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The
Church of South India is the result of the union of churches of
varying traditions Anglican, Methodist, Congregational, Presbyterian,
and Reformed--in that area. It was inaugurated in September 1947,
after protracted negotiation among the churches concerned. Organized
into 16 dioceses, each under the spiritual supervision of a bishop,
the church as a whole is governed by a synod, which elects a
moderator (presiding bishop) every 2 years. Episcopacy is thus
combined with synodical government, and the church explicitly
recognizes that Episcopal, Presbyterian, and
congregational elements are all necessary for the church's
life. The Scriptures are the ultimate standard of faith
and practice. The historic creeds are accepted as
interpreting the biblical faith, and the sacraments of
baptism and the Lord's Supper are recognized as of binding
obligation.
Discussions concerning union had begun at a conference at
Tranquebar (now Tarangambadi) in 1919, and in 1947, after India
attained independence, the union was completed. The Church of South
India has its own service book and communion service, both of which
draw from several denominational sources. It is in limited communion
with the Anglican Church and the Episcopal Church of the United
States. The union, especially in its reconciliation of the Anglican
doctrine of apostolic succession with the views of other
denominations, is often cited as a landmark in the ecumenical
movement .
The Church of South India has 3.8 million members and 14 000
congregations in 21 dioceses (including, for historical reasons, one
diocese in northern Sri Lanka). The CSI runs 2000 schools, 130
colleges and 104 hospitals. In the 1960s the Church became conscious
of its social responsibility and started organizing rural
development projects. There are 50 such projects all over India, 50
training centers for young people, and 500 residential hostels for a
total of 35,000 children.
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