Founder K. P. Yohannan Members ≈ 50000 | Polity Episcopal | |
Primate Rt. Rev. Dr. K. P. Yohannan Bishop Territory 33 dioceses in South Asia Website www.believerschurch.com | ||
Believers Church is a Christian denomination with congregations and parishes worldwide. The church now has an episcopal governance, breaking with its founding presbyterian model,. The church claimed this change was to maintain order and accountability. The church holds Christ as the head of the Church (Col 1:18) hence it is governed by a committee of Bishops, the Synod, with one central Bishop holding the honorary title of "first among equals" and follows fundamentally centrist doctrines of Evangelical Protestantism. Believers Church is administratively based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. In 2015, the church reported it was re-organized into 33 dioceses; a decrease from the 36 dioceses reported by Smith in 2009. According to Believers Church, its membership consists of more than 2.6 million people in 10 countries speaking a hundred languages. The Church currently has 13 Bishops, and the current Metropolitan Bishop is Dr. K. P. Yohannan.
Contents
Beginnings
The original church was rooted in Pentecostalism. On 6 February 2003, Rt. Rev. Dr. K. J. Samuel, the Moderator Bishop of the Church of South India (a part of the worldwide Anglican Communion), along with six other bishops consecrated Rt. Rev. Dr. K.P. Yohannan as a bishop for apostolic succession, and there after installed as the first Metropolitan of the Believers Church: which metamorphosed it into an emerging protestant church with that is Biblical in Faith, Evangelical in nature, Apostolic in origin, Ecumenical in outlook, and Episcopalian in governance. The church adheres to the Nicene Creed, biblical faith, and traditions of the historical church backed up with its own canonical constitution.
The Episcopal Synod and the diocesan councils take the responsibility for planning and executing the mission, religious life and charitable programs of the Church. The Believers Church is divided as regions into dioceses, each with its own leader. Each local church has members ranging from less than one hundred to a thousand with an average of hundred, and the number of parishes themselves are increasing. The Believers Church is divided into various dioceses under the leadership of Diocesan Bishop or a Vicar-general. In 2013 the church planned to merge with Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.
Faith and Practice
The liturgical model adopted in Believers Church includes Prayers, Scripture readings and a Common confession with pledging the Nicene Creed and accepts the general Apostles' Creed in the wider church. Believers Church administers the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. The Revised Common Lectionary, which has a three year cycle is used for biblical readings and the church observes the Evangelical feast. The Church now follows EBP approach in practice of faith with firm adherence to scriptural principles.
Beliefs
The church accepts the Old Testament and New Testament of the Bible as the inspired Word of God which is inerrant and the fundamental standard of faith, and complete and final written revelation of God. It also adheres to the Nicene Creed. The church believes in the following doctrines:
Core Values
For being distinguishable members of Believers church, and the message of the Word of God to be applied in an individual’s life leading to a greater maturity in Christ, following are the official code of living.
Humanitarian Services
Believers Church is involved in various social projects and has been lauded for “its humanitarian service towards the society at large.” The church’s social service includes poverty alleviation, blindness control and promoting adult literacy. The church is also providing shelter to street children through a home called Asha Grih, which is licensed by the Indian Government. Additionally, Believers Church has a child development project called Bridge of Hope (BOH). BOH provides holistic development to needy children throughout South Asia. As of 2012, the project is helping 60,000 underprivileged children by providing them free education, a nutritious diet and school supplies. Bridge of Hope’s 525 project centers are staffed by 2,400 individuals.