(Last month the CSI entered the 79th year of its founding. Here are some reflections on the journey so far and what needs to change)
When the CSI was born in 1947 it was one of a kind. Yes there had been church mergers in the past, even in India, to create a new entity. For instance the South India United Church (SIUC), one of the churches that merged to form the CSI, was itself the union of several Presbyterian, Congregational and Reformed houses of worship.
But the coming together of the SIUC and the Methodists with the Anglicans to form the CSI was unprecedented in world church history. The attempt to merge the South Indian provinces of an episcopacy-led Church of India, Burma & Ceylon (CIBC) with others that were strongly opposed to rule by bishops took a great leap of faith and considerable courage. That is evident in the 28 long years it took between 1919 when the church conference at Tranquebar (now Tharangambadi) first discussed the creation of the CSI and its realisation at St George’s Cathedral in Chennai on September 27, 1947.
In retrospect some would label it foolhardy to have attempted such a grand union between such incompatible church traditions. A few will argue it was the exigencies of the moment (Indian independence and the pressing need for foreigners to leave) that brought about a forced marriage; that Anglican acceptance of episcopal power being regulated by a CSI Constitution was insincere; that it was impractical particularly in a feudal society which had never enjoyed the fruits of Reformation and liberal thought as in the West; that India with its deep caste and class hierarchies would inevitably see its bishops as Supreme beings and not the first among equals as was intended.
But no institution, particularly a new church, can be founded on purely practical considerations. It requires courage of vision and, even more, courage of implementation to make it a success. The courage for the creation of the CSI came from the Bible itself. Jesus required of his followers to be united. His prayer in John 17 was a fervent one for unity among his followers similar to one between him and the father. “….that they may all be one, just as you Father are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us so that the world may believe you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,” (John 17:21-22)
Beyond adopting “that they all may be one” as its motto, the CSI is today doing little to really foster this oneness. In the early years of its existence when missionary-bishops and priests were still in office, and teaching and worship formed the main part of their ministry, this oneness with God and his son was nurtured and promoted. But little of that exists today and what we see instead is all round cowardice to questioning the new status quo that thrives on division and greed.
As I pointed out in my last post, the cowardly Officers of the Synod do not send an agenda with a meeting notice for the Oct-31-Nov 1, 2025 Synod Executive fearing participants may come prepared with questions. The cowardly Synod Executive does not protest this with many of its members even afraid to send an email requesting the agenda or the minutes of the previous meeting held 20 months ago.
The cowardly bishops and priests do not engage with those of their members (yours truly included) raising genuine questions for fear of facing the truth about their administration. The congregation by and large maintains a cowardly silence at the rampant corruption and mal-governance in church administration, focused as they are in only getting their baptisms, confirmation, marriage and funeral rights.
All round cowardice is now the order of the day in the CSI. It can be seen in the lack of discussion over the quality of bishops and priests we get; In the blind acceptance of diminishing solemnity in church service and of the pathetic sermons being delivered; In the absence of questions over the lack of accountability and transparency in church administration; In the silence over church elections being rigged with money and threats; In the lack of support for members who are victimized by church authorities for raising their voices against prevailing injustices; in the lip service being paid to prime church properties being alienated for private gain of those in power and so on.
The founders of the CSI had revolutionary courage to envision a church that would take forward the prayer of our Lord for unity of all believers. But the CSI of today bears testimony to the cowardice of those tasked with implementing that vision – be they church administrators or the membership at large.
The book of Revelation while describing the New Heaven and the New Earth equates being cowardly with what are generally considered much greater sins: “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for the murderers, the sexually immoral, idolaters and all the liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Revelation 21: 7-8).