CEFI – Bishop’s Consecration Ceremony

The Consecration Ceremony of Rev. Dr. Selwyn Kingsley Paul as 130th Bishop of the CEFI (Church of Episcopal Fellowship International) Diocese was held on April 14, 2022, at Chitnavis Centre, Civil Lines, Nagpur. Rev. Paul is an ordained Christian Pastor under the CEFI Diocese and has over three decades of pastoral experience besides sufficient academic and theological qualifications to be nominated as Bishop. He will be working throughout Central and North India from Nagpur henceforth.

 

I was invited to this Consecration ceremony as a Chief Guest by the CEFI Diocese. A group of Pastors had come to meet me on April 12, 2022, and invited me for this function. Pastor Vijay Dhone was to visit me but as he met with an accident he could not. Instead, he deputed these six pastors. We had a good discussion they were satisfied.

 

 

 

They informed that the CEFI Diocese is the Indian Diocese with true ecclesiastical history and apostolic foundation. CEFI is recognized by the Government of India and is a part of the Anglican Communion Council of India. Traditionally, it is part of St. Thomas Christianity which was established by Saint Thomas, the disciple of Jesus Christ in the 52 A.D.

 

The ceremony was attended by some 11 Bishops drawn from various states of India and abroad – they came from Dubai, Chennai, Bangalore, Jammu, Dehradun, Bhopal, etc. Most prominent among them included India and Asia Pacific President Bishop D P Noha Yowanaraj, Synod Presiding Bishop Paul Sundara Sekharan, National 2nd President Bishop Joseph George, National Diocese General Secretary Bishop Stephen, National Diocese Treasurer Bishop M. J. Johnson, besides Bishops from Mumbai, Jammu, and other places. Over 200 members of the CEFI Diocese were present at the program.

 

True to its tradition of celebrating the respective languages and cultures, the CEFI program began with a famous Marathi song “Maharashtra Gaan” (Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, Garja Maharashtra Majha). This was a pleasant surprise for us. This was followed by the prayers, introduction of the guests, and welcoming them with shawl and floral bouquet.

 

As a chief guest, I was asked to speak first. I spoke for about 20 minutes focusing on the Indian tradition of “Ekam Sat Viprah Bahudha Vadanti” i.e. accepting the multiple religions as equal and valid ways to achieve salvation; India is the only land in the world where all the religions are welcomed, accepted, and respected including outside-born Christianity and Islam; most followers of Christianity and Islam in India share common identity and bond of unity with the Hindu society through our ancestors, motherland, and culture; we need to work towards creating a violence-free, conflict-free and peaceful India. I also said that there was a need to liberate Christ from the clutches of the Church if Christianity were to survive as a religion for humanity. The message of Christ “Love thy neighbor” is for the entire humanity and not just for one community. Religion is the most personal thing like one’s toothbrush. Jesus sacrificed himself for the betterment of humanity. He said “the best should suffer so that the rest may prosper” We must follow his teachings and ideals.

 

 

 

I also pointed to the fact that Jesus himself was against conversions. He had clearly criticized those who convert people from other faiths to Christianity. (Mathew Chapter 23:15). We must respect the religions of others. There should be no conflicts, no conversions, and no criticism. Every individual is unique but is bound with each other by an innate bond of oneness. We celebrate unity in diversity but we should actually celebrate the unity of diversity.

 

I told them that we may have changed our way of worship but not our forefathers and ancestors so we must have respect for all those ancestors who had been instrumental in bringing glory to the nation either by developing its glorious culture or fighting to preserve unity and integrity of the country. We must be proud of them.

 

I also said that we should also be proud of our national culture which we inherited from our past generations. And we must love our motherland. The ultimate destination for any human being is to understand and comprehend the Supreme Reality. For this, there are numerous ways and all ways are valid. We must accept this reality.

 

I also congratulated Bishop Dr. Selwyn Kingsley Paul on his consecration as 130th Bishop of the CEFI Diocese personally and on behalf of the RSS. I expressed hope that under his leadership the dialogue between the two would move forward in the most right and fruitful direction.

 

 

 

The Consecration ceremony was more like a religious initiation ceremony with the Synod President Bishop Paul Sundara Sekharan administering the oath to Bishop Selwyn Kingsley Paul in full religious tradition. The Bishops anointed him with oil chanting Biblical hymns.

 

After the consecration ceremony, Bishop Selwyn was presented with silk clock and a scarf besides a cross and a ring to underline his commitment to the community. The Bishops later presented a certificate to him and blessed him and his family and wished him all success in his tenure.

 

The CEFI Diocese also runs a university called Apollo Bible University and the All India Human Rights Council. With more than 18000 ordained pastors and 135 Bishops, it aids the nation by bringing harmony and brotherhood to the society.

 

My speech was received well by the Bishops and the audience as well. The Bishop from Dubai and Jammu and also the Synod President personally expressed their thanks and gratitude to me for participating in their program and giving the speech.