Church of North India
The Church of North India is the dominant united Protestant church in Northern India. It was established on 29 November 1970 by bringing together most of the Protestant churches working in northern India. It is a province of the worldwide Anglican Communion and a member of the World Methodist Council and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The merger, which had been in discussions since 1929, came eventually between the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon, the Methodist Church, Disciples of Christ, and some congregations from the United Church of Northern India.
The CNI's jurisdiction covers all states of India with the exception of the five states in the south. It has approximately 2,300,000 members in 3,000 pastorates.
History
Ecumenical discussions with a view to a unified church were initiated by the Australian Churches of Christ Mission, the Methodist Church of Australia, the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the United Church of Northern India during a religious convention in Lucknow in 1929.A negotiation committee was set up in 1951 using the plan of Church Union that resulted from the earlier consultations as its basis. The committee was composed of representatives from the Baptist Churches in Northern India; the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon; the Methodist Church ; the Methodist Church in Southern Asia; and the United Church of Northern India. The Methodist Episcopal Church, however, did not join the discussions and, in 1981, it became the Methodist Church in India. In 1957, the Church of the Brethren in India and the Disciples of Christ denominations joined in the negotiations as well.
A new negotiation committee was set up in 1961 with representatives from all the above-mentioned denominations. In 1965, a finalized plan of Church Union, known as the 4th Plan of Union 1965, was made. The union was formalized on 29 November 1970 when all the negotiating churches were united as the Church of North India with the exception of the Methodist Church in Southern Asia, which decided not to join the union.
Beliefs and practices
The CNI is a trinitarian church that draws from the traditions and heritage of its constituent denominations. The basic creeds of the CNI are the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed of 381 AD.Liturgy
The liturgy of the CNI is of particular interest, as it combines many traditions, including that of the Methodists and such smaller churches as the Church of the Brethren and the Disciples of Christ. Provision is given for diverse liturgical practices and understandings of the divine revelation.Ordination
Men and women may be ordained deacons, presbyters, and bishops. The CNI approved the ordination of women to the priesthood in 1977. In 2024, the CNI ordained the first woman to serve as a bishop within the CNI. In June, 2024, a second woman was ordained a bishop. In 2025, the CNI ordained a third woman as bishop.Governance
The polity of the CNI brings together the episcopal, the presbyterial and the congregational elements in an effort to reflect the polity of the churches which entered into union.The episcopacy of the CNI is both historical as well as constitutional. There are 26 dioceses, each under the supervision of a bishop. The main administrative and legislative body is the synod, which meets once every three years to elect a presiding bishop, called a moderator, and an executive committee. The moderator acts as the head of the church for a fixed term; another bishop is elected Deputy Moderator.
Social involvement
Social involvement is a major emphasis in the CNI. There are synodal boards in charge of various ministries: Secondary, Higher, Technical and Theological Education, Health Services, Social Services, Rural Development, Literature and Media. There is also a synodal Programme Office which seeks to protect and promote peace, justice, harmony and dignity of life.The CNI currently operates 65 hospitals, nine nursing schools, 250 educational institutions and three technical schools. Some of the oldest and well-respected educational institutions in India like Scottish Church College in Calcutta, La Martiniere Calcutta, Wilson College in Mumbai, St. James' School, Calcutta, Hislop College in Nagpur, St. John's Diocesan Girls' School, Calcutta, St. Paul's School in Darjeeling, St. John's College, Agra, Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, Christ Church College, Kanpur, Sherwood College in Nainital, Ewing Christian College, Boys' High School & College in Prayagraj are under the administration of the CNI.
Ecumenism
The CNI participates in many ecumenical bodies as a reflection of its commitment towards church unity. Domestically it participates in a joint council with the Church of South India and the Mar Thoma Syrian Church known as the Communion of Churches in India. It is also a member of the National Council of Churches in India. Regionally, the CNI participates in the Christian Conference of Asia and on an international level it is a member of the World Council of Churches, the Council for World Mission, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Methodist Council and in full communion with the Anglican Communion. The CNI is also in partnership with many other domestic, regional and international Christian agencies.Present administrators
- Moderator: The Most Rev. Dr. Paritosh Canning
- Deputy Moderator: The Rt. Rev. Silvans S. Christian, Bishop, Diocese of Gujarat
- Treasurer: Mr. Subrata Gorai
- General Secretary: The Revd. Dr. D.J. Ajith Kumar
Moderators
Since its formation in 1970, the Synod of the CNI has elected a Moderator and one Deputy every three years.| Term | Moderator | Deputy Moderator |
| April 1971 – July 1974 | , Bishop in Delhi | , Bishop in Nagpur |
| July 1974 – October 1977 | , Bishop in Delhi | , Bishop in Nagpur |
| October 1977 – October 1980 | , Bishop in Delhi | , Bishop in Nagpur |
| October 1980 – November 1983 | , Bishop in Nagpur | , Bishop in Calcutta |
| November 1983 – October 1986 | , Bishop in Calcutta | , Bishop in Lucknow |
| October 1986 – October 1989 | , Bishop in Lucknow | , Bishop in Darjeeling |
| October 1989 – October 1992 | , Bishop in Darjeeling | , Bishop in Jabalpur |
| October 1992 – October 1995 | , Bishop in Amritsar | , Bishop in Cuttack |
| October 1995 – October 1998 | , Bishop in Cuttack | , Bishop in Nagpur |
| October 1998 – January 2001 | , Bishop in Nagpur | , Bishop in Chotanagpur |
| January – October 2001 | , Bishop in Chotanagpur | , Bishop in Barrackpore |
| October 2001 – October 2004 | , Bishop in Chotanagpur | , Bishop in Chandigarh |
| October 2004 – October 2005 | , Bishop in Chotanagpur | , Bishop in Chandigarh |
| October 2005 – October 2008 | , Bishop in Chandigarh | , Bishop in North East India |
| October 2008 – October 2011 | , Bishop in North East India | , Bishop in Patna |
| October 2011 – October 2014 | , Bishop in Patna | , Bishop in Amritsar |
| October 2014 – 3 October 2017 | , Bishop in Amritsar | Prem Singh, Bishop in Jabalpur |
| October 2017 – 23 August 2019 | Prem Singh, Bishop in Jabalpur | Probal Dutta, Bishop in Durgapur and Kolkata |
| 23 August 2019 – 14 September 2022 | Prem Singh, Bishop in Jabalpur | , Bishop in Phulbani |
| 9 December 2022 – October 2025 | Bijay Kumar Nayak | Paul B.P. Duphare Manoj Charan |
| 23 October 2025 - present | Paritosh Canning, Bishop in Calcutta | Silvans S Christian, Bishop in Gujarat |