Excerpts from the May 2026 edition…

FROM THE EDITOR

Dear Friends
Greetings to you from the Editorial Team of the Friends of the Church in India.
We hope you had a blessed Lent and a joyful Easter, and that the hope of the risen Christ continues to renew and encourage you in the days ahead.
As we continue our journey of faith, we hold in our prayers all those whose lives have been disrupted by war and conflict. We remember especially the victims and their families, asking God to grant comfort to the bereaved, healing to the injured, and strength and provision to all who have been displaced. We also pray for peace in our world— that hearts may turn from violence, leaders may seek justice and wisdom, and communities may find the courage to reconcile and rebuild. ….

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What is the point of Theological education?

When I was teaching in TTS – Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary, Madurai, South India – I used to shock the students by asking what the point was of all the university qualifications to which they aspired. Jesus of Nazareth did not have a B.D., nor a Masters in Pastoral Studies. Although identifiable as one of the emerging class of religious teachers beginning to be known as rabbis, he did not belong to any of the great schools of the law, as St Paul did before his conversion. Yet he taught ‘as one with authority, and not as the scribes and the Pharisees.’ His knowledge of the Hebrew scriptures was acknowledged, and his deep spirituality. So where does that leave us, who seek to follow our Lord? ….

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Church of South India – Medak Centenary Celebrations

“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:4
I deem it as a great joy to share the happiness and excitement of the Centenary celebrations of the CSI Cathedral at Medak in Telangana State of South India. This beautiful and magnificent church stands as the second greatest and biggest church in Asia. It has successfully completed 100 years of mission and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. This church was inaugurated on Christmas Day, on 25th December, 1924 to illuminate the lives of millions of people living in darkness, starvation, ill-health, famine, poverty and illiteracy. The great man of God, Rev. Charles Walker Posnett, the Wesleyan Missionary from England had great compassion, vision to save and serve these people irrespective of their faith, religion, caste and class.

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Church of South India – Diocese of Dornakal

In the embrace of a loving community, I extend my warmest greetings to you, inspired by the divine grace bestowed upon us through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is with profound humility that I introduce myself: I am Revd. John Jawahar, a senior member of the clergy within the Anglican Diocese of Dornakal, India, where I find a unique purpose as a member of the Fellowship of Churches in India (FCI).
I have been entrusted with a significant responsibility by my Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Padma Rao, appointing me as a representative of the Church of South India Telugu Community in England and Ireland. Currently, I serve with fervent dedication as a volunteer in Dublin, Ireland, and London, United Kingdom, where I amplify the voice of our rich heritage and tradition.

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Remembering Revd Canon Ivor Smith-Cameron

Tribute to The Revd Dr Gordon Shaw

For texts of obituaries published in the magazine, see the Obituaries page.

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