Some thoughts and reflections on ministry.
In the rural areas, society I presume is fairly stable and almost of not totally self-sufficient. I would guess that the role of ministry is one of evangelism and teaching in the basics of the faith, not least living a Christian moral life. The work of the catechist would seem very appropriate, with sacramental ministry being offered around once a month. In UK history I sense sometime of the early Methodist ministry.
In the towns and cities life is much more complex, and in this respect more akin to what we experience in Europe. There moral issues are more complex, the moral pressures to do wrong all the greater as people are cut off from roots and family.
Perhaps I see together two patterns of lifestyle and hence ministry needs that in the UK are separated, in broad terms, by hundreds of years.
Over 6000 baptisms in the Madras Diocese last year, and there have been increases every year for several years. Around 60 churches founded last year in the Diocese, and again there have been increases every year for several years. There is a conscious encouragement of evangelism (focused I think towards the villages), church members being encouraged to prepare the way evangelistically for the 125 paid evangelists who subsequently visit.
Yesterday we shared in the joy of a wonderful wedding. At the church, the style of service and church - I think this link shows it - was not unlike that you might expect for a large wedding in the UK, with necessary adaptations eg the blessing of the tali (by all the pastors present) not the rings, electric fans and church windows that open. Though in Tamil I was able to follow the flow of the service (in effect, a wedding liturgy followed by Evening Prayer).
Afterwards we went to the reception. This is where everything changed. There were I am told 10,000 guests. We have nothing like it in the UK. I understand this was a large wedding. More normal ones have 1-2000. The photos do not show the full extent of the gathering but hopefully give a flavour. (The two photos of hall areas are NOT different views of the same area, though the man serving is in the eating area shown in the photo above.) There were three eating areas not shown, including a large buffet area.)
Apparently Christian wedding receptions are large scale, an opportunity for the church to gather to celebrate. Many churches we represented, the family being well-known. Hindu weddings are more family affairs I gather, sounding more like UK size (- this ties in with my experience of attending a Hindu wedding in the UK many years ago.)
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