College both in Calcutta, and St. Stephen's College in Delhi and are affiliated to the CNI.

[edit] Ecumenism

The CNI participates in many ecumenical bodies as a reflection of its commitment towards church unity. Domestically it participates in a joint council with the Church of South India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church known as the Communion of Churches in India. It is also a member of the National Council of Churches in India. Regionally, the CNI participates in the Christian Conference of Asia and on an international level it is a member of the World Council of Churches. the Council for World Mission, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council and in full communion with the Anglican Communion. The CNI is also in partnership with many other domestic, regional and international Christian agencies.

[edit] Present Administrators

• Moderator : The Most Rev. Joel V. Mal, Bishop of Chandigarh
• Deputy Moderator : The Rt. Rev. Purely Lyngdoh, Bishop of North East India
• General Secretary : The Rev. Dr. Enos Das Pradhan
• Treasurer : Mr. K. R. P. Kosala

[edit] Dioceses

Diocese of Agra [4]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. S.R. Cutting

Diocese of Amritsar [5]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. P.K. Samantaroy

Diocese of Andaman and Nicobar [6]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Christopher Paul

Diocese of Barrackpore [7]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Brojen Malakar

Diocese of Bhopal [8]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Laxman L. Maida

Diocese of Chandigarh [9]

• Bishop : The Most Rev. Joel V. Mal

Diocese of Cuttack [10]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Reuben Senapati

Diocese of Chota Nagpur [11]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. James Terom

Diocese of Delhi [12]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Karam Masih

Diocese of Durgapur [13]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Probal Kanto Dutta

Diocese of Eastern Himalaya [14]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Probal Kanto Dutta

Diocese of Gujarat [15]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. V.M. Malaviya

Diocese of Jabalpur [16]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Dr. Prem Chand Singh

Diocese of Kolkata [17]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. P.S.P. Raju

Diocese of Kolhapur [18]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. B. R. Tiwade

Diocese of Lucknow [19]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Anil R. Stephen

Diocese of Mumbai [20]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Baiju F. Gavit

Diocese of Marathwada [21]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. A.K. Pradhan

Diocese of Nagpur [22]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Paul Dupare

Diocese of Nasik [23]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Pradip L. Kamble

Diocese of North East India [24]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Purely Lyngdoh

Diocese of Patna [25]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. P.P. Marandih

Diocese of Phulbani [26]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Bijay Kumar Nayak

Diocese of Pune [27]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Vijay. B. Sathe

Diocese of Rajasthan [28]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Collin Christopher Theodore

Diocese of Sambalpur [29]

• Bishop : The Rt. Rev. Christ Kiron Das

[edit] References

Replace "Baiju F Gavit" with "Prakash Patole"

Reason: Gavit has retired and Rt. Rev. Prakash Patole elected in his place.

[edit] See also

• Christianity in India
• Church of South India
• Mar Thoma Syrian Church
• Christian Conference of Asia
• Anglican Communion

[edit] External links

• Church of North India
• National Council of Churches in India
• Indian Christianity : CNI
• CNI Seminaries and Theological Colleges