Dr Oommen George consecrated as Bishop in Kollam-Kottarakara

The Church of South India has consecrated a bishop for its newest diocese. On 10 Sept 2017 the Rev. Oommen George,  was consecrated as the first bishop in Kollam-Kottarakara at Kollam Christ Church Cathedral by CSI Moderator the Rt. Rev. Thomas Oommen.

Bishop George was born on 21 July 1956 at Kunnamthanam in Pathanamthitt, Kerala. He earned a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Kannammoola Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago.

At the time of his election by the Church of South India’s Synod on 8 Sept 2017, Bishop George served as Kerala regional secretary of the Church of South India, and as a CSI parish priest in Kerala and in the United States.

The new diocese, the 24th for the CSI, was carved out of the South Kerala diocese, and will be centered in Thiruvananthapuram.. The new diocese will cover the whole of Kollam district, and portions of the Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram district in the extreme southwest of India.

Bishop George said the focus of his ministry would be spreading the Gospel and helping the poor. “As the first head of the newly formed diocese, I have the duty to mould it, based on the socio-cultural milieu of the members and strengthen the work among the poor,” he told The Hindu.