YOUTH GATHERING … THE INDIAN WAY

Cover of Program Booklet

Dining Area

Telugu Bible Study, led by Rev. Dr. Ch. Vasantha Rao

CSI Market Place on Church Campus

Canal near Cochin

Kerala Tourism Poster

HMI Staff Sribala, leading Workshop

Two days ago, I returned to Hyderabad from an inspiring Christian youth gathering in a different Indian state at which I co-led (together with another HMI staff member) a workshop on “Interfaith Relations as a Resource for Peace Building.”

ABOUT CSI

When Indian Christians hear the acronym “CSI,” they do not at first think of “Crime Scene Investigation,” but of India’s second largest Christian denomination, the Church of South India. While many among you may not have ever heard of this church, it is in fact the oldest union church body in the world that was formed from both episcopal and non-episcopal predecessor churches into one body.  It was formed in on September 27, 1947 – the same year India gained independence from Britain – from a number of formerly independent Protestant and Anglican churches: the Church of England, the British Methodist Church, the Church of Scotland, as well as another church with (US, Swiss, and German) Congregationalist and Presbyterian roots.

Here are some interesting CSI statistics:

• Members: 5 million
• India’s Second largest church (after the Roman Catholic Church)
• One of three union churches in the Anglican communion (the other two are the Church of North India and the Church of Pakistan)
• Organization: CSI is organized into 24 dioceses (8 in Tamil Nadu, 6 in Andhra Pradesh, 6 in Kerala, 3 in Karnataka, and 1 in Sri Lanka); the denomination is led by 24 bishops and 1 moderator (CSI equivalent to “presiding bishop”), located at the “synod” office in Chennai.
• Motto: “That they all may be one” (John 17:21)
• Sacraments: Baptism & Holy Communion
• Ordination: Church recognizes the historic episcopate with 3-fold ordination (deacon, priest, bishop). CSI has ordained women priests since 1984. CSI currently has one woman who serves as bishop (Bp. Eggoni Pushpa Lalitha, Nandyal Diocese, Andhra Pradesh).
• LGBT Ministry: CSI blesses the union of same-sex couples and is open to ordaining transgender clergy

ABOUT THE EVENT

The theme of the 3-day youth gathering (or “Christa Yuva Jathrothsava”) was “Pilgrim Journey towards Forgiveness and Reconciliation.”

I have been told that 50 youth and young adults attended from each one of the 24 CSI dioceses, plus many youth leaders, pastors, bishops, and “resource persons” (a.k.a. presenters, musicians, and leaders of workshops, Bible studies, and other activities). The majority of participants were housed in church facilities and at private homes.

The program consisted of worship, music, Bible studies, (spontaneous) dance, plenary addresses, workshops, an art project, cultural programs, and work on a public statement.

The event took place on the campus of St. Thomas Church, CSI, in the town of Tholassery (near Thiruvala, Kerala). In addition to the church building, the campus also houses a large auditorium, a shopping complex, an open-air covered dining area, a sewing guild, a weaving school, a high school, and a vocational high school for the deaf.

ABOUT KERALA

I should also share a bit about the state in which the event took place, as well as about the Christian community there.

Kerala is home to many rivers, canals, and lakes. The narrow coastal area quickly rises up into a foggy mountain range (the Western Ghats).  The state is famous for growing spices, coffee, tea, and coir.  Most Kerala dishes include rice, seafood, bananas, and coconuts. The air is fragrant, the vegetation lush, and the fauna includes even wild elephants and tigers.

Kerala’s Christian roots precede the missionary efforts of colonial powers by at least a 1,000 years.  Church tradition has it that the Apostle Thomas landed in the year 52 A.D. on the coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to preach the gospel among the natives there. It is entirely possible that St. Thomas traveled to India, as the Romans were actively engaged in trade with South India, buying spices and other items there. Interestingly, a Jewish community has resided near the city of Cochin from the first century A.D. until the mid-1950s. While the St. Thomas tradition, plausible as it may be, cannot be verified by external sources, genuine historical evidence exists that traders from Syria brought their version of the Christian faith to Kerala in the fifth century AD. Hence, Christians have lived and worshiped in India for the last 1,500 years, practicing Syrian Orthodox language, liturgy, and doctrine.

The Saint Thomas Christians were well integrated into the fabric of Kerala society, making a living from spice trade and belonging to a caste of their own. The Saint Thomas Christians first encountered the Portuguese in 1498, during the expedition of Vasco da Gama.

The community was historically united in leadership and liturgy, but since the seventeenth century have been split into many different church denominations and traditions, including different Orthodox, Catholics, Anglican, mainline Protestant, and Pentecostal denominations.

Today, official statistics report a Christian population of about 20 percent and literacy rates for both men and women that are well above the national average.

THE WORKSHOP

I had prepared a PowerPoint presentation for my half of our workshop. Unfortunately, the projection, filming, and sound systems all “fried” due to a fluctuation in the power supply just when I was about to begin. Alas – it’s India!  I asked folks to move to the very front of the large auditorium, still presented my material, and spoke without my slides.

The topic clearly presented a challenge to the youth present, as it challenged them to set aside Christian uniqueness and become good neighbors to the non-Christians in their lives. Interfaith dialog – to be effective – must be a matter of the heart (not only the brain) and must be grounded in genuine respect and concern for one’s neighbor.  Using interfaith relations simply as a new tool towards conversion to Christianity is not only dishonest but prevents Christians from growing in my own Christian faith.  This theological approach certainly marks a challenge not only for Christians in India but for the followers of Christ all around the world.  I am now more convinced than ever before that we must collaborate in humility and mutual respect across our differences – all for the sake of God’s world and her people. 

Thank goodness, I don’t need to pretend that I have the answers. The best I can contribute is to ask questions and to keep seeking.  Good, effective questions are harder to come by than smooth answers, it often seems to me anyway.