St.

Thomas Evangelical Church of India

St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India (STECI)
St. Thomas Evangelical Church of
is an Oriental Protestant (Reformed Orthodox)
episcopal denomination based in Kerala, India. India

The church originated from a schism in the

Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1961 and
forms a part of the Saint Thomas Syrian Christian
community.

The headquarters of the church is at Tiruvalla,

Kerala.

History
St Thomas Evangelical Church Of India Emblem
Abbreviation STECI
Type Evangelical
Protestant
Classification Syrian
Christian,
Branches & Denominations of Saint Saint Thomas
Thomas Christians Syrian
Christians
The St. Thomas Evangelical Church is one of several Scripture Holy Bible
groups of Saint Thomas Christians who trace their
origins to St. Thomas the Apostle who, according to Polity Episcopal
their tradition, came to India in AD 52.[1] Governance Democratic
Presiding Bishop Most Rev Dr
Until 1961, the Church's history was deeply
connected to the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Thomas
Church. Abraham
Prathinidhi sabha Adhyakshan Rt Rev Dr
In the 1800s, South Indian Christians were in contact Abraham
with British missionaries during the time of British
Chacko
colonialism. The missionaries facilitated the
translation of the Bible into Malayalam in 1811; this Language Malayalam,
was the first vernacular Bible in Kerala. Further English, Hindi,
changes introduced by the influence of missionaries Odia, Tamil,
led to a schism within the Thomas Christians.[2] Kannada,
Marathi,
Gujrati,
Telugu,
By the 1830s, some clergy in the St Thomas Church Liturgy West Syriac
were looking at reform, particularly in the area of Rite
rituals. This movement led to the St Thomas Church (Reformed)
establishing the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association
Headquarters Manjadi,
(MTEA) in 1888.[3]
Thiruvalla
In the 1950s, reforms within the Malankara Mar Kerala, India
Thoma Syrian Church led to some members creating Territory Universal
the Mar Thoma Pathiopadesa Samathy (St Thomas
Organisation for Sound Doctrine) in 1952. In 1960, Possessions India, United
four presbyters (P John Varghese, P I Mathal, CM States,
Vaghese and KO John) were suspended. This led to Canada,
the establishment of the St. Thomas Evangelical Europe, Great
Church of India (STECI), on January 26, 1961, with Britain-London
20 ministers and 25,000 lay Christians.[4] & Belfast,
Middle East,
STECI established the Jubilee Memorial Bible
Singapore
College in Chennai in August 1987.[5] The college
trains students from almost 20 different Origin 26 January
denominations and has links to the Biblical Graduate 1961
School of Theology in Singapore and Columbia Thaimala,
International University in the US. Thiruvalla
Independence 1961
Beliefs Recognition Independent
Episcopal
Church, 1961
Mission statement
Separated from Malankara
STECI was formed with a three-pronged mission; Mar Thoma
Syrian Church
Safeguarding sound doctrine (1961)
Living a holy life Congregations 350+
Obeying the Great Commission to
Members 100000+
evangelise India [6]
Ministers Bishops- 6,
Clergy- 150+
Basic teachings
Missionaries 400+
STECI believes in; the Trinity, the Second Coming, Publications suvisesha
Sola Scriptura of 66 books of the Bible, salvation by prakasini
faith (not works), safeguarding sound doctrine, Official website http://steci.org/
evangelism and sharing the news about Jesus, royal
(http://steci.or
priesthood and prayers to Jesus for the living.[7]
g/)
Slogan FOR THE
Sacraments WORD OF
GOD AND
FOR THE
TESTIMONY
OF JESUS
STECI members incorporate two sacraments into CHRIST (REV.
their lives; these are baptism and the Lord’s 1:9)
Supper.[8]

Diocese
In 2023, the Church has seven dioceses. Four of these are in Kerala; the others are "Bahya Kerala" ‘’Gulf
and Singapore’’ and ‘’North America and Europe’’.[9] The dioceses cover 240 parishes.[10]

Bishops
Bishop KN Oommen (Late)
Bishop P John Varughese (Late)
Bishop Dr. TC Cherian (Retd.)
Bishop Dr. MK Koshy (Retd.)
Bishop A.I Alexander (Retd.)
Bishop Dr CV Mathew (Retd.)
Bishop Most Rev Dr Thomas Abraham (Presiding
Clergy in 1961
Bishop from 2019)
Bishop Rt Rev Dr Abraham Chacko (Prathinidhi sabha
Adhyakshan from 2019)

STECI Boards
Board for Evangelistic Work
Board for Youth Work
Board for Women's Work
Board for Sunday School Work
Education Board
Department of Music & Communications

See also
P. T. Chandapilla

External links
Official website (https://steci.org)

References
1. Curtin, D. P.; James, M.R. (June 2018). The Acts of St. Thomas in India (https://www.google.
com/books/edition/The_Acts_of_St_Thomas_in_India/8yvTEAAAQBAJ?hl=en).
ISBN 9781087965710.
2. STECI Fellowship website (https://wwwstecifellowship.com/about-1)
3. Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church website (https://www.marthoma.in/organisations/mar-t
homa-evangelistic-association/)
 4. STECI Fekllowship website (https://wwwstecifellowship.com/about-1)
5. Jubilee Memorial Bible College official website (https://www.jmbc.ac.in/about-jmbc-2/)
6. Indian Christians United website (https://www.indianchristiansunited.org/church/india/kerala/
st-thomas-evangelical-church-of-india)
7. SCETI Atlanta website (https://www.steciatlanta.org/about-us/)
8. STECI Atlanta website (https://www.steciatlanta.org/about-us/)
9. Official website, Retrieved 2023-05-29 (https://www.steci.org)
10. STECI Kuwait website, Retrieved 2023-05-29 (https://www.stecikuwait.org/aboutus.asp)

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