{ "book_metadata": { "book_name": "History of Christianity in India: Source Materials", "book_author": "M. K. Kuriakose", "publisher": "Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge", "published_on": "2011" }, "chunks": [ { "chunk_index": 1, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 363 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00387-3b75627ad853ca587e85.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "chunk_data": "176. BISHOP AZARIAH ON THE INDIAN CHURCH (1936 A.D.)\nWriting in 1936, Bishop V. S. Azariah reflects upon the development and current condition of the Indian Church. In the passages chosen here he reflects upon the divided character of that Church, and of the need for the missions to turn over more responsibility to Indian Christians. The matter is seen as especially urgent in light of the national movement. V. S. Azariah, India and the Christian Movement, pp. 81-82, 87-89.", "time": { "start_year": 1936, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1936, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1936" }, "meta": { "people": [ "V. S. Azariah" ], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Bishop V. S. Azariah reflects on the development and condition of the Indian Church.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "India", "Church" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 2, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 363, 364 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00387-3b75627ad853ca587e85.webp", "raw\\pages\\00388-6ce0410520fbe3217033.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Indian Church Is Divided", "chunk_data": "But, alas, what we call the Indian Church is not one organic entity. The divisions of Christendom make it impossible for the indigenous Christians to belong to a visible 'One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church', and in consequence they belong to as many Churches and sects as there are Churches and sects that send out missionaries from the West. What we term the Indian Church is the theoretical aggregate of the indigenous Christians in all the Churches having different ecclesiastical loyalties, following various forms of Church government and worshipping in many differing ways in numerous churches and chapels throughout the length and breadth of this vast continent. There are few things that may be said to be common to them all: they are all nominally Indian Christians, and enumerated as such for all civil purposes they are connected with one or other of these numerous Christian Churches in the land; and at least in theory are all responsible for bringing India to the feet of Christ.", "time": { "start_year": 1936, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1936, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1936" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Azariah describes the Indian Church as divided among numerous denominations while sharing a nominal Christian identity and responsibility for bringing India to Christ.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Church", "Religion" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 3, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 364 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00388-6ce0410520fbe3217033.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Churches in the Plural", "chunk_data": "Strictly speaking, therefore there is no Indian Church in the singular; there are, in the plural, Churches, denominations or sects. Their number cannot be accurately estimated. If therefore sometimes we use the term Indian Church we only speak thus of the groups of Christians gathered into the Church of Christ and grouped under these many separate units.", "time": { "start_year": 1936, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1936, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1936" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Azariah clarifies that the Indian Church exists as many separate churches, denominations, and sects rather than as a single institution.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Church", "Religion" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 4, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 364 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00388-6ce0410520fbe3217033.webp" ], "chunk_title": "The Indigenous Leadership", "chunk_data": "The Indigenous Leadership\nThe National Missionary Council, at its very first session in 1912, emphasised the necessity for the development of Indian Leadership. One of its Resolutions recorded the conviction 'that whenever capable and spiritually minded men and women are discovered, Churches and Missions should make a real and unmistakable advance by placing Indians on a footing of complete equality, in status and responsibility, with Europeans and thus open for them the highest and most responsible positions in every department of missionary activity.'", "time": { "start_year": 1912, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1912, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1912" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "The National Missionary Council emphasises the development of Indian leadership and calls for Indians to receive equality in status and responsibility within missionary activity.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Leadership", "Missionaries" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 5, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 364 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00388-6ce0410520fbe3217033.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Transfer of Missionary Work", "chunk_data": "In this connection the Conference also emphasised the principle that the work carried on by Foreign Missionary Societies should be gradually transferred, as opportunities offered, to the Indian Church, and that suitable plans and modifications of existing organizations should be adopted, wherever necessary, so that this principle might be carried out by missionary bodies.", "time": { "start_year": 1912, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1936, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "1912-1936" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "The Conference calls for foreign missionary work to be gradually transferred to the Indian Church through suitable organisational changes.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Missionaries", "Indigenization" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 6, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 364 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00388-6ce0410520fbe3217033.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Growth of Indian Leadership", "chunk_data": "The last twenty years have seen an enormous development in such indigenization as is contemplated in the above Resolution. In many areas, charges of mission districts once held by missionaries have now been handed over to suitable Indians. Educational Institutions, once under the managership of Europeans are now under the managership of Indian Christians. Indian Christian doctors have now been placed in charge of hospitals formerly under European doctors. In some areas, the Superintending Missionary no longer exists, his huge districts have been subdivided and placed under Indian ministers.", "time": { "start_year": 1916, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1936, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 1916-1936" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "During the preceding two decades, Indian Christians assume responsibility for mission districts, educational institutions, hospitals, and large ministerial districts.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Leadership", "Indigenization" ] } }, { "chunk_index": 7, "chapter_name": "1936. Bishop Azariah on the Indian Church", "page_numbers": [ 364 ], "image_paths": [ "raw\\pages\\00388-6ce0410520fbe3217033.webp" ], "chunk_title": "Indian Christians Prove Capable", "chunk_data": "Where Indians have been entrusted with such responsibilities, they are to a great extent proving themselves able, efficient and trustworthy. In handling mission funds and accounts, in keeping the work at an efficient standard and in the exercise of discipline over subordinates, many Indian Christians have proved themselves worthy of the trust placed in their hands.", "time": { "start_year": 1916, "start_month": null, "start_date": null, "end_year": 1936, "end_month": null, "end_date": null, "time_display": "c. 1916-1936" }, "meta": { "people": [], "places": [ "India" ], "event": "Indian Christians demonstrate ability, efficiency, trustworthiness, and competence in managing mission work and personnel.", "tags": [ "Christianity", "Leadership", "Missionaries" ] } } ] }