What's the truth? Report from IANS

"The version that seminary authorities are giving is that my son was mentally unstable. This is baseless as he had secured first rank in his master's from Banglore and specialised in psychiatry,"

"Before he joined here, he was counselling elders in an institution run by the church. Moreover, he was selected after a series of tests, interviews and even an elaborate medical check-up. If that is the case, can anyone become mentally deranged in a week,"

NRI father blames son's suicide on ragging in seminary

IANS (Indo Asian News Service)

Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 01:04 am EST

Kottayam (Kerala): The Dubai-based father of a seminary student, who committed suicide here in Kerala, alleged that ragging in the theology college drove his son to take the extreme step.

Robin John, 24, who had joined the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary here to become a priest, allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room June 10. He had joined the seminary just a week earlier.

Robin's father, C.V. John, who flew back from Dubai to his home-town Mavelikara on hearing the news, alleged that his son was a victim of ragging and was "murdered" by a group of five senior students.

"The version that seminary authorities are giving is that my son was mentally unstable. This is baseless as he had secured first rank in his master's from Banglore and specialised in psychiatry," John told IANS Monday.

"Before he joined here, he was counselling elders in an institution run by the church. Moreover, he was selected after a series of tests, interviews and even an elaborate medical check-up. If that is the case, can anyone become mentally deranged in a week," asked John.

"The post-mortem report says that my son's death was due to hanging. But there are serious flaws in the report and at the appropriate time I will expose the lapses in the post-mortem report. Now my only aim is to see that the killers of my son are brought to justice," the distraught father said.

John has also met the supreme head of the Mar Thoma Church, who assured him that justice would be done to him.

Kottayam Superintendent of Police Mathew Polikarp, however, said the preliminary investigation has not pointed to ragging as being the cause of death.

"We are investigating the case in detail," said Polikarp. The police are also investigating the mobile phone records of the deceased.

John alleges that the institution has been under attack for its ragging culture in the past too.

"Nine students, who were supposed to have completed their course in 2006, still remain suspended on ragging charges. One can understand about ragging in professional colleges but such things happening in a theology institution is really sad," said John.

Why all the cover up?

"Now claims are also being made that my son had some psychiatric problem. But his admission to the seminary itself was after rigorous medical tests at the mission hospital and there were no inconsistencies then."

Kerala boy kin blame ragging for death
23 Jun 2008, 0254 hrs IST, Ananthakrishnan G ,TNN

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after a student allegedly committed suicide at a famous theological seminary in Kerala's Kottayam district, his parents have come out with the claim that the boy was a victim of ragging. The seminary has denied the allegation.

"My son was not the kind of person who would take his life. I strongly believe he was a victim of ragging," Robin John's father C V John told TOI on phone from Kottayam. Robin had joined the Marthoma Theological Seminary on June 2 after a masters degree course in social welfare (MSW) at the Bangalore Garden City College.

"He was a brilliant student and had scored first rank in MSW. It was his desire to become a priest. But a week after joining the seminary, on the night of June 10, we got a call saying Robin had hung himself in his hostel room," said the grief-stricken father, who works in Dubai.

But what made him suspect it was not a suicide? "A day before the incident, Robin called home and said life at the seminary was difficult, but did not elaborate. Also we came to know that there was an incident of ragging in the college two years back and nine students were expelled," said John.

He added that there was one more reason for his doubt. "Robin's room was said to be broken open by inmates of the seminary, his body brought down and taken to the hospital. The explanation given to me was that this was done as they thought he may be alive. But ideally they should have called police," explained John. "Now claims are also being made that my son had some psychiatric problem. But his admission to the seminary itself was after rigorous medical tests at the mission hospital and there were no inconsistencies then."

Kottayam SP Mathew Polycarp said it was a case of suicide. "The post mortem report says Robin committed suicide." he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Kerala_boy_kin_blame_ragging_for_death/rssarticleshow/3154810.cms

Mar Thoma Seminary - Mystery Murder?

Jan 2007 - Mysterious death of Anil George Abraham, 3rd Year seminary student.

2007 - Ragging incident and complete suspension of Ordinations from Kottayam Mar Thoma Seminary

June 2008- Suicide or Murder? What is happening in our Church? Why is there a concerted effort to cover up all these issues? Isn't it time for the Church and its leadership to reflect and contemplate the seriousness of this issue? Even if it is not a murder, why was the Church not able to identify help one of its own?




Date:22/06/2008 http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/22/stories/2008062253350300.htm

---

Kerala - Kottayam

Controversy over theology student’s death

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: Parents of Robin John, a first year Theology student at Mar Thoma Theological Seminary here, who had met with unnatural death last week, have sought the intervention of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to ensure effective inquiry into the death.

C.V. John, father of Robin John, who hails from Mavelikkara, said there was no need for his son to commit suicide. Robin, 24, had passed MSW programme from an institution in Bangalore with first rank and had joined the seminary for Bachelor of Divinity (BD) programme.

He had joined the institution on June 2. On June10 night, the parents received a phone call from Kottayam telling them that Robin had met with an accident. When contacted, Fr Abraham Kuruvilla, principal of the seminary told The Hindu, that they had no other evidences that pointed to anything other than a suicide. The police were investigating and the seminary would cooperate with the investigation to bring out the truth, he said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

More details on the Murder/Suicide!

Date: Monday, 23 June, 2008

The death of a priesthood internee at the Marthoma Theological Seminary at Kottayam has become a controversy with his parents submitting a memoranda to Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan and top officials of the State police requesting a probe into the incident. The seminary authorities had termed the death as a case of suicide, and there was no evidence in the post-mortem report to prove otherwise, but the parents firmly suspect that their son had not committed suicide.

Robin John, a fresh priesthood intern at the seminary, was found hanging from the ceiling of his hostel room on May 10, just eight days after he had joined the seminary. Robin's father John said there were contradictions in the versions of death provided by the principal and Robin's classmates. He said only a thorough probe could bring out the truth about his son's death. Robin had joined the seminary after passing Master of Social Welfare.

Robin's parents told newsmen that there was no reason why their son should commit suicide. They suspected that Robin's death was related to the cruel ragging he should have undergone in the hostel of the seminary. They said the seminary, though an institution for moulding priests, was infamous for several incidents of ragging..

"My son had not hung himself from the ceiling, I am sure. If he had been found hanging, he was hung there after he was dead," John said. He also said that he was not ready to believe the versions given by the priests in the seminary or senior clerics of the church.

"I told the respected priests that the truth could not be hidden forever. Even if the truth could be kept hidden from the police and the society, they will have to answer the question when the day of reckoning comes," he said.

There have been several incidents of ragging in the seminary and in many cases this had become issues in the local society and the church also. At least nine interns had been expelled from the seminary on charges of ragging. But priests at the seminary tried to play down the matter. However, they did not deny the reports of ragging.

"There has not been even a single incident of ragging which is similar to what we generally call ragging. There is a particular fear in the society about ragging. This could be due to reports of ragging from the new self-financing colleges. Nothing of that sort happens here," said a priest.

"I can assure you that no ragging would take place in here. There could be a welcome party or something like that. But nothing like ragging has ever taken place here," he said.

~ A concerned reader!

Many Foundation Stones & confused Aspirations!

----- Original Message -----
From: S.B.
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 8:59 AM
Subject: Mar Thoma camp Centre at Lonavala


Dear friends

Mar Thoma camp Centre at Lonavala was a dream project of the young generation of Mumbai Diocese. Now the drem is going to be fulfilled on 27th may 2007. As per the direction of the Metropolitan, Marthoma Yuvajana Sakhyam and Mar Thoma Sunday School and Mumbai Diocese has taken it as a joint venture to build the camp centre.

The ground breaking ceremony of the camp centre will be conducted on 27th May 2007 at 4pm. All are cordially invited to come and bless this solemn occasion

Thanks & Regards,

S.B


----- Reply Message -----

From: T. S.
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007
Subject: Re: Mar Thoma camp Centre at Lonavala


Dear S.,

That is "great" news!
The third foundation stone laying ceremony of the same camp Centre!

1st Foundation Stone: For Youth Centre on 16.101993
by Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius.

2nd Foundation Stone:
For Sunday School Camp Centre on the same plot in March 2004 by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metroplitan (He was not informed of the First Stone).

3rd Foundation Stone? 27.05.2007
For "knowbody knows what it is" structure by Rt. Rev. Mar Barnabas on the same plot! Or is it without any stone, a castle in the air?

Qualifies for Limca / Guinnes Books of Records
Youth League members are told it is their project. Sunday School Central Committee is told that it is their project. Gulf / US NRIs will be told that it is their Holiday Home / Resort. They can pay US$ 10,000 and get 7 days TIME SHARE every year for "their own cottage"!

Caution:
On a legal opinion taken by the Mar Thoma Metropolitan says that the land is bought for Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam for a Camp Centre / Youth Centre by money raised by Yuvajana Sakhyam members.

After, construction the property will remain with Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam. Anybody who "invests" in this project may kindly note this.

And the money collected will go to a registered charitable Trust by name: Western India Zonal Assembly of the Mar Thoma Church who are the trustees of the Youth Centre land.

'Assurances' are given by another body, Mar Thoma Diocesan Assembly of Mumbai Diocese which has no legal sanction to meddle with the Zonal Assembly. This is not even a registered body.

Regards
T. S.

Ragging at Marthoma Vaideeka Seminary-Kottayam

The biggest secret which every one knows and does not want to publicly speak about is the ragging incident at the Kottayam Mar Thoma Seminary.


The story supposedly is:
A student of the seminary was ragged by fellow seminarians. He complained to the Metropolitan and left the seminary. This action was followed by an inquiry by the Church Authorities and the Metropolitan. When the seminarians were asked to confess who was the culprits they chose to stick together as a band of brothers. They were under the impression the entire batch cannot be punished and would be let off lightly if they all admitted guilt together.

But knowing our Metropolitan, he decided to suspend all ordinations for this year indefinitely, till some one came forward and took the blame. The waiting game is started. June is the month when most ordinations take place and none has happened this year.

There was a defense from the seminary that:
"The event was purely designed to familiarize the new student to his new setting and to help him to overcome the fear of public speaking. The person probably realized the enormity of his undertaking when faced with the spartan living conditions at the seminary and was looking for the first exit out."

Why blame the student who left? At times we should remember this is not an ordinary college and most people at the seminary are graduates and are there to be the next ordained ministers of the Church. I guess they should learn to accept responsibility and tell the truth before any of them are made priests!

Well that is only my opinion. Forgiveness is part of our Christian tradition but it comes after a confession of guilt which right now - no one wants to do.

Let us uphold the ministry of the Church in prayer and hope this incident comes to a quick close. Let us also remember those who are studying to become priests - may they remember that they are being trained to be leaders of our church and to provide guidance to lay people.

If the Lamps themselves are not lighted then how will the Church carry out the motto - Lighted to Lighten?


If you know more details on the incident or disagree with the above article - please comment! Thanks!

Kuwait Vicar paid off Fines from Own pocket!

The Kuwait Vicar's traffic offenses have been taken off the blog cause the moderators felt it is not the forum to carry the topic unless it deals with faith and other issues related to the youth of the Church.

But it should be noted that the vicar did pay it from his own pocket!

We thank the readers for their comments and feedback! However we also would encourage you to send in topics and comments that we can put up!

God Bless!

Jobless rate high among Christians, Sikhs

NSSO Survey- Indian Express

Jobless rate high among Christians, Sikhs

Agencies
Posted online: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 1817 hours IST

New Delhi, May 9: The unemployment rate is highest among Christians who are followed by Sikhs, the government said on Wednesday.

A survey conducted during 2004-05 showed that in rural and urban areas, the percentage of unemployed Christians was 4.4 and 8.6 respectively while the figure for Sikhs was 3.4 and 4.7 per cent, Minister of state for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes informed the Rajya Sabha.

Muslims stand third in the list with their unemployment rate being 2.3 per cent in the rural areas.

However, the Hindus are better off among the religious groups in the rural sector with unemployment rate at as low as 1.5 percent.

In the urban areas, however they lag behind their Muslims counterparts. For Hindus it is 4.4 per cent against 4.1 per cent in Muslims community.

Fernandes said estimates of employment and unemployment among major religious groups in the country are obtained through quinquennial labour force surveys conducted by National Sample Survey Organisation.

Giving details of the programmes to create job opportunities for the needy, the minister said the government has launched Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna, Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojna, Prime Minister's Rojgar Yojna, Rural Employment Generation Programme and various others.

Story Link: http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=86209

Reply to letter in the earlier Post!

Dear friends,

The young man is right. I am new to the faith and even though I have studied malayalam and is fluent in colloquial language, even I find some usages in the book awkward. Many a time, the young who use the Living Sacrifice with the Malayalam written in English mispronounce the words. I have heard them sing Rakshakane nin gaathrathe bhaashichum" and also many times Kanyakayam mariyam innum instead of Mariyameennum (from Mariyam) A translation and use of contemporary language is necessary. eg O yaar is a very awkward usage especially for Hindi areas.It is obvious that even those who actively participate without knowing the language, are unaware of what they are singing.

Many of the older generation would miss the familiar comfort of the Malayalam Liturgy if English Liturgy is used on all days. Our Bishop H G Ireneus has taken the initiative to record the English Liturgy (Qurbana) and it is available to anyone with a will to learn the tunes etc. I have a humble suggestion. One Sunday at least in a month can be laid aside for English Liturgy so that our youth can come to understand the prayers. Once they become familiar with the English Liturgy, they would come to understand the Malayalam Liturgy also.

When I first came to the Orthodox Church, after growing up in the Marthoma Church, I found words like prasavithri also quite odd. Now I am used to it, though I don't think it beautiful.

My sons speak Malayalam at home and can just read the language. However, they too find the prayers difficult to follow. Especially the beauty of the sedera and the songs etc are not understood unless one knows malayalam well. The rahasya prarthanakal or " Adhyathmika Sangeerthanangal" will sound odd to one whose level of Malayalam is just basic.

The Church does seem indifferent to the problems of today's generations- the old, the middle aged and the young all have different sets of problems. In large cities at least, it would be useful to have support groups or counselors.

Another thing that I have found is that the Orthodox Laity come down hard on anyone who asks any doubts. (Not ICON, ICON is an exception) But I have found that if we approach the clergy with genuine desire to learn, & seek, they rise magnificently to the occasion. Perhaps in large forums, we may not get the opportunity to raise doubts. But for these gatherings, advance preparation can be made collecting information from the target audience as to what they would like discussed etc depending on the nature of the conference. I am a zero in Church matters, but when we want to implement new ideas in the Bank or want to know the pulse of the people, we always get feed back on the proposed innovation or on the un-addressed needs of our clientèle
from the field functionaries. This helps us prepare. We have to keep our ears to the ground whereas the church must keep its ears in 2 places- to the ground as well as to the voice of God.

These are just the humble ramblings of an old woman who has spent nearly 30 years interacting with people.

May God Bless us all,
Susan Eapen, Bangalore

Common Concerns in all Syrian Christian Churches

The Mar Thoma Church is not the only Church facing issues, the Orthodox Syrian Church which claims the same roots as us are seriously talking about these issues and there are high level committees which are meeting to find a solution.

Today, I am pasting a letter by an Orthodox Member to his Bishop, But all that he has written applies to our Church all the same, point by point! But here the difference is that the Bishop or Thirumeni as some would say, has taken into consideration the letter and made it public on the orthodox newsletter mailing list which goes to thousands of their members each day!

When will our Bishops, priests and Church elders acknowledge the problems of the Church?

Comments are most welcome!

*************

A Youth in Diaspora Writes
Posted by: "HG Yuhanon Meletius Metropolitan
Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:11 am (PST)

Dear all

I wish to forward a maill I received from a participant at the the Gulf Orthodox Youth Conference held in Kuwait. The mail is self explanatory. For obvious reason the name of the sender is withheld. I would appreciate if our members would look in to it an comment on the issues raised.
With regards and prayers
Yuhanon Mor Meletius Metropolitan (President OCYM)

*********

Your Grace Yuhanon Mor Meletius,

First of all, allow me to express my deepest appreciation in having you preside over the Gulf Orthodox Youth Conference in Kuwait. I and my friends who do not speak Malayalam went into this conference with great anticipation, hoping that we would be able to address some of the important issues that were facing today's youth in a mature and orderly fashion. Unfortunately, our pleas fell on deaf ears. Firstly due to a lack of time ? what was meant to be a 1 hour discussion panel turned into a 15 minute diatribe of church politics which seem befitting for some of the elders. I felt that we couldn't even address half the issues pertaining to today's youth because people were not willing to ask the right questions or push the envelope so to speak. You were right when you stated that we come from a culture where not enough questions are asked and the solution is sought without providing any analytical or thought-provoking discussion. There was little to no participation from the female members; and on top of that we the non-Malayalam speaking people were not being taken seriously just because we chose to speak in English as opposed to Malayalam.

It's a sad day in our Indian Orthodox Church when a language such as Malayalam takes precedence over the way we have our relationship with God, as well as the people within the community. Why should we as a youth, who have already been displaced from Kerala, have to speak in a language that our parents have been brought up in? We live in a culture today where
English is the main language of communication, yet here in Kuwait within our Indian Orthodox parish, unless you know Malayalam you are treated as a second-rate citizen; I'm sure this is not the case in North America. We agree with you, when you said that we need a separate liturgy for English speaking adults ? yet, I don't think that's going to happen in our lifetime at the rate that things are going. As English speaking youth, we don't know who we should address our concerns to, or what channels we can take to bring about any real change within our church. If we were to approach our church elders, they would simply say, "you should learn Malayalam; it is after all
your mother-tongue". This response is saddens me, because it demonstrates nothing but sheer ignorance. The parameters in which today's youth is involved in has changed drastically. We do not live in the same world as our parents did. There must be some way of our church moving forward by having English services that are relevant to this generation, while still encompassing all that at makes our church's traditions so glorious.

Many of today's youth attend the Malayalam Holy Qurbana, not because they want to be there and take part in the liturgy, but because they want to please their parents. Take myself for instance ? I only get to see my parents for few hours every day, therefore going to Church with them is more of a social way of me spending more time with my family. Going through the motions and doing lip service to a Malayalam liturgy that hardly makes any sense to me, is a small price to pay.

If you were to ask me what is the biggest problem facing our Gulf youth, I would have to say it's fear; fear of their parents. Many of them are brought up in a draconian system, where the father makes the rules and the children are told to obey. If the child questions the father's authority, it is considered "disrespectful" and so the child gets punished. Like you mentioned at the conference, there is no open dialogue that exists between the parent and the child, and perhaps the church should play a more prominent role in providing some kind of counseling in this respect.

During the discussion, our people were very quick in criticizing the media as one of the main ills of society. According to them, our youth are watching way too many soap operas these days that encourage adultery and divorce, and so they're afraid that they'll pick up after these bad habits.
I do not think so. Only weak-minded people who are not brought up in a God fearing environment would do such a thing. How about embracing some of the positive aspects of the media: such as changing all out-dated Sunday School books into interactive DVDs, and creating an online curriculum. We are now in the 21st century and we should be getting away from coloring books, and use television and the internet as a way of teaching kids more about our church. While it may not be the case in Kuwait, I know of many of our youth who attend other denominations, such as the evangelicals, not because their services are made out to be like rock concerts or even more attractive, but because it fits into the culture they have grown up in. Perhaps we should start looking at how other churches are tackling the problem of being relevant to the next generation and learn from them.

Here's an example of what's happening within our church. The growth of the church is based purely on generational members attending ? parents, children, their children and so on. That number possibly grows through marriages; this growth is slow and organic. Yet at the same time we have a significant part that are leaving church as our generation crosses into new countries, where Indian Orthodox parishes may not exist. What option is left to them? Some may decide not to attend any services at all, as not to mix with other denominations, while others will take the opportunity to explore and may even switch to a different church as it is more relevant.

Take a the case of a friend of mine for example ? while he currently resides in London, and while there is an Indian Orthodox parish present, he has found that his relationship with God has grown in leaps and bounds in the short time that he has been there than while he was growing up in Kuwait. Now due to the new concepts that he's introduced to he has found his understanding of our Church being challenged. This is certainly not a bad thing ? what better way to understand our Church than to ask questions. Unfortunately he has expressed difficulty in trying to find the appropriate channels in which to direct his questions; even though he is one example it is almost assured that there are many more like him.

This is not a rant by any means. Like you mentioned at the conference, we should not criticize the church; but as Indian Orthodox Christians we should ask ourselves how we can improve on our current situation ? and this I feel is the best way that I could contribute and play my part. Some of our friends have started to put together an online discussion group called Orthodox Generation in order to encourage forward thinking in our church. We believe that this generation can play an active part in helping the Theological Seminaries get more connected with the issues this generation is facing. While it is still only in its initial stages, the goal is to try and share ideas, not only within the church in Kuwait, but amongst all the dioceses.

Ours is a problem that is not and cannot be limited to the walls of our church. You had defined Orthodox as a means of learning from our history, while moving forward. It's time for forward thinking, it's time for someone to step up and speak out and we the non-Malayalam speaking youth refuse to see our church's youth walk blindly to the future without understanding the Church traditions or developing their relationship with God. We hope that you provide us with some direction.

Maybe we were born for such time as this.

God bless,
(name withheld)

Lingusitics & the Mar Thoma Church

Hi Mr Monk.

I am impressed by your this effort. I would definitely inform my friends in Church to join this blog.

Its really important for us, Marthomites to get into such discussion. I would also like our achens and thirumeni's to take part. It will be good for us to get a direct response from them. Ur this time's issue is a good one.

Even I too agree that we people staying outside Kerala really have to face linguistic problems.

Every year in October we have Western India youth Conferences. There such doubts can be asked to the Thirumeni directly. I every time have different issues to discuss with him. In our Church, girls know Malayalam so for them its not a problem. We too have manglish books in whole of Gujarat.

But still even if we are able to read them we dont know wat they mean. I remember asking the bishop this same problem. I asked him, I go every week to Church, I can read the manglish book but dont even know the meaning of shobha niranjo. These are the first words that come out from our mouth. You know what he replied? He said in this world there are many things we don't know, and sometimes its good. Nothing more came from my side.

Will definitely take part in this forum. Bye for now.

God bless u all.

Anonymous

English Service in the Church!

I got a comment from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates based on the last post I had put up. The person again choosing to remain - Anonymous - has mentioned a few important points.

1. In most parishes outside Kerala, the English service is only held once a month. This is despite the fact, that most of the members are born and brought up outside Kerala and do not have Malayalam as their mother tounge anymore. For them English is the preferred language! Dubai is one parish I know where a regular English Service happens every week after much discussion and fights in the Church.

2. Most of the older generation think the English service people as a rebellious lot who don't want to learn Malayalam and prefer not to go for the English service. Most of the elders are not comfortable with the English service as they are used to the Malayalam service. Well this is truly a problem, so it seems. But then again, I have seen it for myself - when there are services in Malayalam without Communion - then all of a sudden the Church is almost empty.

3. The person also states that the Sharjah Parish is the only parish using the Manglish Books (Malayalam written in English Script). This however is not completely true as a lot of the outside Kerala Parishes use these books. I myself have used this book only to realize that only the first few words of what the priest says is there before it becomes dots .....

In short only the responses from the members are given in full which makes it really pointless. Most of the people who don't know Malayalam do not know what the priest is reading. Most of the prayers which the Achen recites in between the service are also missing, from the book .

4. In the comment below the writer asks - though the Bishops do look what falls into their pots - why are we bothered as there are people like that in all walks of life. Well my friends, the Church is not any other walk of life and it is not supposed to be like that. As far as it is known the Bishops have given their life for the Church and for God's Service! So they are special and have to live according to what is expected of their divine mission. I do not say banish any of the Bishops - rather I say make them accountable to what they are doing in the Church.

Well do send in your comments, even if you disagree or agree.... Will publish it as it is....

regards

Mtc Monk!

_______________________________

Dear MTC Monk,

I simply have to appreciate the efforts u have taken to bring about a change. Few things I would like to draw ur attention:-

1. I'm writing from Sharjah, UAE n in our parish here... to increase our reach to the teenager community, we hold 1 Sunday service in English... but its sad to note not many join including myself!!! My parents do not wish to go for a English mass hence i dont go too

2. I personally did not know how to read Malayalam but our Church is the only 1 church i have seen who has English Malayalam Scripts. These have helped me attend the Malayalam service effectively. So asking children abroad to learn Malayalam is harsh... cos we don't come across that much, in some places.. but things are changing cos of channels like Asianet or jeevan... we too r learning n understanding Malayalam.

One point i totally agree is - that some of our Bishops do look what falls into their pots.. but don't u find these kind of people in all walks of life... so why do we banish them????

Anonymous

Not an Attack but a Call for Change and Prayer!

New Year wishes to all the visitors to this blog.

I just want to say a big thank you to all the members who have visited and responded to the articles on the blog.

There have been positive and negative feedback which is always welcome. There are also articles put up from different members from different parts of the world.

However, I would stress to the new readers - That this blog is not to attack or to tarnish the name of the Church or the Church Authorities in anyway - rather it is to bring out issues which seem to be sidelined in the Church. There is serious resentment and declining memberships in the churches and unless the Mar Thoma Church understands and adopts measures to reach out to the younger and outside Kerala members there will be a problem sooner than later.

No one can deny - that some clergy in the Church have written off the Mar Thoma Churches in Singapore and Malaysia as another entity altogether. There is always the point - why don't the expat children abroad learn Malayalam and understand the Church service and other aspects which are entirely in Malayalam.

The Church must realize in this ever increasingly globalized world, the Church has to shed it Malayalee Kerala Church identity and become more accommodating to the members who do not ever have to come back to Kerala to settle or live again.

There is also the ever increasing problem, where Achens do not speak english, and by the time they are able to build rapport with the youths in an outside Kerala Parish they are transfered to another parish. These are just some of the many issues we will be discussing in length on this blog.

I ask all of you to pray and contribute to this blog.

We have members visiting and writing in from United States, Canada, UAE, Taiwan, Kuwait, United Kingdom, Bahrain, Singapore, Oman, Qatar, Korea and Australia not to mention the various states and districts from these above mentioned countries.

It reflects the global nature of the Mar Thoma Church which we must be proud off. But the Church has to understand this fact and think globally to reach out to the members around the world - rather than see them as money pots to harvested for projects.

About me hiding my identity. Through experience I have learnt that in the Church your opinion only matters if you are from a respected family, high position or some connection to the leaders in the Church. I do not sit back and criticize the Church without any action - however I am deeply committed and working hard within the Church to change the current situation! Anyways I believe the focus should be on the issues and less on me.

This blog however is an effort to gather and discuss issues which the Church will have to listen too from ordinary lay people. Please do let me know your opinions and comments.

God Bless,

Mtc Monk!

Positive Change is what we need!

I would like to bring a point.. providing a luxury form of transportation or seeing bishops in laymens houses where they don’t have their aramana cannot be questioned, where would you expect them to stay when in a country outside India?

They cannot live in a hotel.. it would be like saying all we need you is for our church service.. that is not the right way! They are representatives of our church and in this concern we have to give them as much respect. Give as much kindness as possible even though we don’t get the same in return, for this is what the good lord wants us to do.


Abt bishops or priests concentrating on people who are outside India is a concern.. when all they want is money more than our participation in the marthoma church or giving ideas to make it better… ‘They do not even care about the ordinary laymen who constitutes the flesh and blood of the church.’ As much as I have seen .. this is 95% true


I request all those who have read this blog to spread the news to fellow marthomites with this growing fire in them.. and let them contribute to this blog .. I don’t even know who owns this blog, but the intentions are convincing through the various articles here I would not like to discuss my name, cause my name would not make a difference in the suggestions I make!

4theMTC

Are Bishops entitled to these much luxury?

I have a mail from one of the readers from USA, who wanted me to put it up! Well this blog is all about giving a platform to different voices and opinions in order to let the Church know what the members are thinking.

If you disagree with the following or any posts - mail me or put in a comment and I'll publish that too! Have a wonderful new year ahead and God Bless!

~o~

Are Bishops entitled to these much luxury?

Should Bishops move around in luxury cars or should they be given only some form of average means of transportation so that they can move around.

Bishops need means of transportation to visit churches and to go places where they need to be. No problem with that. Well when I was in Kerala I remember the local bishop visiting our church the maximum once in a year. And in some year that might not even happen. However, you can find them oversees collecting money for "Gospel Work" for enrichment work! most of the time. To whom are they accountable? To the common lay member who thinks that the Bishops are visible representatives of God?

When I was a kid I remember my dad telling me that Bishops do not eat from lay men's houses and they don't even eat from the Parsonage. Now if you need to find bishops( especially overseas) you need to call lay men's houses. This is not a hypothetical situation. I have first hand evidence.

Bishops know the people who are affluent, the famous, the rich, the top brass. They do not even care about the ordinary laymen who constitutes the flesh and blood of the church.

Well I am not even sure whether the church has any significance. Of course the Marthoma church gave me the foundation on which I built my life. But more is to be done. This is a church that grew from nothing, from a few couple churches. Now it more like a multi-billion industry that produces CEOs who give handful of pay-outs for themselves ignoring the plight of the ordinary men and women.

We need to rise. What is the opinion of the church regarding homosexuality, materialism/consumerism, divorce, youths fleeing the church in hundreds( Next time when Bishops visit US, I earnestly pray that they visit a US church and see how many people attend those churches and how churches are being sold and leased out). When will the leadership arouse from its slumber. When will they realise that the time is ticking. Are the laymen taken into confidence. I am not surprised why in Europe large number of people have fled and still fleeing the church. The hierarchy cannot connect to the laymen.

Maranatha!

Pray for Reformation!

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I've been busy with Christmas. This week there was a comment and I'm publishing it as a post for the benefit of those readers who don't bother to read the comments!

By the way - "4 the MTC" do send me a mail or comment with your suggestions and I will only be happy to post it up for you. List some of the issues and your concerns. And to the large number of readers - do keep us in prayer. I am not looking at a bloody revolution but more of one which Gandhi followed as in Non-violence and will keep speaking till the Church is provoked for change.

God Bless!

~o~

4 the MTC said...

I am not the same anonymous user who posted before this....

i would like to mention that we need to include something more to this blog...

we have to bring our issues together in prayer.. i promise to include the reformation of the marthoma church in my daily prayer...

i would like all my fellow christians who have accepted Jesus christ as their personal saviour to make a promise to include this in their prayer...

moreover let us start to mention the reforms we expect from the marthoma church in this blog (i know some of them are mentioned)..

we will hold our hands together for the sustainance of our community in faith.. and money and power should not be our agenda

Alert - another collection on the way!

For all the people who ask what's my qualm about giving for charity - I have none. I am totally good with the idea for giving to charity. But what I do not like is the condescending attitude of how the Church just takes decisions and wants money for hall after hall, ambulances, vans, scooters, bicycles and much more in some Bishop's name.

I guess soon we will have churches named after our Bishops.

Well here is an update on another collection which is coming up! Well you are all free to give - But i ask when did my Church ever care where do i stay or do i need help? I guess it reminds me of the famous words - Look at the log in your eye before you look at the speck of dust in your brother's eye. So far I appreciated the way my Church goes all out to help the world, but some how in it's eagerness to help and get the names of Bishops and Priests on Marble Memorial Slabs - the members are left to fend for them selves.

I have heard a lot how our own members are not given preference even in our own Marthoma Schools and Colleges without coughing up a few lakhs in donation.

Well Christmas is the time for giving and I sure this years the poor people in my neighbourhood is going to get some cake without my business card attached to it!

~o~

Church to build houses for the poor

The Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar will donate 1,500 houses to the homeless poor in different parts of the State as part of the 90th birthday celebrations of the Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Philipose Mar Chrysostom. In a statement here on Tuesday, Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan said the beneficiaries of the scheme would be selected without caste and religious considerations. He said the keys of the first 90 houses under the project would be handed over to the beneficiaries at Thiruvilla on April 27, 2007, the birthday of Mar Chrysostom.

He said the fund required for the housing project would be mobilised from among the church members in different parts of the world. The housing project committee had opened its office at the Olivette Bishop's House in Chengannur and P.T. Thomas had been nominated the committee convenor.

~o~

Where is the Light of the Church to Lighten ?

Hi Readers,

I got this from Chris as a comment and since a lot of people don't read the comments, I have taken the liberty to post this as a blog entry. From here on it is all Chris, another like minded marthomite who feels change is needed! Thanks Chris! God Bless. A big welcome to all the readers from around the world logging in to read! Comments would be welcome!

~ o ~

I dont believe and I dont agree with everything that the Mar Thoma church teaches - but I pay the annual membership fees, so am I a Mar Thomite. Im not sure myself.
However I do feel its time for the bishops to make it mandatory that the services be held in English in every place outside Kerala (yes, even among mallus!). Holding onto tradition (language is now a tradition, I dont know when that happened, but it is) when it doesnt help in the growth of the church is ridiculous. I left the church a few years back because it had nothing to offer me -
1 I didnt understand what was going on (not least because I didnt understand Malayalam). If they are so insistent on being traditional I suggest they go back to holding the service in Greek (because Malayalam is greek for the younger generation and it will be closer to what the New Testament Church practised!). If the priests cant be bothered to learn and hold the service in English, dont expect the younger congregation to learn and attend the service in malayalam.
2 I have never heard the Gospel being preached (I was not saved in the Mar Thoma church).
3 I have never enjoyed worship (I didnt even know there were songs other than hymns and choruses till I left the church).
4 The Sunday School left me full (I had had enough) of, not hungry for - the Word of God. I didnt learn the Word, I learnt stories from it and noone ever told me how it related to Christ. I speak this not as an ignorant irresponsible fellow who never listened in Sunday School - I speak this as someone who won almost all the 1st or 2nd prizes for every Memory verse competition and Sunday school exam there ever was in one of the biggest Mar Thoma churches -the Kuwait Mar Thoma Church.
5 Apologetics (like Explanations of Alleged Discrepancies in the Bible), Doctrines (lke Salvation, Baptism) and Traditions (I mean the necessity of the Smoke and the uniform of the priests and the bishops) were never explained.
6 I left the church a few years back because it had nothing to offer me. I have returned to the church now because it has nothing to offer anyone and I wanted to help out.

After having read this, Im sure a lot of you will think me to be a pompous fellow, but what I have written is the truth. The youth want to learn the Word of God. The youth want to understand the service. The youth want to participate. The youth have left our church because the church offers nothing. Under the guidance of Rev Philip Simon, the Manipal Bethel Home church has grown by leaps and bounds in attracting the youth in just a matter of months. I hope that the other achens ask him how he did it and at least try and replicate it, if not find a formula of their own. God bless you all and I hope this site makes a difference for the future of the youth (I am not 50 myself!).

~ o ~

The Church and its court cases!

The Episcopal Elections in 2005, as most of the church members know had its fair share of issues and fiasco's. I was there in person to see the hilarious nature in which our Church administration handled the issue.

The story in short was that there were two achens shortlisted to become Episcopa and then one of them lost in the final count. What turned out to be an embarrassment, just before the elections was a court case filed against Rev. K.V. Varkey who was the Vicar of Maramon Parish. He was the same Achen who lost the elections. There was a case filed on his behalf by certain people. The case as usual was handled without serious thought.

Think about it the so called sacred consecration of Bishops are now no better than the Bush-Al Gore Elections in Florida.

Read and enjoy! Comments are welcome.

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Hearing commenced on the court case filed by Jomini Mary Abraham seeking elevation of Rev. K.V. Varkey as a Bishop.

Rev. Varkey also filed an affidavit pointing out mistakes on the part of our Metropolitan and seeking "justice".

In the appeal filed by Jomini in the sub-court, there was some set back for the Church, as our lawyers did not defend the case properly.

There is an apprehension in peoples' mind whether the same thing will repeat.

Rev. Cherian Thomas appeared as part of the proceedings last Tuesday. If our lawyers do not handle tithe case properly or support Varkey achen's cause indirectly, there is every possibility that Mar Paulose's election may be reversed. That can create havoc in the Church.

Who is a Marthomite?

Yes! A simple question, I plead of you to ask yourself ?

For a Church which boasts of 2000 years of history - it might have been a very easy question to answer. But ask the average marthomite youth and you will find conflicting answers.

Is it because there is nothing called a marthomite identity? What can the Mar Thoma Church claim other than its so called link to St. Thomas - not to forget which is also claimed by every other Christian faction in Kerala (Syrian Christians) .

There was a time when the Mar Thoma Church had great leaders, who made an impact on society and took the Word of God to the outside world. There were leaders which inspired the society at large and dictated how the community lived. Marthomites became synonymous with honest hardworking people.

This community rose in social hierarchy, educated their women, entered positions of power for their honesty, led reforms, and became shining examples to a larger society which was to learn and respect this tiny yet foresighted minority. The marthomites went to foreign shores as teachers, civil servants, agriculturists, nurses and several 'service based professions'.

Today with more than 65% of marthomites settled outside Kerala, there is a clash of the generations. For the new generations who have been born and raised outside Kerala, the obstinate and unaccommodating stance of the Church in addressing several issues is beyond understanding.

The Church maintains it is a Kerala and Malayalam based church. Yet a rising number of young members do fall under this bracket and are neither affiliated to Kerala or speak the native language of the church - Malayalam. Then again in a feeble attempt, over the last few years a priest was assigned for the youths outside kerala - as a Outside Kerala Youth League Secretary. This however is limited to working in Bangalore and inside India. The Middle East or other Europe or Northern American parishes are thought of nothing more than money banks to fill the coffers of the Kerala Institutions and the Church.

The real issue here is that the Church or its leadership do not have a clear vision on what the future of the community is. There is no official stance of the Church on homosexuality, genetic cloning, war in Iraq, political situation in India (anything outside Kerala will be welcome), acceptance of other churches and faiths.

There is a general feeling that the Church is a train running in full speed without a driver. There is danger of derailing if there is no serious attempt to do something and turn the tide of this downslide.

More in the next post....... Comments welcome!