Church of North India facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Church of North India
Official seal of the Church of North India
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	United church (Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian)
Polity	Episcopal
Moderator	Bijay Kumar Nayak
Distinct fellowships	World Council of Churches, Council for World Mission, Christian Conference of Asia, Communion of Churches in India, National Council of Churches in India
Associations	Anglican Communion World Methodist Council World Communion of Reformed Churches
Region	All of India except Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Origin	29 November 1970 Nagpur
Merger of	Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon United Church of Northern India, Methodist Church Disciples of Christ
Separations	United Church of Northern India – Presbyterian Synod
Congregations	3500 congregations in 3000 parishes and 28 dioceses
Members	2,200,000 (Self-declared)
Ministers	2000+
Hospitals	65 hospitals and nine nursing schools.
Secondary schools	564+ educational institutions and three technical schools.

The Church of North India (CNI) is a large Christian church in northern India. It was formed on November 29, 1970. This happened when many different Protestant churches in northern India decided to join together.

The CNI is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. It is also connected to the World Methodist Council and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The idea of these churches joining started way back in 1929. Finally, the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (which was Anglican), the Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ, and some groups from the United Church of Northern India came together.

The CNI serves most of India. It covers all states except for five in the south: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Those southern states are served by the Church of South India. The CNI has about 2.2 million members. They are spread across 3,000 local church areas called pastorates.

History of the Church
What the CNI Believes and Practices
Present Leaders
Moderators of the Synod
Dioceses
Images for kids
See also

History of the Church

Church of North India in red and Church of South India in blue

The idea of different churches joining together began in 1929. This happened during a religious meeting in Lucknow. Several churches, including Australian Churches of Christ Mission and Methodist churches, started these talks.

In 1951, a special committee was formed to plan how the churches could unite. Representatives from many different churches were part of this group. These included the Baptist Churches in Northern India, the Church of India, and various Methodist churches.

However, one group, the Methodist Episcopal Church, did not join these talks. It later became the Methodist Church in India in 1981. In 1957, two more groups, the Church of the Brethren in India and the Disciples of Christ, also joined the discussions.

A new committee was set up in 1961 with members from all these churches. By 1965, they had a final plan for union. The churches officially united on November 29, 1970. This created the Church of North India. One group, the Methodist Church in Southern Asia, decided not to join at that time.

What the CNI Believes and Practices

The CNI is a Trinitarian church. This means it believes in God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Its beliefs come from the traditions of all the churches that joined it. The main beliefs of the CNI are based on the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed from 381 AD. These are old statements of Christian faith.

Church Services and Worship

The way the CNI conducts its church services, called liturgy, is very interesting. It mixes traditions from many different churches. These include the Methodists and smaller groups like the Church of the Brethren and the Disciples of Christ. This allows for different ways of worship and understanding God's message.

How the Church is Organized

The CNI's way of organizing itself combines different styles. It uses elements from episcopal (led by bishops), presbyterial (led by elders), and congregational (led by the local church members) systems. This mix reflects the churches that came together to form the CNI.

The CNI has 26 areas called dioceses. Each diocese is led by a bishop. The main governing body is called the synod. This group meets every three years. During these meetings, they choose a main bishop, who is called the Moderator. The Moderator leads the church for a set period. They also elect a Deputy Moderator.

Helping the Community

Helping people in the community is a very important part of the CNI's work. The church has different groups that manage various services. These include education (from schools to technical training), health services, and social services. They also work on rural development and creating books and media.

The CNI also has a special office that works for peace, justice, and dignity for all people.

The CNI runs many important institutions. It operates 65 hospitals and nine nursing schools. It also manages over 564 educational institutions and three technical schools. Some of India's oldest and most respected schools and colleges are run by the CNI. These include Scottish Church College in Calcutta, La Martiniere Calcutta, Wilson College in Mumbai, and Bishop Cotton School in Shimla.

Working with Other Churches

The CNI believes in working closely with other Christian churches. This shows its commitment to Christian unity. In India, it works with the Church of South India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. They form a group called the Communion of Churches in India. The CNI is also a member of the National Council of Churches in India.

Beyond India, the CNI is part of the Christian Conference of Asia. Globally, it is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Council for World Mission. It is also in full communion with the Anglican Communion. The CNI partners with many other Christian groups around the world.

Present Leaders

Moderator: The Most. Revd. Bijay K. Nayak, Bishop, Diocese of Agra
Deputy Moderator: The Rt. Revd. Paul B.P. Dupare, Bishop, Diocese of Nagpur
Treasurer: Mr.Subrata Gorai
General Secretary: The Revd. Dr. D.J. Ajith Kumar

Moderators of the Synod

Since it was formed in 1970, the CNI's Synod has chosen a Moderator and a Deputy every three years. The current Moderator is Bijay Kumar Nayak, who took office in December 2022.

Dioceses

The Church of North India is divided into 26 areas called dioceses. Each diocese has its own bishop and serves a specific region. Here are a few examples of these dioceses:

Diocese of Calcutta

The Diocese of Calcutta was one of the first areas for the Church of England in India, founded in 1813. It used to cover a huge area, including all of India, Australia, and parts of Africa! Over time, it was split into many smaller dioceses. The Bishop of Calcutta was the main leader for all of India's Anglican churches until the CNI was created in 1970. Today, this diocese covers parts of West Bengal.

Diocese of Mumbai

The Diocese of Mumbai was created in 1837, splitting off from the Calcutta diocese. Like Calcutta, it was once a very large area. Today, the CNI's Mumbai diocese covers the state of Maharashtra.

Diocese of Chotanagpur

The Diocese of Chotanagpur was formed from the Calcutta diocese in 1890. Its main office is in Ranchi, and its area covers Jharkhand.

Diocese of Lucknow

The Diocese of Lucknow was established in 1893. Its main office is in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Even though it's named after Lucknow, Prayagraj is its administrative center. It covers the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh.