St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India

St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India
Polity	Historical episcopate
Language	Malayalam,hindi,english,tamil,odisha
Headquarters	Thiruvalla Kerala India
Territory	Universal
Possessions	India, North America, Canada, Europe, Great Britain-London & Belfast, Middle East, Singapore
Founder	Thomas the Apostle
Independence	Apostolic Era
Recognition	Independent Episcopal Church, 1961
Official website	http://steci.org/

St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI) is an evangelical, episcopal denomination based in Kerala, India. It derives from a schism in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1961, and traces its ancestry before then back almost 2,000 years. STECI holds that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God. Adherents believe that all that is necessary for salvation and living in righteousness is given in the Bible. The church is engaged in active evangelism. The headquarters of this church is at Tiruvalla, a town in the state of Kerala which is in the Southwestern part of South India.

History

Saint Thomas Christian's - Divisions- History

The St. Thomas Evangelical Church is one of several groups of Saint Thomas Christians tracing their origins to St. Thomas the Apostle who, according to Holy Tradition, came to India in AD 52. While STECI is considered to be an episcopal church, it is at the same time deeply influenced by Evangelicalism. Early leaders include Bishop Dr K N Oommen, Bishop P John Varghese, Rev P C Zacheriah, and Rev Dr T C George. K.N. Daniel was a prominent evangelical leader. Rev P I Mathai (Plavunkal Achen), Rev K O John, Rev C M Varghese, Rev P. T. Chandapillai, Rev P.T.Thomas, Mr.N.I Thomas Neduvelil Ranny, Rev K.C Paily and Rev P.A Jacob helped the church to focus on Evangelistic Mission.

Until 1961, the church's history was deeply connected to the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, which evolved from South Indian Christianity's contact with Evangelical British missionaries during British colonial times. 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 and led to the formation of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

Schism

Internal struggles with reformation ideas between progressive and traditionalist groups in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church led to a further schism. The progressive faction formed a new denomination, the St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India on 26 January 1961 further reducing the church's human baggage (traditions) picked up along its journey through history (Mark 7:8–9). On 22 October 1961, the name "Saint Thomas Evangelical Church of India" was chosen at a prayer gathering, (for the purpose of choosing a name), in Alleppey, Kerala, South India, at the residence of the Rev. Dr. K.M. Ninan.

The consecration of the bishops – Ordination by Presbyters

Rev. K.N. Oommen, Rev. P. John Varghese, were consecrated as Bishops. The Bishops were consecrated by a presbyteral laying-on-of-hands. A church tradition of the native Malankara Sabha (1 Timothy 4:14), thus discontinuing the Apostolic Succession in its traditional understanding and demurring from High Church Theology. A reformed church was thus born.

Prominent leaders

clergy in 1961

The prominent leaders of the new church were:

1. K. N. Daniel
2. Bishop K. N. Oommen
3. Bishop P. John Varughese
4. Bishop P. S. Varughese
5. Rev. P. I. Mathai (Plavunkal Achen)
6. Rev. T. C. George
7. Rev P.A.Jacob
8. Rev. K. O. John
9. Rev. A. C. Mathew
10. Rev. K. M. Ninan
11. Rev K. C. Paily
12. Rev. P. T. Thomas
13. Rev. C. M. Varghese
14. Rev. P. C. Zachariah
15. K. Abraham
16. Mathai John
17. K. A. Abraham
18. K. S. Joseph
19. A. G. Mathew

Bishops

• Bishop Most Rev Dr C V Mathew (Presiding Bishop of the Church)
• Bishop Rt Rev Dr Thomas Abraham
• Bishop Dr T C Cherian
• Bishop Dr M K Koshy
• Bishop Rt Rev A I Alexander

Late bishops

• Bishop K. N. Oommen
• Bishop P. John Varughese
• Bishop P. S. Varughese

External links

• Official site