Mar Thoma Syrian Church
The Mar Thoma Church (official name: Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church) was created when the time of British colonial rule in India Reformation spread ideas among the Thomas Christians. She is a former ancient Near Eastern church with reformed West Syrian Rite in faith and communion communion with the Anglican Church. Head of the Church is the Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma. It has approximately 900,000 members in 12 dioceses, mostly in Kerala in South India.
The constitution of the church is that of the Anglican Church. The bishops of a church meeting ( Prathinidhi Mandalam ) chosen in the two-thirds laymen are represented and appointed by a Episkopalsynode under the leadership of Metropolitan. The council is the legislative body, the administration is headed by a Senate ( Sabha Council), which includes the Metropolitan and the Vicar General ex officio and elected representatives of the Church Assembly. The Synod of Bishops appoint priests and can create new dioceses. Decisions of the council shall require the consent of the Synod to become law.
1952 split the St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India, which is still more Protestant -oriented, from the Mar Thoma Church.