Jaffna church in crisis over election of Bishop

The Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India has been plunged into crisis with some 90% of the members alleging that they were forced to accept a new Bishop who was elected in a secret, unconstitutional, undemocratic and unchristian manner.

On August 22 the synod in India elected and consecrated Rev. D. S. Thiagarajah as the Bishop of the Jaffna Diocese of the CSI. The JDCSI’s secretary Rev. Milton Solomon, the Colombo Church of the CSI and others in petitions and resolutions have alleged that Bishop Thiagarajah was under aged and not eligible for election but the process was manipulated by interested parties to get him elected. JDCSI secretary Rev. Solomon in a letter to the heads of the major Christian denominations said the new Bishop was elected and consecrated secretly at an unknown place in India contrary to previous consecrations which took place in leading Cathedrals in the presence of thousands of church members. He said the method of election was full of intrigue and unjust creating dissension and a major crisis among church members. He said some 90% of the JDCSI members opposed the elections of the new Bishop and their democratic rights had been suppressed through what he described as “ecclesiastical thuggary”.

He said 90% of the members would not accept the new Bishop and would fight against the synod leadership in India. He also urged Heads of other Christian denominations not accept a Bishop who was elected in a manner that made a mockery of Christian values. Some members of the Colombo church went to the Mt Lavinia court and sought a interim injunction preventing the new Bishop from functioning till the crisis was sorted out. The court issued summons on the new Bishop and when he did not turn up a warrant was issued. The new Bishop later asked court to give him time as he needed to attend to some urgent functions.

Members of the Colombo church said certain pastors supporting the new Bishop had allegedly tried to get the LTTE also involved in the crisis. But the Tigers had reportedly told them they would not get involved in the internal dispute of a church. They allege that some pastors opposing the new Bishop had been threatened and one was even attacked.

The Colombo church of the JDCSI in a resolution adopted recently urged the Moderator in India to cancel the election of the new Bishop and follow the constitutional procedure whereby the local council submits a list of nominees from whom a new Bishop could be elected by the synod in India.They challenged the Moderator in India to visit the JDCSI in Jaffna or Colombo and check for himself the wishes of the majority of the members.