1. Churches in Full Communion

1.1 Anglican Churches in India, Canada and Global

As a reformed Church with Episcopal traditions, the Mar Thoma Church entered into dialogue with the Anglican Church in India. The Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops considered the question of communion between the two Churches. A commission was appointed by the Anglican Church in India in 1957 to study the possibility of intercommunion. After considering the report of the Commission a concordat was agreed upon in 1961 establishing Communion relationship between the two Churches. It was also agreed that in the consecration of Bishops by either Church, the Bishops of the other Church should participate. Thus ministry of the two Churches was mutually accepted in full. Subsequently the Lambeth Conference declared acceptance of the ministry and full communion relationship. The Mar Thoma Church is now in full communion relationship with the Anglican Communion all over the world. Since 1961, Archbishop of Canterbury invites Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church to Lambeth Conference, which is held once in ten years in Canterbury, England.

Members of the Mar Thoma Church began migration to North America in large numbers since the beginning of 1960s. As the concentration of  the church members increased all over North America, the Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church made agreements with the Prelates of the Anglican Church in Canada and of the Episcopal Church in the United States by which they would provide pastoral care for the members of the Mar Thoma Church in those countries, whenever necessary. Simultaneously, the Church took action to send more priests to the USA and Canada and established its own zonal administration in 1982.

The present Valia Metropolitan attended the Lambeth Conference in 1978. He participated in the installation of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1980. Also, he attended the Anglican Consultative Council held in, Nigeria in 1984 with the Moderators of Church of South India (CSI) and Church of North India (CNI), the Anglican churches in India. The Archbishop of Canterbury visited Kerala in February 1986 and participated in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Reformation in the Church.

Lambeth Conference 2008 took place at the University of Kent, Canterbury in England from July 16 to August 3, 2008. Rt. Rev. Dr Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, our Diocesan Bishop represented the Mar Thoma Church in this conference. His Grace was welcomed as an ecumenical partner and given the opportunity to serve the communion on the inaugural Eucharist on Sunday the 20th July 08 and to read the Gospel portion on the concluding Eeucharist on Sunday the 3rd August 2008.

Click here for more details on Communion of churches in India and the Joint Council of the Church of North India (CNI) and the Church of South India (CSI) and Mar Thoma Church.

1.2 Independent Syrian Church of Thozhiyoor, India

The Mar Thoma Church is in communion relationship with the Independent Syrian Church of Thozhiyoor, although the doctrinal positions are not mutually accepted in full. When the Metropolitan Thomas Mar Athanasius passed away without consecrating a successor in 1893, it was the Metropolitan of the Thozhiyoor Church who consecrated Metropolitan Titus I Mar Thoma, and helped the Mar Thoma Church in a serious crisis. Mar Thoma Metropolitans have since then helped in consecrating the Metropolitans of Thozhiyoor Church. According to the constitution of the Thozhiyoor Church, when difficulties arise the Thozhiyoor Church should seek the advice and guidance of the Mar Thoma Metropolitan despite the fact that either Church has no authority over the other. Thus the relation between the Thozhiyoor Church and Mar Thoma Church is unique. In recent years three Metropolitans of the Thozhiyoor Church were consecrated by the Metropolitans of the Mar Thoma Church. The centenary of the fraternal relationship between the two Churches was celebrated in the Sabha Mandalam on September 14, 1994.