About Gafcon ABCI
The Anglican Bishops Council of India (ABCI) is the episcopal conglomeration of Anglican bishops of every hue in India. Founded in October 2021 as the joint venture of the Anglican Church of India (ACI) and Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Church of India (CEEC), It is open to all active and retired members of the Anglican hierarchy in India with valid episcopal orders in Apostolic Succession who are willing to commit to following the affirmations contained in the Constitution of the Anglican Bishops Council.
The Anglican Bishops Council of India (ABCI)
Purpose
GAFCON being a global movement within the Communion, the GAFCON Primates recognized the establishment of an Anglican Bishops Council able to represent the interests of the Anglican Churches to the Indian Government under the leadership of Archbishop John Sathiyakumar, but including any or all Bishops who were
willing to commit to following the affirmations contained in the Constitution of the Anglican Bishops Council. These Primates represent over 70 million of the 90 million Anglicans throughout the world. The Bishops of the ABCI seek to work together in this significant step which reinforces the nature of the Anglican Communion whose
members affirm the Jerusalem Declaration as the true inheritors of the Apostolic and Reformation faith of our forefathers. As such, the ABCI extends its invitation to all faithful Anglican Bishops in India.
Vision
The ABCI by adherence to its rich history, tradition, and orthodoxy, seeks to eliminate “Fake Anglicans” mushrooming in India. In seeking to proclaim True Anglicanism, the ABCI finds it imperative to send a clarion call to all faithful Anglican Bishops to arise as a united, strong, determined, and convincing force. This endeavor intends to safeguard the Doctrinal sanctity and preserve the diminishing façade of Anglicanism at regional, national, and global levels.
Tasks: The specific tasks that the ABCI has set itself to are as follows:
– exchange of information;
– cooperation on common issues;
– the establishment of contact with episcopal communions around the globe;
– ecumenical contact;
– provide Social Security;
– and protect minority rights.
Installation of Chairman, ABCI
The GAFCON ABCI, after formal elective procedures, has appointed His Grace Abp. Dr. John Sathyakumar as Chairman of the Anglican Bishops Council of India. Chairman of the ABCI for the Indian Chapter. He has been bestowed the rank of a jurisdictional authority by provincial autonomy to have precedence over the ABCI. He is endowed with institutional powers to call and preside at national synods, hear appeals from metropolitan tribunals, and administer the installation of bishops, archbishops in their sees, etc.
Mission Outcome
The principal matter of concern is the transmission of the Anglican faith. ABCI is designated to promote youth empowerment, ecumenism, justice, and evangelization. The entity is to have a far-reaching influence on Indian society in riding the crest of the Revival wave in India through its reverberations to all Anglican fraternities.