Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India
The Alliance of Baptists
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India Voted
the NCC’s 35th and Newest Member Communion
Action on Alliance of Baptists' Eligibility for Membership Postponed to 1999
CHICAGO -- The National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. has received the American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church into its membership. The NCC’s General Assembly unanimously approved the diocese’s request for membership here Nov. 11.
Immigrant members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church or Indian Orthodox Church established the American Diocese as a national or missionary entity in 1978. The diocese now has about 12,000 members and 68 clergy in 60 parishes.
His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas, the diocesan Metropolitan, addressed the assembly. "We speak much about love. We speak much about unity," he said, adding that together Christians share the work of caring for the poor and outcast.
The American Diocese is the 35th member communion of the NCC. Dr. Bruce Robbins of the United Methodist Church brought its nomination to the assembly for the committee he chairs.
The Assembly had anticipated reviewing the eligibility for membership of the Alliance of Baptists, which separated from the Southern Baptist Convention during a controversy over fundamentalism. However, the NCC Membership and Ecclesial Relations Committee reported that it had not had adequate time to review the Alliance’s application for NCC membership. That review and consultation with the Alliance and with the NCC’s members will take place during the months ahead with General Assembly action in November 1999.