CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese gets new Bishop

Rev. Thomas K. Oommen was Saturday consecrated as the 12th Bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese (MKD) of the Church of South India (CSI).

The consecration ceremony at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kottayam was attended by over four thousand people besides CSI bishops and other dignitaries from across the state.

CSI Moderator Bishop S Vasanthakumar led the consecration ceremonies, with concelebrants being Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, head of the Mar Thoma Church, Bishop G. Devakadaksham, Deputy Moderator, CSI, and Bishop K.G. Daniel, Commissary to the Moderator.

Bishops B.S. Devamani, J. Prabhakara Rao, John S. Sadananda, K.P. Kuruvilla, K.J. Samuel, Sam Mathew, J.W. Gladstone, Michael John, George Isaac, Zacharias Mar Theophilus, Suffragon Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church, and CSI Synod general secretary M.M. Philip also were present on the occasion.

In his address, Bishop Oomen stressed that the Madhya Kerala Diocese will speak for the oppressed and afflicted and will pursue an active role in politics "to ensure the welfare of the people" .

He also said that fresh perspectives would be brought to the educational mission of the Church as the "new policies of the Church pose a major challenge to the rural schools".

Later in the day, a public reception was held, inaugurated by Mar Thoma Senior Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostom. The function saw the presence of MLAs, MPs and other prominent persons.

The Diocese of Madhya Kerala has more than 275,000 members, 138 Pastorates and 383 congregations divided into 11 District Councils. The history of the diocese goes back to the year 1879 when it was known as the Anglican Diocese of Travancore & Cochin, and later the Diocese of Central Travancore on the formation of the CSI on 27th September, 1947. Subsequently, it was renamed the Diocese of Madhya Kerala.