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St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India

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St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India
St Thomas Evangelical Church Of India Emblem
AbbreviationSTECI
TypeEvangelical Protestant
ClassificationSyrian Christian, Saint Thomas Syrian Christians
ScriptureHoly Bible
PolityEpiscopal
GovernanceDemocratic
Presiding BishopMost Rev Dr Thomas Abraham
Prathinidhi sabha AdhyakshanRt Rev Dr Abraham Chacko
LanguageMalayalam, English, Hindi, Odia, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Gujrati, Telugu,
LiturgyWest Syriac Rite (Reformed)
HeadquartersManjadi, Thiruvalla Kerala, India
TerritoryUniversal
PossessionsIndia, United States, Canada, Europe, Great Britain-London & Belfast, Middle East, Singapore
Origin26 January 1961
Thaimala, Thiruvalla
Independence1961
RecognitionIndependent Episcopal Church, 1961
Separated fromMalankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (1961)
Congregations350+
Members100000+
MinistersBishops- 6, Clergy- 150+
Missionaries400+
Publicationssuvisesha prakasini
Official websitehttp://steci.org/
SloganFOR THE WORD OF GOD AND FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST (REV. 1:9)
Part of a series on
Christianity in India
Christianity in India
Communities
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Denominations

Saint Thomas Christian denominations

Syro-Malabar Catholic, Syro-Malankara Catholic, Latin Catholic

Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Independent Oriential Orthodox

Malabar Independent Syrian Church

Chaldean Syrian

Mar Thoma Syrian, St. Thomas Evangelical

Protestant denominations
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran, Assemblies Jehovah Shammah, Christian Revival Church, Church of North India, Church of South India, Garo Baptist, Indian Brethren, Indian Pentecostal Church of God, Church of God (Full Gospel), North Bank Baptist Christian, Northern Evangelical Lutheran, Methodist Church, Presbyterian, The Pentecostal Mission, Seventh-day Adventist, United Evangelical Lutheran

Organisations

St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is an Oriental Protestant (Reformed Orthodox) episcopal denomination based in Kerala, India.

The church originated from a schism in the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1961 and forms a part of the Saint Thomas Syrian Christian community.

The headquarters of the church is at Tiruvalla, Kerala.

History

Branches & Denominations of Saint Thomas Christians

The St. Thomas Evangelical Church is one of several groups of Saint Thomas Christians who trace their origins to St. Thomas the Apostle who, according to their tradition, came to India in AD 52.[1]

Until 1961, the Church's history was deeply connected to the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

In the 1800s, South Indian Christians were in contact with British missionaries during the time of British colonialism. The missionaries facilitated the translation of the Bible into Malayalam in 1811; this was the first vernacular Bible in Kerala. Further changes introduced by the influence of missionaries led to a schism within the Thomas Christians.[2]

By the 1830s, some clergy in the St Thomas Church were looking at reform, particularly in the area of rituals. This movement led to the St Thomas Church establishing the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA) in 1888.[3]

In the 1950s, reforms within the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church led to some members creating the Mar Thoma Pathiopadesa Samathy (St Thomas Organisation for Sound Doctrine) in 1952. In 1960, four presbyters (P John Varghese, P I Mathal, CM Vaghese and KO John) were suspended. This led to the establishment of the St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI), on January 26, 1961, with 20 ministers and 25,000 lay Christians.[4]

STECI established the Jubilee Memorial Bible College in Chennai in August 1987.[5] The college trains students from almost 20 different denominations and has links to the Biblical Graduate School of Theology in Singapore and Columbia International University in the US.

Beliefs

Mission statement

STECI was formed with a three-pronged mission;

  • Safeguarding sound doctrine
  • Living a holy life
  • Obeying the Great Commission to evangelise India [6]

Basic teachings

STECI believes in; the Trinity, the Second Coming, Sola Scriptura of 66 books of the Bible, salvation by faith (not works), safeguarding sound doctrine, evangelism and sharing the news about Jesus, royal priesthood and prayers to Jesus for the living.[7]

Sacraments

STECI members incorporate two sacraments into their lives; these are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.[8]

Diocese

In 2023, the Church has seven dioceses. Four of these are in Kerala; the others are "Bahya Kerala" ‘’Gulf and Singapore’’ and ‘’North America and Europe’’.[9] The dioceses cover 240 parishes.[10]

Clergy in 1961

Bishops

STECI Boards

  • Board for Evangelistic Work
  • Board for Youth Work
  • Board for Women's Work
  • Board for Sunday School Work
  • Education Board
  • Department of Music & Communications

See also

References

  1. ^ Curtin, D. P.; James, M.R. (June 2018). The Acts of St. Thomas in India. ISBN 9781087965710.
  2. ^ STECI Fellowship website
  3. ^ Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church website
  4. ^ STECI Fekllowship website
  5. ^ Jubilee Memorial Bible College official website
  6. ^ Indian Christians United website
  7. ^ SCETI Atlanta website
  8. ^ STECI Atlanta website
  9. ^ Official website, Retrieved 2023-05-29
  10. ^ STECI Kuwait website, Retrieved 2023-05-29
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