About Diaspora Diocese

Vision Statement

We believe that the Triune God has called and established us as a Diocese, to be a sign and instrument of the Reign of God, participating in the divine mission that flows from the heart of the Trinity. Sent by the Father’s love, grounded in the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ, and empowered by the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit, we are called to be visible representatives of Christ’s presence, word, and deeds among the South Indian diaspora across the nations.

As part of the Church of South India, we affirm our vocation to be a united, missionary, and servant Church, joyfully participating in the Mission of God (Missio Dei) to reconcile all creation in Christ, to proclaim the Gospel of hope, and to manifest in every context the love, justice, and peace of the Triune God.

Called by the Triune God to share in the reconciling work of Christ, the Diocese seeks to be a welcoming, open, and vibrant global community of believers, where people of all cultures, languages, and generations experience the transforming grace of God. We seek to nurture the faith of the Indian diaspora, enabling each generation to build upon and renew the fiery faith of our forebears, expressing it creatively and contextually in their own life situations.

Formed by the love of the Triune God, the diocese is called to embody the communion that flows from the fellowship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, living faithfully into our Lord’s high priestly prayer: “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). We therefore commit ourselves to ecumenical engagement, dialogue, and cooperation with all who confess Christ, trusting that the Holy Spirit will bring the Church into the fullness of unity and mission.

Rooted in the Scriptures and guided by the Governing Principles of the Church of South India, we aspire to be a pilgrim Church, faithful, inclusive, and prophetic, journeying together in hope and humility to bear witness to Christ in every place where God has planted us. Through prayer, worship, discipleship, and service, we seek to make the Reign of God visible by embodying the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the life of our congregations and communities across the world.

Mission Statement

Drawn into the life and mission of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, this Diocese participates in God’s redeeming and reconciling work in the world. Empowered by the Spirit, and sent in the name of Christ, the Church proclaims the Gospel through word and deed, nurturing disciples who embody God’s love and serve creation with compassion and justice. Rooted in the Mission of God (Missio Dei) and in communion with the Church of South India, our calling is holistic, inclusive, and transformative, embracing spiritual renewal, social responsibility, ecological solidarity, and the pursuit of peace for all creation.

Missional Priorities

We therefore commit ourselves to the following missional priorities:

1. Discipling Generations:

To faithfully teach, mentor, and form children, youth, and future generations so that they may understand, embody, and creatively contextualize the faith traditions of the Church of South India. We will diligently nurture them to live as witnesses of Christ in a changing world, cultivating a deep, personal, and vibrant relationship with the Triune God.

2. Building Christ-Centered Communities: 

To gather the multicultural and multi-linguistic communities of the Indian diaspora into loving, worshipping, and serving congregations, united in faith, fellowship, and purpose. We affirm the local congregation as the primary partner in mission and seek to strengthen it through pastoral care, education, and participatory ministry by clergy and laity alike.

3. Engaging in Transformative Mission: 

To join God’s mission by serving the marginalized, empowering the powerless, and standing with the excluded. Following Jesus, we strive to be a Church of compassion, justice, and peace, learning from the marginalized and advocating for human dignity and equity.

4. Pursuing Sustainable Spirituality: 

To deepen our collective spirituality through prayer, worship, and responsible solidarity with creation. We recognize our interdependence with the whole of God’s creation and therefore commit to promoting ecological justice, climate responsibility, and sustainable living as integral to our discipleship.

5. Witnessing to Unity and Ecumenism: 

To live out the call to unity by working together with other ecumenical traditions and faith communities in dialogue, cooperation, and witness. We believe that the mission of God is strengthened through ecumenical relationships and through our shared hope that one day the Church universal may be one in Christ.

6. Empowering the Laity for Mission: 

To equip every believer to recognize their calling in God’s mission, affirming that mission belongs to the whole people of God. Through teaching, training, and pastoral accompaniment, we will encourage all members to be agents of transformation in their families, workplaces, and societies.

7. Called to Proclaim the Gospel: 

To joyfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ through life, word, and witness, embodying the love of God in tangible ways. We seek to be a witnessing Church, alive in faith, steadfast in hope, and overflowing with love, so that all may come to know Christ and the life abundant that He offers.

Conclusion

As part of the Church of South India, our Diocese stands as a living testimony to unity, faith, and mission. We reaffirm our calling to be an inclusive, witnessing, and renewing Church, faithfully participating in the ever-unfolding creative work of the Triune God. With hearts aflame and eyes set on Christ, we move forward as a pilgrim people of God, proclaiming God’s love, nurturing God’s people, and transforming God’s world “until all things are united in Christ” (Ephesians 1:10).