wfn.org | Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Joins NCCCUSA

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: NCCCUSA News, 212-870-2227
Internet: news@ncccusa.org

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Becomes
the NCC's 35th and Newest Member Communion

CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 1998 ---- The National Council of Churches of Christ in
the U.S.A. received the American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian
Church into its membership.  The NCC's General Assembly unanimously 
approved the diocese's request for membership here Nov. 11.

 Immigrant members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church or Indian
Orthodox Church established the American Diocese as a national or
missionary entity in 1978.  The diocese now has about 12,000 members and 68
clergy in 60 parishes.

 His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas, the diocesan Metropolitan, addressed the
assembly.  "We speak much about love.  We speak much about unity," he said,
adding that together Christians share the work of caring for the poor and
outcast.

 The American Diocese is the 35th member communion of the NCC.  Dr. Bruce
Robbins of the United Methodist Church brought its nomination to the
assembly for the committee he chairs.

 The Assembly had anticipated reviewing the eligibility for membership of
the Alliance of Baptists, which separated from the Southern Baptist
Convention during a controversy over fundamentalism.  However, the NCC
Membership and Ecclesial Relations Committee reported that it had not had
adequate time to review the Alliance's application for NCC membership.
That review and consultation with the Alliance and with the NCC's members
will take place during the months ahead with General Assembly action in
November 1999.

-end-