Project Paper
On
Anglican Ecclesiology/Classical and Liberal Protestant Ecclesiology: An Appraisal
M TH-First Year : Christian Ministry (Pastoral Care and Counselling)
Second Semester
Course Title : The Church and its Ministry in the Indian Context
Course Code : MCM001
Roll No : 22010
Student Username : SSC22MTH22010
Student ID : AB259620
Date of Submission : 21 July 2021
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. What is Ecclesiology?
2. Anglican
3. The Anglican Church in India
4. Liturgy and Practice of the Anglican Church
4.1. Book of Common Prayer
4.2. Sacraments
5. Mission and Ministry in India
5.1. Caste System and Christianity
5.2. Education
5.3. Contribution to Literature and Language
5.4. Education of Women and Ordination of Women
6. Protestant Reformation Movement
7. Liberal Protestant Ecclesiology
8. Doctrine of Protestantism
8.1. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)
8.2. Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone)
8.3. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
8.4. The Priesthood of all believer
8.5. The Sanctity of all Calling or Vocation
9. Protestant Movement in India
10. Protestant Churches in India
10.1. Lutheran Churches
10.2. The Methodist Church
10.3. The Presbyterian Church of India
10.4. The Baptist Churches in India
10.5. The Pentecostals
11. Contributions of the Protestant Christianity
11.1. Protestant Christianity and Social Activities
11.2. Educational for Dalits and the Tribals
An Appraisal
Reflection
Conclusion
Introduction
The Anglican church can be considered as one among the oldest denomination in India. It
was established in India through the colonization by East- India Company. Through its
mission and ministry it has impacted so much in the life of the Indian. Eventually, the
birth of the Protestant churches in the sixteenth century has been a great deal for the
Indian Christian. The Protestant Reformation marked the beginning of what would
become a new movement in the Christian tradition. Hence, this paper will make an
attempt to study the origin of the both Anglican church and the Protestant movement in
India, its practices and belief and its mission and ministry in India.
1. What is Ecclesiology?
The English word “church” comes from the Greek kuriakos, which means “belonging to
the Lord” (Kurios). The word translated “church” in the English Bible is the Greek
ekklesia (from which we get “ecclesiastical”). Etymologically, ekklesia comes from ek
(“out of”) and kaleo (“to call”). Thus, by word derivation, the church consists of those
“called out” of the world by God to himself. In this sense, they constitute the “assembly”
of God’s people.1 Ecclesiology is the study of the church. The church is the assembly of
believers who belong to God. Ecclesiology helps us to understand the role of the church
and our role in the church.2
2. Anglican
The term Anglican in English is derived from the Latin word Anglicanus. The term as an
adjective means ecclesiastically and broadly, historically descended from the church of
England. The church of England has been directly under the jurisdiction of Rome. It was
only during the time of sixteenth century Reformation that this ancient allegiance was
severed and the sequence of all the ecclesiastical powers have been exercised by the
Monarch of England and the Archbishop of Canterbury.3
1
W. Gary Crampton and Richard E. Bacon, Built Upon the Rock: A Study of the Doctrine of the
Church (Texas: Blue Banner Books, 2000), 7.
2
“What is Ecclesiology?”, https://www.gotquestions.org/Ecclesiology.html (Accessed 15/4/2021).
3
Ernest W. Talibuddin, An Introduction to the History of the Anglican Church in North- East
India (Delhi: ISPCK, 2009), 34.
1
3. The Anglican Church in India
The main purpose of the Anglican church in India was to look after the spiritual welfare
of Englishmen in India who were involved in the business of the East India Company.
The company’s ship carrying businessmen and goods plied to India, each ship was
accompanied by a chaplain to pray for their safe voyage. When the company gradually
changed from trading body into political power and its territories expanded, need for
spiritual care of British officials, traders, soldiers and other also increased. Beginning in
1813, with one Bishop at Calcutta assisted by several chaplains was instituted to oversee
the spiritual wellbeing of all Englishmen in India. The episcopacy was expanded to 16
dioceses by 1947. The principal task became to look after the spiritual welfare of the
Anglo Indian and Indian church community who were mostly railways workers living in
railway colonies. An Anglican chaplain was attached to each railway colony along with a
church and schools.4 That was the initial beginning of the Anglican church in India
paving the way to becoming one of the major denomination in India. Up to 1930,
Anglican church in India was legally a part of the church of England. In 1927, the Indian
church Measure was passed by the British Parliament and took effect in 1930.The
Anglican church of India currently has 15 dioceses and several independent churches as
members of the synod.5 The head of the Anglican church is title as Metropolitan and
there are bishops in line for the succession.6
4. Liturgy and Practice of the Anglican Church
Anglican denomination allows for significant freedom and diversity, a great many
variations in their beliefs, doctrine, and practice exist within this worldwide communion
of churches. The following is an articulation of the comprehension of Anglican belief and
practice namely Book of Common Prayer and sacraments.
4.1. Book of Common Prayer
In the Anglican Tradition, the faith in God is expressed, shaped and formed by the rites
for worship found in the Book of Common Prayer. It is primary a book of prayers and
4
M.D. David, Missions: Cross- Cultural Encounter and Change in Western India (Delhi: ISPCK,
2001), 247-248.
5
Talibuddin, An Introduction to the History of the Anglican Church, 35-37.
6
www.anglicanchurchofindia.com/history.php (Accessed 15/4/ 2021)
2
liturgical rites for public worship, though it may also contain devotions for private or
family use. It is called common because it contains fixed texts of the regular services of
the church. The reason why they use the Common prayer book is because to find a sense
a unity in shared liturgical texts for all congregations.7
4.2. Sacraments
The Anglican Church hold the authority of the Holy Scripture, they have held to the
summary of evangelical beliefs known as the Thirty- Nine Articles of Faith, accepts the
three great Christian creeds- the Apostle, the Nicene and the Athanasian, as the
fundamental statements of the Christian Faith.8 In liturgy of Anglican, the Thirty- Nine
Articles stipulates that Baptism was instituted by Jesus Christ for human salvation thus
Baptism is called sacrament of the Gospel.9 The Thirty- Nine Articles asserts the practice
of Lord’s Supper not only as a sign of the love of Christians but of redemption and
partaking in the body and blood of Christ.10 There are five other known as the sacraments
of unction Holy Spirit. These include the sacraments of reconciliation namely Confession
and Absolution, Holy Matrimony, Confirmation, Ordination and Anointing of the Sick.
Anglican teaches that sacraments are visible symbols of the invisible grace.11
5. Mission and Ministry in India
5.1. Caste System and Christianity
The attitudes and the approaches to caste in the church has been a major concern for the
Anglican church in India. Bishop Thomas E. Middleton, the first Bishop of Calcutta,
witnessed for the first time caste distinction more rigidly practiced in Ceylon which he
visited in October 1861. He observed that the vellalahs and the Chalias did not sit
together in the church and the lower classes were forbidden to use a comb, to cover their
7
Vicki K. Black, Welcome to the Book of Common Prayer (Harrisburg: Morehouse Publishing,
2005), 3-4.
8
http://www.anglicanchurchofsouthindia.in/ (Accessed 15/4/202).
9
Ekundayo and Lawrence Olabode, “The Practice of Baptism and its Jurisdiction in Anglican
Church”, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol 21 (Ahmedabad: International Organisation
of Scientific Research, 2016), 32.
10
H. F. Woodhouse, “Sixteenth- Century Anglican Theology”, A History of Christian Doctrine,
edited by Hubert Cunliffe- Jones (Edinburgh: T& T Clark LTD., 1978), 423.
11
Ekundayo and Olabode, The Practice of Baptism and Its Jurisdiction in Anglican Church, 32.
3
houses with tiles or to have music band at their weddings, as these were seen as the
privileges of the higher caste.
5.2. Education
Education has been the main and foremost agent of social change and the development of
the individual and communities and the Anglican Church in India has contributed
immensely towards the growth of education. According to the society for the propagation
of the Gospel report of 1867, in Tezpur mission itself, there were nine schools with 260
students. The Anglican Church in North East could be put among the pioneers to initiate
the education of women in north-East India. According to the records, two schools for
girls were functioning in Tezpur Mission circle in 1871.12 In April 1869 when the
Anglican Mission formally began in Chotanagpur, there were altogether 13 schools, all
primary, in the mission- one boarding schools at Ranchi and 12 Village schools.13
Through the Anglican Church in India had engaged in many educational enterprises from
Bishop’s college Kolkata (founded by the first Anglican Bishop of Calcutta, Bishop
Thomas Middleton on 15th Dec 1820) down to small primary schools in the village made
Christianities intellectually respectable in the main cultural and administrative centres of
Indian life.14
5.3. Contribution to Literature and Language
The Anglican Mission contributed much in the development of literature especially in the
Chotanagpur. Bishop Whitley, a scholar of Hindi and Mundari, started a newspaper in
Hindi called the Chotanagpur Dut Patrika in 1878. In 1874, the Anglican mission began
to publish a Quarterly Paper in English. It was later known as the Chotanagpur Diocesan
Paper. The Anglican church also translated many hymns from English to Hindi. Bishop
Whitley wrote a Mundari Grammar and translated the New Testament and a portion of
the Book of Common Prayer in Mundari.15
12
Talibuddin, The Anglican Church in North-East India (1845-1970): A Missiological Reflection
(Delhi: ISPCK, 2002), 103-104.
13
P. C. Horo, Christian Missions in Bihar and Jharkhand till 1947, edited by Jose Kalapura (New
Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2014), 131-132.
14
Stephen Neil, A History of Christianity in India (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,
1885), 330.
15
Horo, Christian Missions in Bihar and Jharkhand, 135.
4
5.4. Education of Women and Ordination of Women
The Anglican church in the North-East India could be put among, the pioneers to initiate
education for women Mrs Taylor, wife of S.B. Taylor, Chaplin of Guwahati and Shillong
as the founder of Pine Mount School. According to record, two schools for Girls were
functioning in Tezpur Mission Circle in 1871.16 The Anglican denomination has nearly
4.3. million members in India and the church of South India (a union of Varying tradition
including Anglican, Methodist, congregational, Presbyterian and Reformed) has been
ordaining women as priest since 1976 but there was no women ordained as bishop so far
until the recent time the church has taken a massive step to revolutionize thinking from
women’s education to empowerment by ordaining a Christian nun by the name
Pushpalalitha becoming the first woman bishop of South Asia’s Anglican Community.17
6. Protestant Reformation Movement
The protestant movement owes its birth and initial development in sixteen century by
Martin Luther. In 1520 Luther attacked the papal institution in a series of tracts
denouncing the alleged superiority and privileges of the clergy over the laity, the pope's
claim to have exclusive authority to interpret Scripture, and the claim that only the pope
could call a council of the church.18
7. Liberal Protestant Ecclesiology
Liberal Protestantism is one of the important movements to have arisen within modern
thought.19 Classical Protestant had coined the slogan, “The Bible alone” (Sola Scriptura).
This position was a protest against the teaching that had been cumulatively builds up by
the scholastic theologians and the popes in the Middle Ages. The Reformation was under
one aspect, a radical call for simplification, for a return to primitive purity. The
Protestants recognise the purity of the early church. The Protestant were reacting against
what they considered an exaggerated understanding of the sovereignty of the church’s
16
Talibuddin, The Anglican Church in North-East India,104
17
Vishal Arora, “First Anglican Woman Bishop in India says Critics have been Silent”
https://www.ncronline.org/ys-critics-have-been-silent. (Accessed on 13th Nov 2019)
18
Lewis S. Mudge, “Church Ecclesiology”
https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-church-ecclesiology, (Accessed 20/4/2021).
19
Alister E.McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction (Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2001),
101.
5
hierarchical power, more precisely of the papal power, over the Word of God contained
in sacred scripture.20 The task of Christian Theology and the mission of the church are to
understand the poor and their experience as a primary source for theological reflection.
C.S. Song says; Theology is engaged in the agony of the human spirit trying to overcome
evil with the love of God-humanity in action.21
8. Doctrine of Protestantism
The Doctrine of Protestant churches stands on the following important practices. They
were as follows:
8.1. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)
The Latin word soli means “alone” or “only” (soli is the root of our English
word solitary); and the phrase Deo gloria means “the glory of God.” So, Soli Deo
Gloria means “to the glory of God alone.”22
8.2. Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone)
Sola gratia is a Latin phrase that means "grace alone." Sola gratia means that salvation
from sin and death is provided by God's unmerited favour alone, and we can do nothing
to earn it. The concept is expressed in Ephesians 2:8-9. Redemption is God’s free gift
accomplished by Christ’s saving death and resurrection.23
8.3. Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone)
Sola Scriptura is the Latin translation for Scripture alone. As a whole, the phrase means
that God’s Word is sufficient and has the highest authority for all of life.24 The principle
of sola scriptura was indented to safeguard the authority of Scripture.25
20
Kuncheria Pathil and Dominic Veliath, An Introduction to Theology (Bangalore: Theological
Publications in India, 2007), 175-176.
21
C.S.Song, Third Eye Theology (NY: Orbis Press, 1979), 79.
22
“Why is Soli Deo Gloria Important,?” https://www.gotquestions.org/soli-Deo-gloria.html,
(Accessed 20/4/2021).
23
Amit Thomas, Basics of Christian Theology: Traditional and Contemporary (Delhi: Christian
world Imprints, 2016), 62-63.
24
Stephanie Englehart, “Sola Scriptura” https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study, (Accessed
20/4/2021).
25
Amit Thomas, Basics of Christian Theology: Traditional and Contemporary, 63.
6
8.4. The Priesthood of all believer
Luther’s greatest contribution to Protestant ecclesiology was his doctrine of the
priesthood of all believers. Every Christian is a priest by virtue of his baptism. This
priesthood derives directly from Christ. The priesthood of all believers is a responsibility
as well as a privilege, a service as well as a status.26
8.5. The Sanctity of all Calling or Vocation
Vocation is fundamentally a theological term referring to the call to salvation, the call to
service within the church and the call to serve God in whatever station of life one has.27
9. Protestant Movement in India
Protestant movement influence in India has unremarkable beginnings, with the
establishment of British, Dutch and Danish trading stations in the first half of the
seventeenth century. An Anglican chaplain of the East India Company, Patrick Copeland,
was responsible for the conversion of the first Indian Protestant, baptized in England in
1616. The first organized Protestant mission in India began with the arrival on 9th July
1706, of two German Lutherans, Bartholomew Ziegenbalg and Henry Pluetschau, at
Tranquebar, 150 miles South of Madras on the East Coast of India. The Tranquebar
Mission began with the patronage of King Frederick IV of Denmark, and subsequently
earned the support of the Anglican Mission Association such as the Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) and the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel (SPK). The most significant contribution of this publication of the first translation
of the Bible into an Indian vernacular, with the publication of the Tamil Bible in 1792.28
10. Protestant Churches in India
The Protestant churches of Europe and America established themselves the Protestantism
in different parts of India during the colonial period. Thus came to India at various
periods the Lutherans, the Presbyterians, the Anglicans, the Baptist, the Methodists, the
26
Timothy George, Theology of Reformers (Nashville: Broadman Press Tennesse, 1987), 95-96.
27
T.E. Brown, “Vocation” in Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counselling, edited by Rodney J.
Hunter, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2005), 1308-1309.
28
Ivan Morris Satyavrata, “Indian Protestantism to the Present Day,” in The Blackwell
Companion to Protestantism, edited by Alister E. McGrath and Darren C. Marks (Oxford: Blackwell
Publishing Ltd., 2004),201.
7
Congregational churches, the Salvation Army, the Mennonites, the Brethren, the
Disciples of Christ and the Pentecostal churches both of the main line and the Neo-
Pentecostal groups of various kinds and names. The formation of the two Protestant
churches- the church of North India (CNI), and the church of South India (CSI), in India
is the first fruit of the Modern Ecumenical Movement.29
10.1. The Lutheran Churches
Lutheran churches emerged from the Protestant Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther
in 1517. It was Luther’s teaching against some of the Roman Catholic practices which
gave birth to the Protestant reform movement. Luther rejected that exclusive claim of the
Roman Catholics as the only channel of God’s message, and also rejected the Pope’s
power over all peoples. Lutheranism places strong emphasis on doctrine. It affirms that
the Bible is the sole rule of faith and accepts all traditional Christian doctrines. The chief
Lutheran tenet is justification by faith alone.30
10.2. The Methodist Church
Methodist church was founded by John Wesley, an Anglican priest in England. John
Wesley was orthodox in his theology. He summarized his emphasis in a collection of
forty-four sermons, and illustrated them in explanatory notes upon the New Testament in
1985. The beginning of Methodism as a popular revival movement began at England in
the 18th century in the year 1738. There is no common polity in worldwide Methodism; it
has only ‘Conventionalism’, linking together of mainly independent churches served by
itinerant ministers according to the direction of the annual conference.31
10.3. The Presbyterian Church of India
The name “Presbyterian” applies to a diverse group of churches that adhere in some
degree to the teachings of John Calvin and John Knox and practice a Presbyterian form of
church government led by representative elders (presbyters). Presbyteries are then
29
Pathil and Veliath, An Introduction to Theology, 175-176.
30
K.M. George, Christianity in India through the Centuries (Secunderabad: Authentic Books,
2007), 40-41.
31
K.M. George, Christianity in India through the Centuries, 45.
8
overseen by synods, and all the synods together form the General Assembly.32
Presbyterian share with universal Christianity such basics of belief as the omnipotence of
God and the divinity of Christ, and the generic Protestantism a stress on the authority of
scripture and Salvation by grace received through faith alone.33
10.4. The Baptist Churches in India
Baptist members of a large Protestant group who believe that Baptism should be
administered to persons who are old enough to understand its meaning and who affirm
their faith in Jesus Christ as their saviour. Baptist follows immersion and not sprinkling
or pouring water in baptism. Lord’s Supper is one of the church Ordinances and so it
must be consistent with the faith and practices of the Baptist churches. Believers Baptism
by immersion should be required of those who receive the supper or participate in the
Lord’s Supper or take the communion, should also be an active member of Baptist
church.34 Baptist has no official creed, and hence holds a variety of beliefs. However,
they are united on two points: First, the sole authority of the Bible in matters of faith and
religious practices; and second, the baptism of believers only. Baptist believers in the
separation of the church and the state and in the right of each congregation to govern it
and set its own standards of membership.35
10.5. The Pentecostals
The Pentecostal movement emerged in the 20th century. The first Pentecostal missionary
in India was A.G.Gar who came in the year 1907 to Calcutta.36 Pentecostalism is a style
of religious belief and practices that centres on the possession of the Holy Spirit, on signs
and wonders, on miracles and ‘spiritual gifts’ especially ‘speaking in tongue’
(glossolalia), on supernatural healing and on casting out demons (exorcism). One of the
important of Pentecostalism is ‘Spirit Baptism’ and the practice of ‘charismatic’ or gifts
32
"What is the Presbyterian Church, and what do Presbyterians believe?,"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Presbyterians.html, (Accessed 20/4/2021).
33
K.M. George, Christianity in India through the Centuries, 45.
34
Bendangtemjen, Christianity in Northeast India: Challenges and Prospects (Delhi: Christian
World Imprints, 2020), 90.
35
K.M. George, Christianity in India through the Centuries, 45.
36
V.V. Thomas, “Ekklesia- The Radical Democratic Assembly of Equals; Towards an Indian
Ecclesiology: A Pentecostal Perspective,” in Ekklesia Indian Conversations: A Study of the Church, edited
by Samuel George, et.al., (Delhi: Christian World Imprints, 2015), 212-213.
9
of the Holy Spirit. Another distinguishing mark of Pentecostalism is the nature of
worship by its believers, which is often characterized by speaking/praying in tongues
aloud, prophesying, healing, and casting out of the devils, hand clapping, and shouting.37
11. Contributions of the Protestant Christianity
11.1. Protestant Christianity and Social Activities
Nineteenth Century was also a period of expansion of the activities of the church. The
social activities in the first half of the century Christian missions were directed towards
bringing about a moral reform in the Indian society and to liberate individuals from the
age-old superstitious Hindu religion.38
11.2. Educational for Dalits and the Tribals
The Protestant Missionaries also went to live and work among both the Tribal groups and
the dalits. Towards the end of the 19th century Christian missionaries began to take more
seriously the needs of the tribals and the dalits and went to minister to them. The
Missionaries started open schools and created written forms for many of the languages. In
this way, Christianity has contributed to the nation building and to an upward social
mobility that has changed lives and benefitted families and communities, particularly
among the tribals and the dalits.39
An Appraisal
How to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic when unity, holiness, catholicity and
apostolicity are not immediately evident is the problem that all Christian communions
must solve with their ecclesiology. The Church of England’s solution was unique. The
Church of England is a part of the Catholic Church, the first Anglicans reasoned,
correctly. As such it is the visible society, membership in which effects salvation in
Christ through participation in the supernatural society of the communion of saints. Its
pastors are legitimate heirs of the apostles, preaching from the Scriptures, praying the
Creeds, faithfully administering the sacraments. The most important point about this
37
K.M. George, Christianity in India through the Centuries, 49.
38
Woba James, History of Christianity in India: A Reader (Delhi: Christian World Imprints,
2019), 85.
39
A Jayakumar, History of Christianity in India: Major Themes (Kolkata: SCEPTRE, 2013),
2013 175.
10
process is that it arose to face the question of how to be Catholic Christians in a peculiar
national and ecclesiastical situation.
Anglicans have attempted many conversations over the centuries with Roman Catholics
to overcome the two communions’ mutual estrangement. In particular, the Consultations
have developed a theology of koinonia (Greek for communion, common life). The central
point of this koinonia ecclesiology is that the relationships among Christians in a given
church as well as the Church reflect the relations of the Three Persons of the Trinity. The
Eucharist is the sign of koinonia and the oversight of the clergy is in its service.
This koinonia ecclesiology should become an integral part in the years to come of any
statement of a distinctive Anglican ecclesiology.
A second enduring feature of the Anglican ecclesiological process is comprehensiveness,
a willingness to accept some variation of doctrine. This comprehensiveness has many
facets. There needs to be room for individual Christians to realize their vocation as
adopted children of God, baptized in the Holy Spirit. To “equip the saints for ministry,”
they need unfettered access to the Scriptures, the primary tradition, so as to be formed by
the mind of the Trinity. The people need to be able to pray in a way that will mold them
more and more into the image of Christ—to become holy people. Paradoxically, that
requires a great deal of individual freedom. This is the heart of the English Reformation,
of the reformed character of Anglicanism.
Another critically important aspect of this comprehensiveness is that faith seeking
understanding relies not on certainty, but on probability. Faith, after all, is confidence in
God, not certainty about God. This has become a permanent undercurrent in Anglican
thought. Therefore the Church is not infallible. But because the truth of its doctrine points
however dimly to Christ, God will not let the Church fall into fatal error. This so–called
“indefectibility” gives theological grounds for confidence in the ideal of
comprehensiveness.
11
A third perennial feature is to locate the doctrine to which all must subscribe (the
boundaries of comprehensiveness) in the way the church worships, rather than in strictly
confessional documents like the Westminster Confession. This principle, lex orandi lex
credendi, preserves both the church’s formal need for foundational doctrine and the
freedom of individuals to interpret it. It has the backing of antiquity, and it leads away
from arguments about doctrine to disputes about right worship.
A fourth perennial feature of Anglicanism is its view of itself as the church of the nation.
While the Church of England is still the established church, that sentiment has carried
over into younger Anglican Provinces. What other American church would make a gift to
its nation of a “house of prayer for all people” like the Washington National Cathedral?
The answer is an Anglican church that sees itself in some sense as a national church,
despite its disestablishment after the American Revolution. Anglicans consider not only
the Scriptures, the tradition of the early church, and current scholarship, but also the
pastoral needs of their particular nations and cultures.40
Reflection
The mission and ministry of the Anglican church in India is note worthy because of its
tremendous contribution in the field of education, medical ministry, literature.They
touched the inner fabric of the India social norm and behaviour, the caste structure. They
pushed itself to the centre of Indian social life and began to re-orient the Indian Christian
into a new path of Christian living and witness.41
The Reformation became the basis for the founding of Protestantism, one of the major
branches of Christianity. The Reformation led to the reformulation of certain basic tenets
of Christian belief and resulted in the division of Western Christendom between
Roman Catholicism and the new Protestant traditions. The Protestant Reformation
movement sought to reform the Catholic Church which ultimately led to the creation of
the Protestant churches in India. Liberal Protestant is also sometimes referred as secular,
modern or humanistic. The significance of the reformation for the Christian church in
40
Pierre W. Whalon, “Anglican Online Essay”, http://www.anglicansonline.org (14/07/2021).
41
Muthuraj, We Began at Tranquebar, 181.
12
India today is the word of God. India being predominantly a Hindu nation, the emergence
of Christian faith was by the missionaries who came to share the gospel.
Conclusion
Ecclesiology helps us to understand the role of the church and our role in the church. The
church is rooted and grounded in the Old Testament and the New Testament. The
Anglican church made an important contribution in India. Its valuable contribution to the
life of church as a whole is unique in its own way and it has left a deep impression in the
church history of India. Yet, Protestant movement influence in India has unremarkable
beginnings, with the establishment of educational for dalits and the tribals, and Medical
Mission. The Protestant churches of Europe and America established themselves the
Protestantism in different parts of India during the colonial period
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