Jesudas M. Athyal and John J. Thatamanil eds., Metropolitan Chrysostom on Mission in the Market Place - Book Review

Ecumenical Review, The, July, 2003 by P. Victor Premasagar

Gospel and culture: Metropolitan Chrysostom points out that the Christian witness of our ancestors was not through preaching but through permeating themselves into the culture of the land. This is based on the self-emptying principle of incarnation. He advocates humanization as the missionary task of the church (p.84). Christian mission should be seen as the transformation of the whole world, with God guiding, leading and strengthening us for the task of witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The metropolitan has strong criticism of ecumenism as practised in the Indian church. He feels that all our ecumenism is "Geneva-based", with no impact upon our local churches. The divisions of the churches in India are still not seen as sin; we have become used to a certain way of functioning as divided churches. In this regard the metropolitan draws attention to the episcopal encyclical issued by the then Metropolitan Juhanon Mar Thoma in 1952, in the context of the formation of the Church of South India in 1947. The encyclical welcomed the formation of the CSI and, as a reciprocal step, expressed the willingness to shed its identity as the Mar Thoma church and to become part of a Church of Christ in India--and in brackets Mar Chrysostom writes: "not in South India alone". This was, to some extent, realized in the formation of the Joint Council of the Church of North India the Church of South India and the Mar Thoma Church. While this did not progress as desired, they have recently declared themselves as Churches in Communion. The metropolitan comments that the vision of the encyclical was not fulfilled, as it was only the vision of the bishops and not of the whole people of the Mar Thoma church. But he goes on to affirm that "despite all our limitations, God is using the ecumenical movement for greater unity of churches, all humans and the whole of God's creation".

God and globalization: This section conveys the depth of the metropolitan's understanding on globalization, referring to Geeverghese Mar Osthathios, Amartya Sen, C.T. Kurien, M.A. Oommen and others. He is willing to follow C.T. Kurien and others who are experts in the field, noting that bishops need not give statements on issues about which they are not sufficiently informed. The views of the informed lay members of the church are also equally valid as the views of the church. Thus, lay witness in the world of business, science and technology, professional, government and other social services is emphasized. The metropolitan strongly advocates equipping the laity to fulfill their mission witness in upholding the values of the gospel in their workplaces (the "market-place").

He has strong criticism of the hierarchical structures of the church, which are found not only among the bishops but also among the achens (priests) who try to exercise, in the local church, unlimited authority and power over their congregations.

The diaspora and the American context: The metropolitan is concerned about the Mar Thoma churches outside Kerala--especially in North America--which, in their concern to maintain their identity, isolate themselves and do not relate to the other churches there. The present arrangement of an American diocese is only an interim solution, and the Mar Thoma churches in North America should relate themselves locally and not look always to Kerala for their nurture and pastoral care. In short, they should become part of the church in their new lands. (This is, as I know, an equally difficult issue for the CSI churches there. The Synod appointed a council of CSI Churches in North America as an interim arrangement for cultural and linguistic sharing among themselves; a family conference is organized each year for this purpose. The ultimate function of the council is to help CSI churches to integrate with our partner churches in those countries; but some want to interpret this arrangement as a permanent one and would not want to associate themselves with other churches in North America.) The metropolitan's clear statement about the Mar Thoma church is helpful for other churches in similar situations.