Methodist Church in India is a Protestant Christian denomination of India.
| Methodist Church in India | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Classification | Methodist |
| Theology | Wesleyan-Arminian |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Associations | World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in India and World Methodist Council |
| Congregations | 2,460 |
| Members | 648,000 |
| Official website | https://worldmethodistcouncil.org |
The Methodist Church in India's roots originate in American Methodist missionary activity in India, as opposed to the British and Australian conferences of the Methodist Churches, which joined the Church of South India and the Church of North India that emerged as a result of the ecumenical merger of the Methodist Church of Great Britain, Church of India, Burma and Ceylon (Anglican) and other Protestant denominations.[1]
Methodism came to India in 1856.[2][3] It has hundreds of thousands of members.[4] It is a member of the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in India and World Methodist Council.[4] It runs schools.[4][5]
The Methodist Church in India (MCI), is an "autonomous affiliated" Church in relation to the United Methodist Church.[6][7]
It has episcopal polity.
History
editIn 1856 the Methodist Episcopal Church From America started the mission in India. The Methodist Episcopal Church began its work in India in 1856, when William Butler came from America. He selected Oudh and Rohilkhand to work in and, being unable to secure a residence at Lucknow, began work at Bareilly. The first War of Independence broke up the work at Bareilly, but in 1858 Lucknow was occupied and Bareilly re-occupied and the work of the Mission started anew.
By 1864 the work had grown to such an extent that it was organized under the name of the India Mission Conference. Additional stations were occupied in Oudh, Rohilkhand, Garhwal, and Kumaon, and by 1876 The Methodist Episcopal Church had established work both along evangelistic and educational lines.
Methodist Churches were established in cities including Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Kanpur and Bangalore. Special revival meetings were held which led the church out of its boundaries and gave it a national status.
In 1870 marked, on the invitation of James M. Thoburn, an acknowledged leader in the Mission, evangelist William Taylor was invited to India to hold special revival meetings. On his arrival, he started his work at Lucknow and subsequently went to Kanpur. The work had thus far been confined to the territory East and North of the Ganges, but by that river; this move was the first step of expansion into all Southern Asia. There came into existence Methodist congregations in Kanpur, Bombay, Poona, Calcutta, Secunderabad, Madras, Bangalore, Nagpur and other cities.[8]
In 1873 the churches established by William Taylor were organized into the "Bombay-Bengal Mission." In 1876 the South India Annual Conference was organized, taking in all the territory outside the bounds of the original Upper India field. This was followed in 1888 by the organization of the Bengal Annual Conference, and in 1893 the Bombay and North-West India Annual Conferences were separated. Between 1871 and 1900 the Methodist Episcopal Church expanded to become a national Church throughout Southern and South-Eastern Asia, with work carried on in twelve languages, extending from Manila to Quetta and from Lahore to Madras; and the Christian community increased from 1,835 to 111,654.
In 1904 the field was again sub-divided by the organization of the Central Provinces Mission Conference, which was followed by setting the work of Burma apart and organizing it as a Mission Conference. In 1921 two Annual Conferences, Lucknow and Gujarat were brought into existence and another division of the field was made in 1922 when the Indus River Annual Conference was organized. In 1925 the Hyderabad Annual Conference was separated from the South India Annual Conference. In 1956 Agra Annual Conference was separated from Delhi Annual Conference and Moradabad Annual Conference from the North India Annual Conference. In 1960 the Karachi Provisional Annual Conference was organized. Thus in 95 years from 1865 to 1960, the one Conference in India had grown into 13, covering the whole of Southern Asia.
In this period the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church spread beyond India. Under the leadership of James M. Thoburn, Burma was entered in 1879, where John E. Robinson became the pioneer missionary, and in 1885 the work in Malaysia was begun by the establishment of a mission at Singapore, the pioneer here being William F. Oldham. In 1899, when the Philippines came into the possession of the United States of America, James M. Thoburn entered Manila and established the Church; Homer C. Stuntz was one of the pioneer workers. All these missionary leaders later became Bishops of the Church.
In 1870 the first missionaries of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church came. Two young ladies arrived that year: Isabella Thoburn, to work in the education of India's girls and women, and physician Clara Swain, to work in medicine, the first female doctor to undertake such work in Asia[citation needed].
Evangelistic work in the villages of northern India resulted in the baptism of large numbers of people from the deprived classes.
In 1920 the Methodist Missionary Society was organized to supervise missionary work in India. In 1930 the Central Conference of southern Asia elected the first national bishop. Since the Independence of India in 1947 all bishops have been Indian nationals. Missionaries were sent to Borneo in 1956 and to the Fiji islands in 1963.
Since 1928 the MCI was engaged in union negotiations in North India. In 1970 the Central Conference voted against the plan of union, but dialogue with the Church of North India continued.
In 1981 the Methodist Church in India was established as an "autonomous affiliated" church in relation with the United Methodist Church.[6][7] The church is now independent in organization and has adopted its own constitution and book of discipline and articles of faith.
Beliefs
editThe Methodist Church in India says that it understands itself as the body of Christ in and for the world as part of the Church universal. Its stated purpose is to understand the love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ, to bear witness of this love to all people and to make them his disciples.
The Methodist Church in India affirms two dominical sacraments, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, with five additional rites being observed: confirmation, confession, matrimony, holy orders and anointing of the sick. The ordinances of feetwashing (especially on Maundy Thursday), as well as women's headcovering (usually with a shawl, chiefly a dupatta), are practiced.
Social work
editThe MCI runs 102 boarding schools and 155 village schools in which over 60,000 children are enrolled. 89 residential hostels cater for 6,540 boys and girls. The Church also operates 19 College and vocational training institutions, 25 hospitals and health care centres, and many community welfare and development programmes in the country.
Chennai
- Emmanuel Methodist Church, Vepery, Chennai
- Methodist Tamil Church, Vepery, Chennai
- Anna Nagar Methodist Church,Anna Nagar, Chennai # annanagarmethodistchurch.org.in
Andaman Islands
- Holy Trinity Methodist Church, Haddo, Andaman Islands
- Methodist Tamil Church, Shoal Bay, Andaman Islands
- Methodist Tamil Church, Bamboo Flat, Andaman Islands
- Methodist Tamil Church, Namunaghar, Andaman Islands
Pondicherry
- Zion Methodist Church, Pondicherry
- Emmanuel Methodist Church, Pondicherry
Madurai
- St. John's Methodist Tamil Church Madurai[9]
Coimbatore
- Apostolic Methodist Church, Coimbatore
Thiruvallur District
- Emmanuel methodist Tamil Church, Pudur, Ambattur, Chennai
- Richmond Town Methodist Church, No.4, Kingston Road, Richmond Town, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560025
- Indiranagar Methodist Church, 100ft Road, 13th Main, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560008
- Sarjapur Road Methodist Church, beside St. Patrick's Academy, near Kodathi, Gate, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560035
- Koramangala Methodist Church, CA30/A, 15th Main Rd, 4th Block Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560034
- Christ Methodist Church, 3M98 CGR, Sonam Layout, Essel gardens, Bengaluru
- Hosa Road Methodist church
- Lingarajapuram Methodist church
- Wilson Garden Methodist church
- R T Nagar Methodist church
- Grace Methodist church
- St. Paul Methodist church
- Hoodi Methodist church
- Peenya Methodist church
- L R Nagar Methodist church
- Mysore Methodist church
- Hosanna Methodist Church, Kelamangalam Road, Mathigiri, Hosur, Tamil Nadu
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesley Methodist Tamil Church, Andheri[10] | Worlipada Anand Nagar, Marol Pipeline Rd, Andheri East, Mumbai |
| 2 | Centenary Methodist Gujarati Church | M.S Ali road, Grant Road east, Mumbai. |
| 3 | Methodist Tamil Church, Mira Road[11] | Shanti Nagar, Mira Road (E), Mumbai/Thane. |
| 4 | Bowen Memorial Methodist Church[12] | Tullock Road, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai. |
| 5 | Robinson Memorial Methodist Central Church | Shaikh Hafizuddin Marg, Ashadham Colony, Madanpura, Mumbai. |
| 6 | Rahator Memorial Methodist Church | Parel, Mumbai. |
| 7 | Warner Memorial Methodist Church | Ambedkar Nagar, Kurla, Mumbai. |
| 8 | Vernon Memorial Methodist Church | Syndicate, Kalyan, Mumbai. |
| 9 | Sumang Methodist Kannada Church | Vithalwadi, Kalyan East, Mumbai. |
| 10 | Methodist Marathi Church Thane | Gokuldham Society, Thane East |
| 11 | Bethel Kannada Methodist Church Matunga | Matunga M.L Camp, Matunga |
| 12 | Methodist Church Ambernath | kalyan-badlapur road, Ambernath |
| 13 | St. Paul's Methodist Tamil Church Kurla East | Kamgar Nagar, Kurla East |
| 14 | Methodist English Church Kirkee Pune | Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune |
| 15 | Methodist Marathi Church Kirkee Pune | Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune |
| 16 | Methodist Tamil Church Kirkee Pune | Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune |
| 17 | Methodist Kannada Church Kirkee Pune | Elphinstone Road, Kirkee Pune |
| 18 | Oldham Memorial Methodist English Church | East Street, Camp, Pune |
| 19 | Oldham Memorial Methodist Marathi Church | East Street, Camp, Pune |
| 20 | Oldham Memorial Methodist Kannada Church | East Street, Camp, Pune |
| 21 | Methodist Marathi Church | 12 Bungalow Road, Lonavala Pune |
| 22 | Methodist Marathi Centenary Church | Talegaon Station Road, Pune |
| 23 | Methodist Marathi Church | Talegaon Gaon, Pune |
| 24 | Methodist Hindustani Church | NDA, Pune |
| 25 | Elim Methodist Marathi Church | Nigdi, Pune |
| 26 | Tamil Church[13] Elim Methodist | Nigdi, Pune |
| 27 | Elim Methodist Kannada Church | Nigdi, Pune |
| 28 | St.Peter's Methodist Tamil Church | Kailash Nagar,Thane |
| 28 | Epworth Methodist Tamil Church[14] | Nerul, Navi Mumbai |
Bareilly
Bareilly served as the headquarters for the Methodist Church in India, hence, the Christ Methodist Church in Civil Lines, Bareilly is the second oldest Methodist Church building in India. The oldest being in Nainital, Uttarakhand.
| S. No. | Parish | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christ Methodist Church | Church Road, Civil Lines, Bareilly 243001 - U.P. |
| S. No. | Parish | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christ Church Trans Yamuna | Lalita Park, Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, Delhi. |
| 2 | Christ Methodist Church | Bholanath Bazar, Shahdara, East Delhi, Delhi. |
| 3 | Bethel Methodist Church | Sector 50, Noida, UP 201301 |
| 4 | Apostle's Methodist Church | Sector 4, RK Puram, New Delhi, Delhi 110022 |
| 5 | Methodist Church Delhi Cantonment | Church Road, Birjlal Dua Marg, Pratap Chowk, Delhi Cantonment, New Delhi, Delhi 110010 |
| 6 | Vasant Kunj Methodist Church | Pocket 11, Sector B, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Delhi 110070 |
| 7 | Christ Methodist Church Khanpur | Block D, JJ Colony, Khanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110062 |
| 8 | Christ Methodist Church- New Palam Vihar | New Palam Vihar Phase 2, Sector 110, Gurugram, Haryana 122017 |
| 9 | Centenary Methodist Church | Lodhi Road, New Delhi, Delhi 110003 |
| 10 | Millennium Methodist Church | Sector 11, Rohini, Delhi, 110085 |
| 11 | Emmanual Methodist Church | Near School, Block U, Mangolpuri S Block, Delhi, 110083 |
| 12 | Christ Methodist Church-Najafgarh | Nangloi - Najafgarh Rd, Jatav Mohalla, Najafgarh, New Delhi, Delhi 110043 |
| 13 | Methodist Church Dhaka | Dhaka Colony, Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi, 110033 |
| 14 | Christ Methodist Church | 1, Butler Rd, Railway Colony, Tis Hazari, New Delhi, Delhi 110054 |
| 15 | Butler Methodist Church | Sector 19, Pocket 3, Dwarka, Delhi, 110075 |
| 16 | Methodist Church-Burari-Sant Nagar |
| S. No. | Parish | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Paul's Methodist Church | Roorkee Road, Meerut Cantt. |
| 2 | St. John's Church | Meerut. |
| 3 | St. Thomas Church | Baccha Park (Children's Park) Meerut |
| 4 | St. Methodist Church | G T Road, Ghaziabad. |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Methodist Church | 37 Cantonment road, Lucknow. |
| 2 | Lal Bagh Methodist Church | Foresyth Road, Near Dhayanidhan park, Lal Bagh, Lucknow. |
| 3 | Ganeshganj Methodist Church | Aminabad road, Lucknow. |
| 4 | Daliganj Methodist Church | Acharya narendradev Marg, Daliganj, Lucknow. |
| 5 | Shalom Methodist Church | Sector 4, Vrindavan colony, Lucknow. |
| 6 | Christ Methodist Church | Ram puram, Behind Gayatri Mandir, Kursi Road,Lucknow. |
| 7 | Wesleyan Methodist Church | 28/29 Nehru Road, Cantt Lucknow. |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methodist Church Chakeri | Harjinder Nagar, Chakeri, Kanpur. |
| 2 | LLJM Methodist Church | Post Office Lane, Civil Lines, Kanpur. |
| 3 | Methodist Church | Noronha Road, Cantonment, Kanpur. |
| 4 | Methodist High School Church | P Road, Gumti, Kanpur. |
| 5 | Sofi Shukla Memorial Methodist Church | Hamirpur Road, Baradevi, Kidwai Nagar, Kanpur. |
| 6 | Methodist Church | Varkitola, Phaphund. |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methodist Church | Plot # 46, Sector 23, Gandhinagar - 382024. |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methodist Tamil Church | No.3 & 4 Anupam Nagar Society, Near Carmel Methodist Church, Near CTM, Ahmedabad. |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methodist Hindi Church | Mecosabagh Methodist High School, Mecosabagh Christian Colony, Kadbi Chowk - 440014 |
| 2 | Methodist Marathi Church | Nelson Hall, Mecosabagh Christian Colony, Kadbi Chowk - 440014 |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Centenary Methodist Church | Gehunkheda, Kolar Road, Bhopal - 462042 |
| |Methodist Church Ayodhya Nagar | Ayodhya Nagar, Sector L, Bhopal - 462041 |
| S. No. | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanded Methodist Church | Methodist Church Near SP office Nanded police headquarter road,vazirabad,Nanded-431601 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Church of North India". World Methodist Council. 9 November 2019. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
The Church of North India is a united church which came into being as the result of a union of six churches on 29th November 1970. The six churches were: The Council of the Baptist Churches in Northern India, The Church of the Brethren in India; The Disciples of Christ; The Church of India (formerly known as the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon); The Methodist Church (British and Australian Conferences); The United Church of Northern India. ... The Church of North India is a full member of the World Council of Churches, the Christian Conference of Asia, the Council for World Mission, the Anglican Consultative Council, the World Methodist Council and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
- ^ "Building bridges with Methodist Church in India". United Methodist News Service. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ Latourette, 1961.
- ^ a b c "Methodist Church in India". Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-29.[sub]=1
- ^ Latourette, 1962.
- ^ a b "The Methodist Church in India: Bangalore Episcopal Area". The United Methodist Church GBGM. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
- ^ a b "India Methodists celebrate 150 years of ministry". The United Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
- ^ The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 1976 Historical Statement, pp 7-11.
- ^ "St. John's Methodist Church, Mahatma Gandhi Nagar". St. John's Methodist Church, Mahatma Gandhi Nagar. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ "Wesley Methodist Tamil Church - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ https://mtcmiraroad.org/home.php [bare URL]
- ^ "Bowen Memorial Methodist Church - Building Faith, Fostering Community, Inspiring Lives". bowenmethodist.church. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
- ^ https://mtcnigdi.org [bare URL]
- ^ "The Epworth Methodist Tamil Church Nerul - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Badley, Brenton T. The Making of a Bishop: The Life of Bishop Jashwant Chitambar (Lucknow, India: Lucknow Publishing House, 1942).
- Hollister, John Norman. The Centenary of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia (Lucknow Publishing House, 1956).
- Latourette, Kenneth S. Christianity In A Revolutionary Age A History Of Christianity In The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries Volume III The Nineteenth Century Outside Europe The Americas The Pacific Asia And Africa (1961) pp 400–415. online
- Latourette, Kenneth S. Christianity in a Revolutionary Age Vol. 5, The 20th Century outside Europe (1962) pp 299–331.
- Locke, Russ M. "A Methodist Family In India: A History Of I. Amar Chitambar and Family." (Doctor of Ministry thesis, Claremont School Of Theology, Proquest Dissertations Publishing, 1978. 781534 online, pp. 40-54 on Jashwant Rao Chitambar.
- Moffett, Samuel Hugh. A History of Christianity in Asia, Vol. II, 1500–1900 (2005) . By
- Pickett, J. Waskom. The Methodist Church in India. (1939).
- Thoburn, James M. The Christian conquest of India (1906) online