Christ Lutheran Church (India)

Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) - India
Classification	Protestant
Orientation	Mainline Lutheran
Polity	Modified episcopal polity with some powers reserved to the congregation as in congregationalism
Presiding bishop	The Rt. Rev. Dr. M. Stanley Jose
Associations	Lutheran World Federation (LWF) United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) World Council of Churches (WCC)
Region	India
Headquarters	CLC Center, Tambaram, Chennai,Tamilnadu, India
Origin	Constituting Convention on May 08, 2014, in Kerala, India,
Congregations	67 (2019)
Members	6260 baptized members (2019)
Official website	www.clccs.in

The Christ Lutheran Church in India (CLC) is a mainline Protestant Lutheran Church headquartered in Tambaram, Chennai. The CLC officially came into existence on May 30, 2014. It was established by few Lutheran pastors who felt the need of organizing the Lutherans who are spread over the country for their work purpose where there are no Lutheran churches. Therefore for the Diaspora community of the Lutherans who belong to several Lutheran churches. As of 2019, it has approximately 6260 baptized members in 67 congregations. The CLC is the 12th member Church of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) which is a member Church organization of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI). Moreover, CLC became the 148th member Church of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) since 2018; and through UELCI , Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) is also a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC). CLC is in full communion with all the Lutheran and the mainline traditional Churches affiliated with the UELCI in the national level and LWF in the global communion of the Lutherans.

History

Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) took its origin in May 2014. It was established by few Lutheran pastors who felt the need of organizing the Lutherans who are spread over the country for their work purpose where there are no Lutheran churches. Therefore for the Diaspora community of the Lutherans who belong to several Lutheran churches.

As a result of mission focused church to the unreached people groups in particular to the Lutherans, the Christ Lutheran Church felt the urgent need for incorporating under a constitutional framework to work together in one spirit for effective stewardship, accountability and transparency in fulfilling the mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ with a holistic approach. Since its inception,CLC is interested in engaging and developing the whole person in different levels: Physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual and it grows slowly and steadily every year.

Vision & Mission

Vision Committed to serving each other and those in need, becoming and being a good neighbor in the local community, seeking out for the lost souls, baptizing and discipling, welcoming those who have no church to attend, being involved and supportive as partners of efforts throughout community where the local church is established, renewing the spiritual growth of all members and training and developing spirit-filled future leaders of the church.

Mission To preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet the holistic needs of all men: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Organization

Christ Lutheran Church - India comes under the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI). CLC is headed by a Presiding Bishop, who is elected by the Church-wide Assembly. To date, . Rt.Rev.Dr.Stanely Jose is the Presiding Bishop from 2019. The Christ Lutheran Church (CLC) has become the 12th member Church of the United Evangelical Churches in India (UELCI). The Lutheran World Federation has accepted CLC as the 55th member church in Asia and the 148th in the global communion.

Episcopacy

On 5 May 2014, the Tamil congregation of different missions joined together to form the Christ Lutheran Church (CLC). In May 2019, the constitution of the CLC was amended to include the structure of episcopacy. In 2019, Rev.Dr.Stanely Jose, unanimously elected was consecrated as the first bishop of the Christ Lutheran Church.

Beliefs

Lutheranism

Lutheranism is associated with the theology of Martin Luther, with its official confessional writings found in the Book of Concord.

1. We believe, teach, and confess the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. We believe, teach, and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and the gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe in him.
3. We believe, Jesus Christ is the Word of God incarnate, through whom everything was made and through whose life, death, and resurrection God fashions a new creation.
4. We believe in the proclamation of God’s message to us as both law and gospel is the Word of God, revealing judgment and mercy in the person and work of Jesus Christ through whom God was pleased to reconcile all things to Himself.
5. We believe the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God. Inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through their authors, they record and announce God’s revelation centering in Jesus Christ. Through them God’s Spirit speaks to us to create and sustain Christian faith and fellowship for service in the world.
6. We believe, teach, and accept the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the sole authoritative source and norm of our proclamation, faith, and life.
7. We accept the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds as true declarations of the scriptural faith we believe, teach, and confess.
8. We believe, teach, and accept the Unaltered Augsburg Confession and the Small Catechism as true witnesses to the Word of God, normative for our teaching and practice. We acknowledge that we are one in faith and doctrine with all churches that likewise accept the teachings of the Unaltered Augsburg Confession.
9. We believe, teach, and confess the other confessional writings in the Book of Concord namely, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise, the Large Catechism, and the Formula of Concord, as further valid expositions of the Holy Scriptures.
10. We believe, teach, and confess the gospel, recorded in the Holy Scriptures and confessed in the ecumenical creeds and Lutheran confessional writings, as the power of God to create and sustain the priesthood of all believers for God’s mission in the world.
11. We believe that man was created good and upright; for God said, “Let us make man in our own image, after our likeness.” However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.
12. We believe that man’s only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God, according to the hope of eternal life. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit.
13. We believe that the ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded by the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Saviour and Lord are to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
14. We believe that the Lord’s Supper, consisting of the elements: bread and the wine is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4 a memorial of his suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26) and a prophecy of His second coming (1 Corinthians 11:26) and is enjoined on all believers “till He come!”
15. We believe that all believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With it comes the power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.
16. We believe in the fruit of the spirit, and spiritual gifts, and the five fold ministries of the Church (Galatians 5: 22-23; I Corinthians 12: 4-11; Ephesians 4: 11-12).
17. We believe that sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by the faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit.
18. We believe that the Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn, which are written in heaven. A divinely called and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided by our Lord for the fourfold purpose of leading the Church in the Evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20) Worship of God (John 4:23,24), Building a body of saints being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16) Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion (James 1:27).
19. We believe that divine healing is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided for in the atonement, and is the privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).
20. We believe that the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
21. We believe that the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years.
22. We believe that there will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the devil and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to the everlasting punishment in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. We believe that there will be a new heaven and a new earth wherein the saved ones shall dwell with God in eternity.

Scripture

The CLC constitution states: "This church accepts the canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God and the authoritative source and norm of its proclamation, faith, and life.

CLC clergy tend not to subscribe to a doctrine of Biblical inerrancy, but see validity in various scholarly methods of analysis to help in understanding the Bible.

Sacraments

Like other Lutheran church bodies, the CLC confesses at least two Sacraments: Communion (or the Eucharist) and Holy Baptism (including christening). Confession and absolution is often included as a Sacrament; however, as it is a return to the forgiveness given in baptism, strictly speaking there are only two sacraments.

With respect to the Eucharist, the CLC holds to the Lutheran doctrine of the sacramental union, that is, that Christ's body and blood is truly present "in, with and under" the bread and wine.

The Lutheran belief in the mysterious character of the consecrated bread and wine is more similar to Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox belief than most Protestants. In contrast, most Protestant church bodies doubt or openly deny that the true body and blood of Christ is eaten in the Lord's Supper.

Unlike certain other Indian Lutheran church bodies, the CLC practices open communion, permitting all persons baptized in the name of the Trinity with water to receive communion. The CLC encourages its churches to celebrate the Eucharist at all services, although some churches alternate between non-Eucharistic services and those containing the Lord's Supper.

Social issues

The CLC stances on social issues are outlined in its Social Statements and Messages. Social Statements, which must be adopted by a two-thirds majority of a Churchwide Assembly, have been adopted on the following topics:

• Abortion
• Church in Society
• Death Penalty
• Economic Life
• Education
• Environment
• Gender Equality
• Health and Health Care
• Peace

Role of women

The great Protestant Reformist Martin Luther freed people from being bound to tradition. Christ Lutheran Church apposes traditions that oppress the women community in general and affirms the clear official position of the Lutheran World Federation which favors women ordination since 1984. Women ordination goes to the heart of the gospel. Therefore, CLC supports women ordination. Rev. Vimala Shanthi Jose is the first woman pastor ordained in Chennai on 04 September 2016 by Rev. Dr. M. Stanley Jose, President, CLC, besides 4 men clergy. More women pastors have been ordained in 2017 and 2018.

Gender Justice Policy

The Lord is the God of justice. One of the foundations of God’s throne is justice, “…….righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne” (Psalm 97:2). “The concern for justice pervades the entire Old Testament…….the evidence shows that the concern for justice was one, if not the central, factor by which ancient Israel’s multifaceted societal life was united throughout its historical changes….No sphere of Israel’s life was exempt from concern for justice……”1 God’s word cries for justice to all irrespective of gender bias. God’s grace liberates all men, women, and brings them together in Christ. Togetherness in Christ alone is the source of strength to fight for equality, equity, and justice. In this context CLC is committed to “being inclusive and enabling the full and equitable participation of women and men in church life and society, and its decision making process, activities and programs.” To achieve equality, equity and justice CLC has framed a Gender Justice Policy.

Abortion

The issue of abortion is a matter of contention within the CLC. The CLC describes itself as "a community supportive of life," and encourages women to explore alternatives to abortion such as adoption. However, the Social Statement asserts that there are certain circumstances under which a decision to end a pregnancy can be "morally responsible." These include cases where the pregnancy "presents a clear threat to the physical life of the woman," situations where "the pregnancy occurs when both parties do not participate willingly in sexual intercourse," and "circumstances of extreme fetal abnormality, which will result in severe suffering and very early death of an infant." Regardless of the reason, the CLC opposes abortion when "a fetus is developed enough to live outside a uterus with the aid of reasonable and necessary technology." The CLC opposes "laws that deny access to safe and affordable services for morally justifiable abortions," and "laws that are primarily intended to harass those contemplating or deciding for an abortion."

Euthanasia

The CLC official statement on "End of Life Decisions", disapproves euthanasia: "We oppose the legalization of physician-assisted death, which would allow the private killing of one person by another. Public control and regulation of such actions would be extremely difficult, if not impossible. The potential for abuse, especially of people who are most vulnerable, would be substantially increased.

Ministry

As a Lutheran church body, the CLC professes belief in the "priesthood of all believers" as reflected in Martin Luther's To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation, that all baptized persons have equal access to God and are all called to use their gifts to serve the body of Christ. Some people are called to "rostered ministry", or vocations of church leadership and service. After formation, theological training, and approval by local synods these people are "set aside, but not above" through ordination or commissioning/consecration.

The church makes a clear distinction between the deacon's "Ministry of Word and Service", and the Pastor's "Ministry of Word and Sacrament".

In CLC the word ordination refers specifically to the setting apart of an ordained pastor in the ministry of word and sacrament. The similar rite for setting apart a bishop is called installation, and the rite for setting apart a deacon is called consecration. All three rites (for bishops, pastors, and deacons) are formal liturgies, with prayer and the laying-on of hands by the bishop, or by the Presiding Bishop in the case of the installation of a new bishop.

Role in Pastoral Care

CLC believes that we are called to love all people irrespective of all cast, creed and race as Christ loved us. With limited to our capacity CLC gladly extend our loving care to anyone who are in need of us, including those who are elderly, disabled or disadvantaged in any way. We believe the words of Jesus, who said that when we reach out in love and care to someone else, we do it for him (Matthew 25:37.)

The CLC provides pastoral care for the following groups in particular:

• Widows help
• Medical help
• Educational help
• Help to the disabled
• Transformation to Transgenders

Ecumenical Relations

Christ Lutheran church is the 12th member church of United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) and 148th member church of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and 55th member church in Asia. The CLC is also a member of the World Council of Churches

Our Name and Emblem

We proudly call ourselves the Christ Lutheran in India. Christ Lutheran Church encompasses with a vibrant group of people with the great mission of Sharing Christ to the world. Also we are anchored in ‘Solus Christus: By Christ Alone’ which one of the pillars of faith. The purpose of Christ Lutheran Church in India is to preach the good news and teach God’s Holy Scripture, meeting the spiritual needs of the community and touching lives through Christ.

Emblem Background

The vision and mission of the Christ Lutheran Church is expressed in its emblem: Congregations are deeply committed to the faith and practice as it is revealed in the Word. The logo reflects the core values of the Christ Lutheran Church. The early Church fathers chose the symbol of the cross as a reminder of all that Christ had done for them. The mark of the cross, representing the gospel of redemption which reminds the Christ’s sacrifice to the human race.

Our emblem is the Jerusalem Cross in Circle

Jerusalem Cross basically composed of 5 crosses; 1 large central cross with 4 smaller crosses in each quadrant. It reminds Christ's command to spread the good news around the world; a mission that started in Jerusalem which is represented by the large, center cross. The four smaller crosses are positioned at the four corners, they also remind Jesus’ followers to proclaim the Good News of Christ’s forgiveness and the new life with all people to all the ends or corners of the earth Also Key mottoes are encircled in the logo

1. Kerygma - Proclamation
2. Didache - Teach
3. koinonia - Communion
4. Diakonia - Call to serve the poor and oppressed

CLC- related seminary

'Study Program through Theological College

• Vera May Whittingham Memorial College of Theology (VMWMCT)
• THE HISTORY Vera May was born in Canada of English parents in the year 1913. Her mother died when she was a baby. As a result she was raised by her father who died when she was in twenties. She was married at eighteen. Her husband died after 43 years of marriage. She was a widow for 39 years. She died on the 29th October2013 at the good old age of101 years. She started attending the Church when Rev. Dr. Austin K. Smith took pastoral responsibility at the Toronto Gospel Lighthouse Church in Toronto, Canada. Vera May asked Rev. Dr. Smith and his wife if they would take care of her and her affairs when she was unable to. They both agreed and did as promised. She was asked by Rev. Dr. Smith to leave something in her "Will" that could be used to build a memorial to her name to which she agreed. . Rev. Dr. M. Stanley Jose, the founder and president of the then New Life Bible College visited Canada in 1997. It was by divine providence that he met with Rev. Dr. Smith. As a result of their ministerial relationship and bond of Christian love over a period, Rev. Dr. Smith shared his dream in doing something in memory of Vera May. Consequently, with the help of Rev. Dr. Smith, the dream became a reality in the establishment of a memorial center in Chennai, India. Accordingly, the New Life Bible College name has been changed to "Vera May Whittingham Memorial College of Theology (VMWMCT) to which the late Rev. Dr. Smith's role is exceedingly commendable. He was the first Chairman of VMWMCT until he passed away on 23 May 2021.
• THE VISION is to grow and make more of an impact as we train and equip students to resource the Church.
• THE MISSION is to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ.
• THE COMMITMENT In order to equip men and women for ministry as godly servant-leaders, VMWMCT is committed to encourage the development of godly character in each student who enrolls for theological education to enter into pastoral ministry. In the courses offered, "Students take a journey into the heart of pastoral care from its biblical and theological roots to its practice in contemporary Christian ministry. Emphasis is placed on understanding pastoral care as a spiritual ministry directed towards caring for souls in a way that guides people to discover the presence, compassion and power of God in whatever circumstances they are facing." Therefore, the college is committed to the preparation of students who are called by God with deeper commitment to Jesus Christ and are marked by biblical and theological knowledge and maturing spirituality, along with the skills necessary for pastoral/church-based ministries. Through the Church based training, students are encouraged to grow spiritually in their personal relationship with God to function responsibly within the Christian community and to engage and witness to the world from a life of faith and integrity. VMWMCT is committed to helping church leaders develop the servant-hood leadership as modeled by Jesus Christ and the apostles. Christ's model leadership results from the gracious working of God the Holy Spirit through a person's experience, theological training, spiritual gifting, natural talents, and the empowerment of God's Spirit. Moreover the training program might not only increase skills but also change one's heart.
• METHOD OF LEARNING "Theological education itself is seen as fundamentally church-based according to the model of Paul and Timothy, whereby leaders develop through real ministry experiences and mentoring in the context of churches." No one needs to leave his family or church or job to join a full-time residential college. Instead, the church-based training program facilitates a candidate to do his academic learning besides his/her practical ministry and earn a degree in theological education/pastoral ministry. It means the teaching staff will come to churches to conduct periodical classes where a minimum of 10 students attend the Program.
• PROGRAMS OFFERED VMWMCT OFFERS Bachelor and Masters level programs besides practical pastoral leadership ministries in local cultural context. Teaching materials are made available in bounded book form as well as modules for learning. Periodical contact programs shall be conducted at respective centers by qualified teachers. Assignments and other essays must be submitted on or before the prescribed time which shall be intimated to the students. Thesis for Bachelor and Master Level is compulsory for awarding of degrees and Graduation.
• MEDIUM OF TEACHING is in English. However, courses will be offered in other languages as per demand ( Tamil, Telugu, Hindi etc).
• DURATION OF THE PROGRAMS Bachelor of Divinity (BD) Four years.  Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) will be offered after completion of three years of study.
• Master of Theology in Pastoral Theology (M.Th.) Two years For Contact: The Director/Principal: veramaycollegeoftheology@gmail.com Accreditation: in progress
• Edited by: Rt. Rev. Dr. M. Stanley Jose, PhD          Director-Principal +91-9940239218
• Rhema Studies of Theology Association (RSOTA)
• VMWMCT (formerly known as New Life Bible College of the New Life Kingdom Ministries) has MoU with RSOTA in Toronto, Canada. it offers Certificate/diploma in pastoral thology, and advanced Level study programs in the same field through blended learning method. Kindly refer to https://rsota.org/

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