Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim explained

Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim
Main Classification:	Protestant
Orientation:	Reformed
Theology:	Calvinist
Polity:	Presbyterian
Associations:	and Reformed and Presbyterian Fellowship of India
Area:	Sikkim
Founded Date:	1993
Separated From:	Church of North India
Branched From:	Church of Scotland
Congregations:	120 (2015)
Members:	61,000 (2018)^[1]

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim (EPCS) is a Presbyterian denomination that was established in Sikkim in 1993 by various churches that broke away from the Church of North India.^{[2] [3]} As of 2014, it is the largest Christian denomination in Sikkim.^{[2] [4]}

History

The Presbyterian churches originate from the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It is the Christian Protestant churches that adhere to Reformed theology and whose ecclesiastical government is characterized by the government of an assembly of elders.

Government Presbyterian is common in Protestant churches that were modeled after the Reformation Protestant Switzerland, notably in the countries of Switzerland, Scotland, Netherlands, France and portions of Prussia, of Ireland and later in United States.^[5]

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Church of Scotland planted churches in North India. In 1936, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim was established by the Scottish missions. However, after the Independence of India, the missionaries had to leave the region. Consequently, most Protestant groups in the north of the country united to form the Church of North India (CNI) in 1970.^[3]

In 1993, most of the CNI-affiliated churches in Sikkim separated from the denomination and reconstituted the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim, the largest Christian denomination in the state since then.^{[3] [4]} Since then, the denomination has been known for its social actions.^[6]

Doctrine

The EPCS subscribes to the Apostles' Creed, Athanasian Creed, Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Shorter Catechism and Westminster Larger Catechism.^{[7] [8]}

Interchurch Relations

The denomination is a member of the Reformed and Presbyterian Fellowship of India.^{[2] [8]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tribal Christianity in the Himalayas. June 15, 2018. Stephen Christopher. Kyoto University. 8. January 16, 2022.
2. Web site: History of the Presbyterian and Reformed Fraternity of India. The Presbyterian Banner. November 1, 2019. December 16, 2021.
3. Web site: History of Christianity in India. 242. Jayakumar, A.. 2013. December 16, 2021.
4. Web site: Landscape Perspectives Academics. December 3, 2015. 12. January 16, 2022.
5. Web site: Presbyterian and Reformed Churches. Britannica. January 17, 2022.
6. Web site: Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim helps people affected by earthquakes. January 17, 2022.
7. Web site: Doctrine of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim. February 5, 2022.
8. Web site: Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim is part of the Presbyterian and Reformed Fraternity of India. February 5, 2022.