Malabar Diocese

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" [Romans 8:26]

Bifurcation of North Kerala Diocese into Dioceses of Malabar and Cochin officially came into effect on 9th April 2015 during the Special Synod meeting held in Chennai. The Official declaration of the formation of the Diocese of Malabar was made by the Moderator of the Church of South India the Most Rev. Dr. G. Dyvasirvadam in a grand Thanks giving service held at CSI Cathedral, Kozhikode on the 11th of October 2015.Subsequently,the Diocese of Malabar started functioning in the Head Office in the CSI Diocesan Office, Bank Road, Kozhikode, under the Chairmanship of the Moderator's Commissary Rt. Rev. B. N. Fenn and Administrative Committee appointed by the Synod.

The Administrative Committee functioned until the election and formation of the Executive Committee and Office Bearers for Malabar Diocese in the Diocesan Council meeting held on 24th September 2015.

The first meeting of the Diocesan Council was held at the CSI Cathedral, Kozhikode on 14th July 2015. The Council adopted new constitution for the functioning of the Diocese. The Moderator's Commissary the Rt. Rev. B. N. Fenn chaired the meeting.

The second meeting of the Diocesan Council was held at the CSI St. Mary's English Church, Kozhikode on 24th September 2015. The Moderator the Most Rev. Dr. G. Dyvasirvadam presided over the meeting. The Moderator's Commissary was also present in the meeting. The Council elected new officers and Executive Committee and representatives to the Synod. The following were elected as the Officers of the Diocese:

• Clergy Secretary – Rev. Jacob Daniel
• Lay Secretary - Mr. Desmond Babu
• Treasurer - Mr. M.N. George

Malabar Diocese is comprising the area within Kerala State in the north, spread in five revenue districts such as Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad and Kannur consisting of 85 churches including the out stations. There are 46 Presbyters and 36 Upadesis and Church Workers engaged in the ecclesiastical services within the Diocese.

We are doing the Ministry by serving the society through following Diocesan institutions. 51 schools,2 colleges, 1 Technical School, 1 Hospital, Homes for financially backward children, Working Women's hostel, etc. We thank God that our educational institutions are always in the forefront maintaining standard of education par excellence with other schools. Our Mission Hospital in Codacal; especially the newly commissioned physical rehabilitation centre is doing an effective healing ministry. Our Pre-Marital counselling program is functioning very systematically in our Retreat Centre in Kozhikode.

We thank God for giving us the following group of dynamic team leaders to head our ministry.

• Pastoral & Ministerial - Rev. Jacob Daniel, Clergy Secretary
• Property Department - Mr. Reginold Walter, Secretary
• Mission & Evangelism - Mr. George K. Thomas, Convener
• Social Board - Rev. P. T. George, Convener
• Ecology- Rev. Joy Masilamani, Director
• Education Board- Rev. Saju Benjamin (Aided Schools), Corporate Manager Mr. Reiner Kuniyath (Un-aided Schools), Manager
• Christian Education- Rev. T. J. Joseph, General Secretary
• College Managers- Rev. Jacob Daniel (Christian Muller College) Mr. Jayapal Samuel Zachai (Malabar Christian College)
• Women's Board- Mrs.Bindu Royce, President, Women's Fellowship
• Medical Board- Rev. Dr. T. I. James, Director
• Communications& Sabhamitharm- Rev.Sunil Puthiyattil, Director and Chief Editor
• Youth Board- Rev. Bernet M.P., General Secretary

The people of Malabar Diocese had a very memorable event of the Grand finale of the bicentenary celebration of Basel Mission at Calicut on the 11th October 2015. The spectacular historic rally through the streets of Calicut city will never fade away from the minds the young and old. Our Moderator Most Rev. Dr. G. Dyvasirvadam, Officers of the Synod, Bishops, Leaders of the secular society and hundreds of Church members took part in the jubilant occasion.

Another mile stone in the history of Malabar Diocese is the election of the panel to select the first Shepherd to our Diocese on the 16th February 2016. By the Grace of God almighty Rt. Rev. Dr. Royce Manoj Victor was consecrated as the first bishop of the Diocese of Malabar on 17th May 2016 in a service held at the CSI Cathedral, Kozhikode.

The First Executive committee met on 20th May 2016 under the chairmanship of the new Bishop of the Diocese. In this meeting the Bishop stressed upon to give more emphasis on further extending missionary works which is our prime responsibility. Hence, the Diocese is now focusing on self- financing projects by each parish thus to complement the income of the Diocese. Our dream is to acquire our own mission field in the near future. The 19 sub-committees under the executive committee are functioning very well. Our Diocesan magazine "CSI Malabar Sabhamithram" is playing a vital role in efficient communication media. Very soon we will have own website and with various links which will be useful to all our members.

The Diocese has taken keen interest in enriching Sunday School, Youth fellowship and women's Fellowship through introducing various projects and educative sessions. Our ecological concern department is vigorously making awareness drive concentrating in all our parishes and in the neighbourhood. We are targeting for declaring all our 43 parishes as "Green Parishes" by the year 2018.

Most of our Basel Mission- built Churches are celebrating 150th to 175th years anniversaries. We are in the move to renovate /re build these churches in the coming years and so also the parsonages.

At present we are in the process of building our own Bishop's House in our office premises.

It is really amazing to see how God is leading ahead the new Diocese of Malabar, in the midst of various crises and confusions.

"And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" [Philippians 4: 16:19].