MINUTES BOOK

OF

THE GENERAL COUNCIL

OF THE

CHURCH OF INDIA,
Pakistan, Burma & Ceylon

C.I.P.B.C

2017

 GENERAL COUNCIL

OF

THE CHURCH OF INDIA, PAKISTAN, BURMA & CEYLON C.I.P.B.C – 2017

Held on the 29th and 30th of September and the 1st of October 2017
at St. Mary’s School, Para, Rajajipuram, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh -226017

THE PROCEEDINGS AND RECORDS

OF THE DECISIONS

The sessions of the General Council of the Church of India C.I.P.B.C was held on the 29^th and 30^th September and the 1^st of October 2017 at St. Mary’s School, Para Road, Rajajipuram, Lucknow. The Session was held from 10:30 A.M. to 1.30 P.M. on the above days.

On the 29^th of September, 2017, the delegates of the General Council attended the Holy Eucharist in St. Mary’s Church celebrated by the Venerable. Fr. Christian C. Joel Stephan at 8:15 A.M. followed by the sessions of the General Council.

On the 30^th of September, 2017, the delegates of the General Council attended the Holy Eucharist in St. Mary’s Church celebrated by the Rt. Rev Dharamveer Edwin Singh at 8:15 A.M. followed by the sessions of the General Council.

On the 1st of October, 2017 the members attended the Holy Mass at 10.30 A.M. and also participated in the Consecration ceremony of Venerable Heera Nawal Masih at Christ Church, Hazratganj, Lucknow. After the service the delegates participated in the Banquet held at St. Mary’s School, Para Road, Rajajipuram, Lucknow in honour of the conclusion of the General Council and the newly consecrated bishop Rt. Rev. Heera Nawal Masih.

Prayer:

Venerable. Fr. Christian C. Joel Stephan conducted the prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the success of the General Council.

Welcome:

The members attending the General Council were welcomed by the Most Rev. John Augustine Metropolitan of India and the Bishop of the Diocese of Lucknow.

Message:­

The Most Rev. John Augustine, Bishop of Lucknow gave the message on the growth of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma & Ceylon (CIPBC).

Announcements:

The Most Rev. John Augustine the Metropolitan of India and Bishop of the Diocese of Lucknow made the following announcement.

1. Venerable Heera Nawal Masih, the Archdeacon of Nagpur and the Metropolitans Commissary has been elected by the Diocesan Council of Nagpur as the Bishop of Nagpur. And his election has also been confirmed by the Episcopal Synod.

ROLL CALL WAS TAKEN AND FOLLOWING DELEGATES WERE PRESENT TO ATTEND THE GENERAL COUNCIL

PRESENTS –

House of Bishops

1. The Most. Rev John Augustine – Metropolitan of the Church of India and the Bishop of the Diocese of Lucknow
2. The Rt. Rev. Noel Hembrom- Bishop of the Diocese of Chota Nagpur.

• The Rt. Rev. Pankaj Kumar – Bishop of the Diocese of Amritsar

1. The Rt. Rev. Dr. D.E. Singh – Bishop of the Diocese of Delhi.
2. The Rt. Rev. Shaju Madapurath – Bishop of the Diocese of Nasik.

House of Priests

Diocese of Amritsar

1. Fr. Lal Masih
2. Deacon Deepak Masih
3. Deacon Rajan Sekh

Diocese of Assam

1. Fr. Philip Barla
2. Fr. Malatia Topono
3. Fr. Pradeep Nag
4. Deacon Albin Xalxo

Diocese of Bhagalpur

1. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das
2. Fr. John S. Hembrom
3. Deacon Anil Sah

Diocese of Calcutta

1. Fr. Bogala Wilson
2. Fr. Bogala Johnson

Diocese of Chota Nagpur

1. Fr. Sushil Bhuinya
2. Fr. Jeevan Junas Manki
3. Fr. John Horo

Diocese of Delhi

1. Fr. Cyril Johnson
2. Fr. Satya Prakash
3. Fr. Salom Lal

Diocese of Lucknow

1. Fr. Vijay K. Robinson
2. Fr. Christian C. Joel Stefan
3. Fr. Tarun Douglas Ballock
4. Fr. Manish Johnson
5. Fr. Henry Xavier
6. Fr. Robinson
7. Deacon Ravinder Kumar Robinson

 Diocese of Madras

1. Fr. Gabriel Suthi

 Diocese of Nagpur

1. Fr. Heera Nawal Masih

Diocese of Nasik

1. Fr. Nazir Sheikh

 House of Laity

Diocese of Amritsar

1. Yusuf
2. Sharat Chandra Digal

Diocese of Assam

1. Christopher Kachhap
2. Lucian Topno
3. Amal Kerketta
4. Harun Korkorria

Diocese of Bhagalpur

1. Anil Biswas
2. Prabhudan Hembrom
3. Arun Das
4. Dinesh Choudhary
5. Anil Juit
6. Ramawtar Ram
7. Janeshwar Kumar

Diocese of Calcutta

1. Bogala Kiran Kumar
2. Bogala Kranthi Kumar
3. Bogala Wesley Gracious
4. Suthi Devdanam

Diocese of Chota Nagpur

1. Premnath Lugun
2. Samuel Hembrom
3. Samuel Dhan
4. Daniel Dodra
5. Kaleb Hembrom
6. Kaushal Bhuinya
7. Phulmani Hembrom
8. Mabel Hembrom

Diocese of Delhi

1. Manju Raman
2. Cinderella S. Joseph
3. Varun Raman

Diocese of Lucknow

1. Swapna Augustine
2. Robinson Patrick John
3. Darpan Xavier
4. Rishabh Baruwa
5. Christopher Brave
6. Ashok Masih
7. Rakesh Massey
8. Jai Paul,
9. Johnson Barla
10. Emmanuel Benedict
11. Abhishek Tripathi
12. Veronica John
13. Venus Robinson

Diocese of Madras

1. Margret Lunlel
2. Cecil Dewar

Diocese of Nagpur

1. Ratan Nawal Masih
2. Shashir Titus
3. Prashant Satlarkar
4. Sujeet Kumar
5. Jennifer Kumar

Diocese of Nasik

1. Edwin John
2. Dixon Peter
3. Binita Minz

DECLARATION: 1

 We the Bishops of the Diocese of Amritsar, Chota Nagpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Nasik assembled at the General Council held at Lucknow on the 29^th and 30^th of September and on the 1^st of October 2017. By virtue of every authority conferred on us inherent or representative by the Indian Church Act and also in consonant with canon 7 of the chapter 1 of the Constitution, Canons and Rules of the CIPBC and every declaration, Canons and Rules therefore in accordance to Standing Order no. 3 paragraph 2 all members are directed to sign the document of confirmation.

Adopted by a unanimous vote of General Council, all members affixed their signature to a copy of this solemn confirmation.

FOLLOWING MEMBRES OF THE SESSION WERE APPOINTED:-

 Minutes Secretaries:-

1. Swapna Hilda Augustine
2. Fr. Joel Christian Stefan

Chairman of the House of Clergy:-

 Ven. Fr. Vijay K. Robinson

Chairman of the House of Laity:-

Mrs. Mary Brave

Drafting Committee:-

The President of the General Council

The Most Rev. John Augustine

1. Rev Noel Hembrom
2. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das
3. Swapana Hilda Augustine

The certificate of appointment of clerical and lay representatives elected under Rule 6, Canon 15 of Chapter 36 or appointment under Rule 7, Canon 3 of Chapter 28 of the Constitution, Canons and Rules of the CIPBC and declarations received by the representatives in accordance to Canon 3(a) of Chapter 3 taken before the session of the General Council started.

Opening proceeding

After roll call the Most Rev. John Augustine, Metropolitan and President of the present General Council, declared the council constituted.

Confirmation of minutes of the General Council held on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th of October, 2014

The minutes of the General Council held on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th of October, 2014 were read out and later Rt. Rev. Noel Hembrom Bishop of Chota Nagpur proposed the confirmation of the minutes.

Proposal No. 1

The minutes were seconded by Rt. Rev. Dharamveer Edwin Singh Bishop of the Diocese of Delhi and the minutes were confirmed.

Resolution No. 1

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed the minutes of the General Council held on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th of October, 2014.”

Election of Provincial Secretary and Treasurer

Proposal No. 2

Rt. Rev. Pankaj Kumar proposed the name of Ven. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das for the Secretary of the Province for the second time.

 It was seconded by Mr. Ratan Nawal Masih

Resolution No. 2

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed by the House the name of Ven. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das to be the Secretary of the Province.”

Proposal No. 3

Ven. Fr. Heera Nawal Masih proposed the name of Ven. Fr. Vijay K. Robinson for the Treasurer of the Province for the second time.

 It was seconded by Ven Fr. Sushil Kumar Bhuinya.

Resolution No. 3

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed by the House the name of Ven. Fr. Vijay K. Robinson to be the Treasurer of the Province.”

Election of Members of The Standing Committee

The members of the standing committee were elected which include the ex-officio members of General Council and elected members.

Ex-officio Members

Most Rev. John Augustine

Ven. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das

Ven. Fr. Vijay K. Robinson

Elected Members:-

 Rt. Rev. Dharamveer Edwin Singh

Rt. Rev. Noel Hembrom

Rt. Rev. Pankaj Kumar

Rev. Fr. Lal Masih

Rev. Fr. Robinson

Rev. Fr. Bogala Wilson

Ven. Fr. Christian C. Joel Stefan

Ven. Fr. Sushil Bhuinya

Ven. Fr. Heera Nawal Masih

Ven. Fr. Philip Barla

Mr. Shashir Titus

Mr. Rakesh Massey

Mrs. Margret Lunlel

Mrs. Cinderella S. Joseph

Mr. Anil Kumar Vishwas

Mr. Abhishek Tripathi

New Head
Election of the Indian Church Trustees

The members of the Indian Church Trustees (ICT) were elected. The members of the Indian Church Trustees are as follows:-

1. Rev. John Augustine Ex-officio Chairman
2. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das Secretary
3. Fr. V.K. Robinson Treasurer
4. Rev. Noel Hembrom member
5. Rev. Shaju Madapurath member
6. Fr. Heera Masih member
7. Sujeet Kumar member
8. Abhishek Tripathi member

Diocesan Reports

Proposal No. 4

Bishop of all dioceses presented their diocesan reports before the house. After presentation of the report Ven. Vijay K. Robinson proposed the house to accept the reports. And it was seconded by Rev. Deacon Anil Sah, Christopher Brave and Benedict Emmanuel.

Resolution No. 4

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed by the House the reports presented by the diocesan bishops and was accepted.”

Publishing of Constitution, Canons and Rules and the Book of Common Prayer

Report

The Metropolitan Most Rev. John Augustine inform the House that the Constitutions, Canons and Rules and the Book of Common Prayer which were to be published by the Saraswati Publication Private Limited, Dariyaganj, New Delhi 110002 could not be published as the said publication was winded up. As a result he had to contact other publishers and now he informed that the Marks Private Limited, Dariyaganj, New Delhi 110002 will publish it.

Metropolitan also inform the House about the proposal of the Diocese of Nagpur for the reprinting of the Book of Common Prayer in Hindi. And he left it to the House to pass the resolution.

Proposal No. 5

Mrs. Swapna Hilda Augustine made the proposal for the publication of the Constitution, Canons & Rules and the Book of Common Prayer to be published by the Marks Private Limited, Dariyaganj, New Delhi 110002.

And it was seconded by Rt. Rev. Noel Hembrom.

Resolution No. 5

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed by the House that the Constitution, Canons & Rules and the Book of Common Prayer be published by the Marks Private Limited, Dariyaganj, New Delhi 110002.”

Proposal No. 6

Ven. Fr. Sushil K. Bhuniya made the proposal for the reprinting of the Book of Common Prayer in Hindi.”

And it was seconded by Mr. Ashok Masih.

Resolution No. 6

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed by the House that Book of Common Prayer in Hindi be published by the Diocese of Chota Nagpur.”

other matters

The Metropolitan Most Rev. John Augustine inform the House that the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon has come in to the full communion with Anglican Catholic Church, Original Province and the Anglican Province of America.

Proposal No. 7

Rt. Rev. Shaju Madapurath made the proposal to conduct the convention of the youth in the province.”

And it was seconded by Rt. Rev. Noel Hembrom.

Resolution No. 7

“It was unanimously resolved and confirmed by the House that the convention of the youth will be conducted yearly in the province.”

After that the Most Rev. John Augustine, the Metropolitan nominated Ven. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das and Ven. Fr. Sushil K. Bhuniya to organize the youth convention annually till the next General Council.

Word of Thanks and the Benediction

The Metropolitan Most Rev. John Augustine thanked the House for helping in completion of the General Council and pronounced his benediction. And the General Council closed sine-die.

Signed on the 30th Day of September in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand & Seventeen.

                President                                                                             Secretary

 The Most Rev. John Augustine                                        Ven. Fr. Jacob Johnson Das