Church of South India explained

Church of South India
Main Classification:Protestant
Orientation:United and uniting
Polity:Mixed polity with episcopal, congregational, and presbyterian elements[1] [2]
Founded Date:27 September 1947 (Day of Union, not date of establishment)
Founded Place:Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu (Presently Under the Pastorate of Karaikal - Tranquebar, Tiruchirappalli - Thanjavur Diocese)
Leader Title1:Administrators
Leader Name1:Justice R. Balasubramanian
Justice V. Bharathidasan
Judge S. Bhaskaran
Leader Title2:Moderator
Leader Name2:Vacant
Leader Title3:Deputy Moderator
Merger:Church of India, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican), the southern district of the Methodist Church, South India United Church (which was a union in 1904 of the Continental Reformed, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches), Basel Mission Churches in South India
Separations:Anglican Church of India (1964)
Anglican Catholic Church (1984)
Leader Name3:Vacant
Fellowships:Christian Conference of Asia,
National Council of Churches in India,
Communion of Churches in India
Associations:Anglican Communion,
World Methodist Council, World Council of Churches,
World Communion of Reformed Churches
Area:Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Telangana and Sri Lanka
Hospitals:104
Congregations:14,000[3]
Members:3,800,000
Ministers:3,300
Secondary Schools:2000 schools, 130 colleges
Abbreviation:CSI

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.[4]

The Church of South India is the successor of a number of Protestant denominations in India, including the four southern dioceses of the Church of India, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican), the South India United Church (Congregationalist, Presbyterian and Continental Reformed), and the southern district of the Methodist Church.[5] [6]

The Church of South India is a member of the Anglican Communion, World Methodist Council and World Communion of Reformed Churches.[7] [8] 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 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.[9]

With a membership of nearly four million,[9] 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 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, 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 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. 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. 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]

Logo

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 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, get 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]

Capital punishment

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

Women's Ordination

In 2013, the CSI consecrated its first female bishop, Eggoni Pushpalalitha.[36] [37] The Church of South India, since 1984, has allowed women's ordination. Additionally, "it has taken up issues of gender, dalits and landlessness."[38] [39] [40] [41]

LGBTQ issues

In 2008, CSI supported the faction of the Anglican Church—Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON)— which opposed allowing gay priests inside church. “The Bible does not recognise gay marriages or gay priests,” said Reverend Benny Thomas of CSI, Mumbai.[42] Indian bishops sided with traditionalists on the issue of homosexuality.[43] The church does not ordain clergy who are active in same-sex relationships.[44]

The National Council of Churches in India, of which the CSI is a member, supported the legalization of consensual same-sex relationships in India.[45] [46] In 2015, St. Mark's Cathedral, Bangalore hosted an event, co-led by the Rev. Vincent Rajkumar, aimed at denouncing homophobia.[47] CSI clergy, working with the National Council of Churches in India also co-led a consultation speaking out against homophobia.[48] The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) listed the Church of South India as being among the Anglican provinces open to blessing same-sex couples.[49] [50]

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..."[51] However, in 2023 the Communion of Churches in India, of which the CSI is a part,[52] filed an application before the Supreme Court opposing petitions for same-sex marriage, writing that marriage is a divine institution uniting two persons of the opposite sex, and also writing to the President of India on the subject.[53]

Some dioceses of the church have confirmed that transgender persons may be ordained as clergy.[54] On transgender issues, the Diocese of Madras has a ministry specifically for transgender people.[55] In 2012, the denomination invited a transgender pastor to preach.[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 its bishops participate in the Lambeth Conferences.[8] It also has representation in the Anglican Consultative Council.[8] 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.[68] 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.[69] [70] [71]

Synod

See main 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. Due to the Madras High Court's ruling, which invalidated the recent elections and identified procedural discrepancies at the Synod meeting held in Hubli in January 2023. The Moderator and the Deputy Moderator position along with the position of General Secretary and Hon. Treasurer is currently vacant and awaiting election.[72] [73] [74] The officers were elected for a three-year term at the Synod meeting. The church is presently under the administration of court-appointed administrators, Justice R. Balasubramanian and Justice V. Bharathidasan, pending new elections for these key leadership roles.

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.[9]

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.[75] 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:

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

NameHeadquartersLocationBishop
(The Right Reverend)
Krishna-Godavari DioceseMachilipatnamAndhra PradeshT. George Cornelious
Nandyal DioceseNandyalModerator's Commissary
Rayalaseema DioceseKadapaP. Issac Vara Prasad
Dornakal DioceseDornakalTelanganaDr. K. Padmarao
Medak DioceseMedakModerator's Commissary
Karimnagar DioceseKarimnagarK. Reuben Mark
Karnataka Central DioceseBangaloreKarnatakaModerator's Commissary
Karnataka Northern DioceseDharwadMartin C Borgai
Karnataka Southern DioceseMangaloreHema Chandra Kumar
East Kerala DioceseMelukavuKeralaVS Francis
Cochin DioceseKochiModerator's Commissary
Kollam-Kottarakara DioceseKollamModerator's Commissary
Madhya Kerala DioceseKottayamMalayil Sabu Koshy Cherian
KozhikodeRoyce Manoj Kumar Victor
South Kerala DioceseTrivandrumModerator's Commissary
Coimbatore DioceseCoimbatoreTamil NaduTimothy Ravinder
Kanyakumari DioceseNagercoilA R Chelliah
Madras DioceseChennaiModerator's Commissary
Madurai-Ramnad DioceseMaduraiJeyasingh Prince Prabhakaran
Thoothukudi-Nazareth DioceseThoothukudiModerator's Commissary
Tirunelveli DioceseTirunelveliA.R.G.S.T. Barnabas
Trichy-Tanjore DioceseTiruchirappalliDhanraj Chandrasekaran[76]
Vellore DioceseVelloreSharma Nithiyanandam
Jaffna DioceseJaffnaSri LankaVeluppillai Pathmathyalan

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History . Church of South India . 22 August 2020 . en . 2010 . 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 23 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. . 14 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210214005331/https://www.csisynod.com/history.php . dead .
  2. Book: Watkins . Keith . The American Church that Might Have Been: A History of the Consultation on Church Union . 3 November 2014 . Wipf and Stock Publishers . 978-1-63087-744-6 . 14–15 . en . 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. Web site: Team . CWM Communications . Member Church Feature: Church of South India (CSI) . Council for World Mission . 7 March 2018.
  4. Author:Sushil Mittal, Gene Thursby -Religions of South Asia: An Introduction
  5. Book: Shelley . Bruce . Church History in Plain Language: Fourth Edition . 10 December 2013 . Zondervan Academic . 978-1-4016-7685-8 . en . Outside the United States the most significant merger was the Church of South India, formed in 1947 through the union of three religious bodies: the Anglican Church of India, Burma and Ceylon; the South India Province of the Methodist Church; and the South India United Church, itself the result of a movement that brought Presbyterian, Congregational, and Dutch Reformed bodies into the union..
  6. Web site: oikoumene.org. January 1948 . Oikoumene.org . 2014-08-15.
  7. Web site: The Church of North India (United). Anglican Communion Office. 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..
  8. Web site: Church of South India . 9 November 2019 . . 25 June 2020 . en. 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..
  9. Web site: Church of South India International Resource Center . CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan . 11 January 2013 . 2007.
  10. Book: Davidson . Randall Thomas . The five Lambeth Conferences . 1920 . London : S.P.C.K. .
  11. The historic episcopate in Anglican ecclesiology the esse perspective . Consensus . 1986 . 12 . 1 . en . 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. Web site: Church of South India. Oxford Reference.
  15. Web site: The Lambeth Conference and the Union of Churches in South India. -- . biblehub.com.
  16. Web site: Church of South India Contributes to Anglican Communion . anglicannews.org . en-gb.
  17. Web site: Anglican Communion official website – The Church of South India (United) . 2008-06-21 .
  18. 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. The Burke Library Archives.
  20. The Church of South India and Reunion in England . Biblicalstudies.org.uk .
  21. The Historic Episcopate in the Light of South Indian Experience . Churchsociety.org . 16 January 2019 . 24 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210924060518/https://churchsociety.org/docs/churchman/080/Cman_080_2_Paul.pdf . dead .
  22. Web site: CSI SYNOD . csisynod.com . 2 June 2019 . 8 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208221349/https://www.csisynod.com/csi-synod-logo.php . dead .
  23. Web site: The Lotus Flower . Facts about Hindu Religion . 2 September 2011.
  24. Web site: Lotus Flower, Hindu Sacred Flower, Lotus Flower Symbolism . lotussculpture.com.
  25. Web site: CSI Logo . Melbourne CSI Church . 2 June 2019 . 17 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417203928/https://www.melbournecsichurch.org.au/her/logo/ . dead .
  26. Web site: Church of South India . csiseafordchurch.org. 4 March 2021 .
  27. Web site: Bindley . T. Herbert (Thomas Herbert) . 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. . 1899.
  28. Web site: Chalcedonian Definition . Episcopal Church . en . 22 May 2012.
  29. Web site: Beliefs and Practices . redeemercsichurch.org.
  30. Web site: CSI Order of Service. CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  31. Web site: Holy Baptism of Infants (CSI). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  32. Web site: Holy Baptism of Persons Able to Answer for Themselves (CSI). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  33. Web site: An Order of Service for the Reception of Baptized Persons into the Full Fellowship of the Church Commonly Called Confirmation (CSI). CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  34. Web site: Confirmation . ReligionFacts . en.
  35. Web site: CSI SYNOD. csisynod.com. 2016-10-25.
  36. Web site: ACNS staff. Church of South India appoints first female bishop. episcopaldigitalnetwork.com. Episcopal Digital Network. 12 January 2016. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053348/http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/09/25/church-of-south-india-appoints-first-female-bishop/. dead.
  37. Web site: Meet India's first woman Bishop . 2023-12-06 . NDTV.com.
  38. Web site: Rising cases of sexual abuse within the church in Kerala force clergy to rethink on homosexuality. 26 September 2011. M G Radhakrishnan. India Today. 2016-04-29.
  39. Web site: Paul. Cithara. Protestants support gay rights. https://archive.today/20120914124004/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090805/jsp/frontpage/story_11322140.jsp. dead. 14 September 2012. The Daily Telegraph. Kolkota. 12 January 2016.
  40. Web site: Church pressed to rethink and embrace the LGBT community. deepak. efionline.org. 2016-08-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828204418/http://www.efionline.org/the-news/efi-news/58-current-issues/189-church-pressed-to-rethink-and-embrace-the-lgbt-community. 28 August 2016. dead.
  41. News: Church pressed to rethink and embrace the LGBT community. Today. Christian. Christian Today. 2018-01-29. en-GB. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129141718/http://www.christiantoday.co.in/article/church.urged.to.rethink.and.embrace.the.lgbt.community/4326.htm. 29 January 2018. dead.
  42. Web site: 2008-07-02. Gay priests not acceptable: India's Anglican churches. 2022-01-09. Hindustan Times. en.
  43. Web site: Nair . Manoj R. . No gay priests, please . . 5 January 2023 . English . 27 May 2008. 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..
  44. Web site: 2008-07-02. Gay priests not acceptable: India's Anglican churches. 2021-11-29. Hindustan Times. en.
  45. Web site: 2009-08-04 . Protestants cool with verdict on homosexuality . 2024-06-03 . India Today . en.
  46. Web site: voltaire . 2018-01-23 . India's National Council of Churches Advocates for Repeal of Section 377 - Singapore News . 2024-06-03 . The Independent Singapore News . en-US.
  47. Web site: Silthou. Makepeace. A Theological Challenge to Christian Homophobia. The Wire. 12 January 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151211203604/http://thewire.in/2015/12/09/a-theological-challenge-to-christian-homophobia-16685/. 11 December 2015.
  48. Web site: International Consultation on Church and Homophobia. 2014-12-08. Joseph N. Goh. en-US. 2016-05-23.
  49. News: Church split over homosexuality would be a failure - Welby. BBC News . 11 January 2016 . 12 January 2016.
  50. Web site: സവവരഗ രതിയം വിവാഹവം: ആംഗലികകന കമയണിയനില ഭിനനത രകഷം. sanghamam.com. EN. 2017-05-04. 8 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408170135/https://www.sanghamam.com/readnews.php?id=8588. dead.
  51. News: Awesome! This Tamil Nadu seminary is teaching pastors to accept the LGBT community. 2016-07-15. The News Minute. 2017-12-11.
  52. Web site: Communion of Church in India .
  53. News: On same-sex union, faith leaders show rare unity . The Hindu . 2 April 2023 . Salam . Ziya Us .
  54. News: CSI to ordain transgender a priest. 2012-02-06. The Hindu. en-IN. 0971-751X. 2016-04-29.
  55. Web site: Church of South India CSI Chennai Diocese CSI Diocese of Madras. www.csimadrasdiocese.org. 2016-04-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20180213194541/http://www.csimadrasdiocese.org/ministries.php?cat=13. 13 February 2018. dead.
  56. News: Transgender in a fix over spiritual path - Times of India. The Times of India. 7 February 2012 . 2016-05-01.
  57. Web site: Church of South India Liturgy: CSI Order of Services. CSI Congregation of Great Lakes, Michigan.
  58. Web site: Where worship began with Canarese hymns . The New Indian Express. 19 January 2017 .
  59. Web site: Book of Common Prayer in Tamil (1885) . justus.anglican.org.
  60. Web site: Anglicans Online: Books of Common Prayer . anglicansonline.org.
  61. Book: Comparative Religion For Dummies. For Dummies. 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. 9781118052273. 2011.
  62. Web site: Constitution . redeemercsichurch.org.
  63. Book: The Constitution of the Church of South India . Christian Literature Society . 1952 .
  64. Web site: Old Catholic Church in the United States. Old Catholic Confederation.
  65. Old-Catholic churches. World Council of Churches . en.
  66. Anglican Communion: Churches in Communion . Anglican Communion Website . en.
  67. Web site: CSI SYNOD. csisynod.com. 2016-07-25.
  68. Web site: World Council of Churches – The Church of South India. 2008-06-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080611024524/http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/regions/asia/india/church-of-south-india.html. 11 June 2008.
  69. The Church of South India and Reunion in England.
  70. Final Action on the Church of South India by General Convention 1958 . 24 July 2018 . en . 25 July 2018 . 11 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200811133953/https://episcopalchurch.org/library/document/final-action-church-south-india-general-convention-1958 . dead .
  71. Orders for the Ordination of Deacons/Deaconesses; The Ordination of Presbyters; The Consecration of Bishops. Church of South India: Congregation of Dallas. 26 February 2019. 26 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026123334/http://www.csicod.org/ORDINATIONOFPRESBYTERS.pdf. dead.
  72. News: 2024-04-13 . HC appoints retired judges to run affairs of CSI . 2024-04-13 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  73. News: Bureau . The Hindu . 2024-04-12 . Madras High Court appoints a Committee of Administrators for CSI and CSI Trust Association . 2024-04-13 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.
  74. Web site: Sivakumar . R. . 2024-04-13 . Madras HC red-flags CSI poll, names judges’ panel to administer body . 2024-04-13 . The New Indian Express . en.
  75. Web site: About Kanyakumari Diocese . 2008-06-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080827195230/http://www.csi-kanyakumari.org/About.htm . 27 August 2008 . dead .
  76. Web site: South India-Trichy-Tanjore . Anglican Communion . 2014-08-15.

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