Eggoni Pushpalalitha is the first woman to be consecrated as a bishop of the Church of South India on September 29 of this year.
Moreover, Eggoni Pushpalalitha is the first woman bishop in the family of Anglican churches of South Asia.
The Church of South India is a united church of congregations from several traditions—Anglican, Methodist, Congregationalist, Presbyterian, and Reformed. This church was founded in 1947, after the participating congregations signed the documents of union. The work of the church is organized into 22 dioceses; each diocese has its own bishop, and the church’s chief governing body is the Synod. The Synod elects the presiding bishop for a 2-year term.
“I am glad that the church’s highest authorities chose me, but I rejoice even more that the Lord chose me,” the new bishop announced to the newspaper “Times of India.”
In 1984, E. Pushpalalitha was ordained as a priest in the Anglican church. In addition, she also served as an administrative director in the women’s fellowship of the congregations of South India, as well as holding other important positions in society.
It should be added that Pushpalalitha is the third woman bishop in India.
On November 30, 1996, a woman named Katakshamma was elected as a bishop in the Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church. Katakshamma had become not only the first woman bishop in India, but the first woman church leader on the entire Asian continent. Katakshamma, together with her husband, who is also a pastor, additionally ran 5 schools.
After her election as bishop, Katakshamma said: “My congregation stood quite firmly against male chauvinism. The time has come when male bastions have encouraged women to look upon themselves as equals.”
resources:
photo: Facebook / Rini Ralt
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http://www.csisynod.com/history.php
Aļesja Lavrinoviča