Kerala Council of Churches

2021-02-10T06:02:28Z

111.92.106.158:

{{moresources|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Kerala Council of Churches
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| abbreviation = KCC
| motto = You Shall Be My Witness
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| formation = 1940
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| type = [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]
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| purpose = [[Ecumenism]]
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| headquarters = [[Manganam]]
| location = [[Kerala]]
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| region = [[Kerala]]
| services =
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| membership_year = 2015
| language = [[Malayalam]]
| sec_gen = [[Adv. Prakash P Thomas]] [[Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church]]
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Rt.Rev. Dr. Oommen George [[<http://www.keralacouncilofchurches.org/officebearers.html>Church of South India]]
| board_of_directors =
| key_people = H. G. Alexios Mar Eusebius , Fr. Sijo Pandapallil, Lebi Philip Mathew, Aneesh Kunnapuzha
| main_organ =
| parent_organization = NCCI
| subsidiaries = 15 churches and 21 organizations
| secessions =
| affiliations = [[National Council of Churches in India]]
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| website = www.keralacouncilofchurches.org
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'''Kerala Council of Churches''' or KCC is a regional [[ecumenical]] organisation of the [[Protestant]] and [[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] Churches in Kerala, India. KCC is an affiliate of the [[National Council of Churches in India]]. Its constitution states "The Kerala Council of Churches is autonomous and inter-confessional, comprising Churches in Kerala and Christian Organization".<ref>Constitution of Kerala Council of Churches, Manganam, 2001</ref> The jurisdiction of the council is also limited by the constitution to the state of [[Kerala]].

Kerala council of Churches has 15 member churches or dioceses from Kerala along with more than 21 member organizations working within Kerala. The four dioceses of the [[Church of South India]] (CSI) within Kerala are separate members in the council as well as the [[Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church]] and its [[Knanaya]] Archdiocese having separate memberships as well.

== Structure ==

=== Triennial General Assembly ===
The general assembly of the council is held every three years with delegates from each of the member churches and associated organisations where matters relating to the election of the [[presidium]], membership, organizations are deliberated and decided along with a common theme which is studied and explored.

The last Triennial was held at the Marthoma Youth Centre, [[Adoor]] from 25 to 27 August 2016. The theme for this assembly was "[[Nationalism]] and [[Religious pluralism|Pluralism]]".

=== Executive Committee and the Presidium ===
It is in the General assembly that the presidium and the Executive Committee of the Kerala Council of Churches is elected from the [[Delegate (American politics)|delegate]]s sent by each of the member church and organizations. Each church can nominate one or two of their delegates as the executive committee members depending on their [[demographic]] size.

The Executive Committee meets in between the three years to decide upon matters that arise.

== Member Churches ==

# [[Believers Eastern Church]]
# [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]
# Church of God in South India
# [[Diocese of East Kerala of the Church of South India|CSI East Kerala Diocese]]
# [[Diocese of Madhya Kerala of the Church of South India|CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese]]
# CSI North Kerala Diocese
# [[Diocese of South Kerala of the Church of South India|CSI South Kerala Diocese]]
#[[St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India|St.Thomas Evangelical Church of India]]
# [[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church]]
# [[Malabar Independent Syrian Church]]
# [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
# Malankara Syrian Knanaya Archdiocese
# [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church]]
# The India Evangelical Lutheran Church
#[https://www.salvationarmy.org/india/isw The Salvation Army Church]

==Emblem ==

The [[Emblem]] of the Council consists of a circular image with a coconut tree, sea and a boat with the motto "You shall be my Witness" engraved around.

== Desks ==
There are five desks handling five areas that are deemed important by the KCC. Each desk is headed by a faculty elected by the Executive committee of KCC.

*Youth and Communication Desk /EYF
*Women and Ecology Desk /EWF
*Dalit, Tribal and Social Concerns Desk
*Faith & Unity, Dialogue, and Pastoral & Evangelistic Desk
*Education and Current Affairs Desk

== Commissions and Regional Zones ==
The Council has constituted various commissions to give particular attention to issues that need extra attention. The commissions are headed by chairpersons elected from the delegates at the General assembly. Commissions on Youth, Social Concern, Dialogue, Women, [[Environmental movement|Environment]], [[Current events|Current Affairs]], and [[Education]] currently function.

The Council also has various regional zones in the different parts of the Kerala state. They include [[Thiruvalla]], [[Trivandrum]], [[Ernakulam]], [[Ranni]], [[Kollam]], [[Aluva]], [[Kumbanad]], [[Malappuram]], [[Kottayam]], [[Kottarakkara]] etc.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Christian ecumenical organizations]]
[[Category:Christianity in Kerala]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodoxy in India]]
[[Category:Protestantism in India]]

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Kerala Council of Churches