User:TELC Trichy/sandbox

==== INTRODUCTION====

The Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC), a Protestant Lutheran Church of Tamil speaking people. The church spread over FOUR STATES of India, caters to the spiritual and social needs of people who proclaim JESUS CHRIST as their personal saviour. The church has a membership nearly 2 lakh souls and more than hundreds of institutions managed through well designed administrative structure and in conformity with the laws of the country. With the history more than three centuries and administrative experience of 100 years, the church is dedicating all its energy and resources for spreading the love of Jesus Christ to the world through its multifaceted spiritual and social missions.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
India is a home to the oldest Lutheran body outside Europe. One-third of all Asian Lutherans live in India. Thanks to the commitment, labour, and investment of Europeans. Lutheran Churches have put down deep roots all over India thrive today as a vibrant Christian communion. 1706-The Lutheran Missionary work began on July 9, 1706 by the first protestant German Missionaries Provost Barthollomaus Ziegenbalg and Provost Henrich Plutschau deputed by the Royal Danish King, the Fredrick IV, landed in the Danish colony Tranquebar, a coastal village in Tamilnadu. South India..

1707 - The First Chapel “Jerusalem Church” was dedicated at Tranquebar. 1711 - The First Tamil Translation of the New Testament was doneby Ziegenbalg. 1713 - The First Tamil New Testament was printed in Tranquebar. 1718 - The New Jerusalem Church was dedicated at Tranquebar, on October 11. 1841 - The Missionary work was taken up by the LeipzigEvangelical Lutheran Mission. (LELM) 1848 - The Swedish Missionaries joined with the LELM. 1887 - The First Synod of the Church was held in Thanjavur. 1915 - The CSM was entrusted with the entire Missionary work. 1919 - The joint venture of the Danish Halle Mission, the LELM and the Swedish Mission led to the formation of the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church. The TELC was constituted on January 14,1919 and registered under the Central Act of XXI of 1860. 1956 - Dr.R.B. Manickam, was consecrated as first national Lutheran Bishop in Asia. 1977 - The Evangelical Lutheran Mission (ELM) became the Mission Partner of T.E.L.C. 1987 - Synod centenary celebrated. 2006 - Tranquebar Mission Ter centenary celebrated.

OUR CURRENT ACTIVITIES
•	Mango Chilli Tomato Garden LMW(German) & TELC (India) Joint Venture Advent Project At Olugaimangalam on 11th Nov 2015(Pray & Play Childrens Park). •	Medical Board is to foster the ministry of healing and to serve the community in the spirit of CHRIST and to make the service as effective as possible from the professional as well as the Evangelistic point of view •	Education Board is to meet educational needs of the Children of rural, remote, poor and down – trodden society, by providing basic, general and value education at all levels of learning. Central Administrative Office

Bishop's Office, Secretary's Office, and the Central Treasury are accommodated in the TELC Central Administrative Offices at Tranquebar House, Tiruchirappalli.

Education Board
is to meet educational needs of the Children of rural, remote, poor and down – trodden society, by providing basic, general and value education at all levels of learning. For the administrative convenience, the Education Board is divided into two levels Higher Secondary Schools: 10, High Schools:5 and Teacher Training I n s t i t u t e s : 2 (Co . E d . ), S t u d e n t S t r e n g t h : 8 8 7 0 , Staff Strength : 452, Non – Teaching Staff High/Hr. Sec/Teacher Training Institute:90 Elementary Education Board: Primary Schools: 135, Middle Schools:28,Students strength : 14,500, Teachers :727.

MEDICAL BOARD
is to foster the ministry of healing and to serve the community in the spirit of CHRIST and to make the service as effective as possible from the professional as well as the Evangelistic point of view Hospitals:5 (Eye Hospital:4; G.H:1),Joseph Eye Hospital, Satelite Eye units at at Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur, Districts Rehabilitation centers for the visually & Physically handicapped:2, Institute of Ophthalmology at Joseph Eye Hospital, Trichy. M.G. Eye Hospital Coimbatore (Administrative Director Mr. Benjamin Jayaraj).Courses offered: M.S., in Ophthalmology, Diploma in Ophthalmology, B.Sc., Optometrists, Diplama in Optometrics, Diplama in NB.

WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP
is to associate with the activities of the Church, to work primarily amongst the Women of our Congregations, to strengthen the spiritual life in the homes, to work for the liberation of women both from spiritual and social clutches, to identify with the women of International Churches. Ministry of Prayer, Love & Evangelism. Institutions : TELC Thorkal Training Centre for Women, Mayiladuthurai. No. of Council Members:9, No. of Honorary Regional Secretaries: 8, Total No. of Branches:175.

BOARD OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION
To impart liberal and higher education for the benefit of the economically backward people and the society at large; and to remove darkness and ignorance through balanced education of mind and soul to glorify the word of the Lord “I am the Light of the World”.Name of the college: Tranquebar Bishop Manikam Lutheran College, Porayar, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India. UG Programmes:14, PG Programmes:12, Research Programmes (M.Phil., and Ph.D.,):09, Teaching faculty:70(Aided)+40(SF), Administrative Staff-38(Aided)+50(SF), Students Population (Aided & Self-financing):2400. M.B.A. course was inducted from the academic year 2015-16, by an official inauguration on 17.08.2015. Smart and High tech Class room along with excellent teaching – learning facilities are provided for the course, under the name of Tranquebar Institute of Management Studies. (TIMS –TBMLC).

DEACONESS BOARD
is to dedicate their calling to the will of God, to help the physically and mentally retarded children, the orphans, the semi-orphans, the aged and the destitute as a sign of the commitment to the kingdom of God and to share the divine Love with humankind towards its fulfillment. No.of Deaconess Mother - 1; No.of Deaconess Sisters - 8.Institutions :Bethesda Home for Women, Thanjavur, Nazareth Home for Children, Thanjavur, Lydia Deaconess Home Thanjavur, Bethlehem Home for Children, Pattukkottai, Bethania Deaconess Home, Thanjavur.

YOUTH BOARD
is to nurture the spiritual dimension of the youth in order to practice the life of Christ to develop their leadership qualities and to buildup effective relationship skill with the congregations and the church Total No. of Branches:125 (one branch for each Pastorate) Institutions: Young Men's Christian Center(YMCC) & Hostel for working men, Madurai, Audio Visual Section, TELC TV Training Center and Hostel and YMCC Middle School, Madurai. .

INDUSTRIAL BOARD
is to be responsible to give industrial training to youngsters so as to enhance their skills and employability.Institutions:T.E.L.C Industrial Training Institute, T.E.L.C Biskopina Agnes Diehl Rehabilitation Centre, T.E.L.C Non – Formal Industrial Training Centre. Courses offered: Fitter, Turner, Welder, Radio and TV Mechanism,Computer course, Carpentry, Cabinet making and Auto Electrician Courses of State Pattern. Candle making,Wire knitting, Mat making and Weaving offered to physically handicapped Children.

SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD
is to help the people discover their rightful place as faithful Citizens, to make the people realise their potentialities and to motivate them for constructive development, to involve the people with on – going education through the integrated development programmes; and to direct our efforts to secure their honour and human dignity. Important Programmes : Relief Work, Waste Land Development, Vocational Guidance and Training, Drinking Water Facilities, Self Employment Scheme, Goat Rearing Schemes, Seminar/ Training/ Orientation and Exposures, Life Education Training Centre,Promotion of Social Justice through Human Rights Forums and Free Legal Aid Cell. To motivate the students in studies, by extending financial help and special coaching classes by LMW.

BOARD OF JUNIOR MINISTRY
This Board looks after the spiritual growth of the Children under Sunday School, Summer Bible School, Junior Ministry Activities & Sports Ministry. It trains the adolescent male and female on socio-cultural & religious activities to become the better citizen of the country through the assistance of the International and National like minded Churches and Organisations. CHILD CARE MINISTRY Yearly syllabus for sunday school children are designed and prepared. Coaching classes was conducted to the Sunday School Branch Directors and Teachers. Bishop Johnson Memorial Shield and Rolling cup have been given to the successful pastorate children every year in the presence of the Bishop and the Secretary, Church Council. To encourage the children consolation prizes, Mementos and Merit Certificates are given region wise and state wise.

BOARD OF EVANGELISM, REVIVAL AND COMMUNICATION
is to spread the gospel in rural areas, to prepare and distribute the gospel handouts and materials and to form the prayer Cells among the rural and urban congregations by utilizing the means of modern communication systems and information technology.

ZIEGENBALG SPIRITUAL CENTER TRANQUEBAR
is to promote spiritual life particularly the evangelistic zeal to preserve the rich Lutheran heritage and share it with others. Course Offered : Inservice Training for Pastors, Catechist, Leadership Training course for Women and Youth, Awareness programme for women Sunday School Teachers Training, Aids awareness programme, Awareness programme for fisheries folk, Lectures on Tranquebar Mission.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
The main works of this department are to construct Churches, Schools, Boarding homes, Shopping complexes along with their maintenances, repairs, renovations, restoration extensions and modifications. Churches and Chapels at: Tiruppur, Villupuram,Sevapettai, Thalachankadu, Kariyapatti, Veerasolagam, Semmipalayam,Moodur, Sanarenthal, Puthur, Velipalayam, Vittalur, Kanagavalli puram, Poovam(Karaikal), Kaveripuram (Ramanjeri). Renovation Works Untertaken :Palladam, Subramaniyapuram, Kottaikkaranpatti, Melaiyur, Ponmalaipatti, Mayiladuthurai, CSM Bungalow Tranquebar, Trichy Tranquebar House. Construction of shopping Complexs at Mayiladuthurai, & Villupuram. Construction of School Buildings at Vellakoundanpudur, Karmel and few others.

HOSTEL BOARD
is to provide residential facilities for the rural poor and needy children to continue their studies with special emphasis on women education in order to develop a multi-faceted human development of spiritual, Educational, Social and professional qualities. KNH Supported Homes:9 (Boys 1; Girls 6; Day Care Centres:02) Paying Homes:8, Trained Wardens:35, Total No.of KNH Children:1,227, Total No.of other Children:854.

PROPERTY BOARD
is to be responsible to give industrial training to youngsters so as to enhance their skills and employability.Institutions:T.E.L.C Industrial Training Institute, T.E.L.C Biskopina Agnes Diehl Rehabilitation Centre, T.E.L.C Non – Formal Industrial Training Centre. Courses offered: Fitter, Turner, Welder, Radio and TV Mechanism,Computer course, Carpentry, Cabinet making and Auto Electrician Courses of State Pattern. Candle making,Wire knitting, Mat making and Weaving offered to physically handicapped Children.

PRINTING BOARD
The Ziegenbalg Printing & Publishing House is functioning for preparing and supplying the Church Records and other related books required by the pastors and Church officials. The official Magazine, Arunodayam is being printed and circulated by the Press. Arunodayam was the brain-child of the Swedish Missionary Rev. Anders Blomstrand. He brought out the first issue on July 1863, and edited it for 14 years. Our present Bishop is the 24th Editor in the Series. Daily Meditation, Bishop's ministerial itinerary, news on Church activities, scripture contests and world news are the main items featured in Arunodayam. The journal is running its 153rd year in succession, very actively.

SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
is to help the people discover their rightful place as faithful Citizens, to make the people realise their potentialities and to motivate them for constructive development, to involve the people with on – going education through the integrated development programmes; and to direct our efforts to secure their honour and human dignity.

Our Current Activities
•	Mango Chilli Tomato Garden LMW(German) & TELC (India) Joint Venture Advent Project At Olugaimangalam on 11th Nov 2015(Pray & Play Childrens Park). •	Medical Board is to foster the ministry of healing and to serve the community in the spirit of CHRIST and to make the service as effective as possible from the professional as well as the Evangelistic point of view •	Education Board is to meet educational needs of the Children of rural, remote, poor and down – trodden society, by providing basic, general and value education at all levels of learning.

SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
is to help the people discover their rightful place as faithful Citizens, to make the people realise their potentialities and to motivate them for constructive development, to involve the people with on – going education through the integrated development programmes; and to direct our efforts to secure their honour and human dignity.

BASIS OF FAITH
•	The basis of faith of this Church shall be the word of God as given in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and explained in the Ecumenical Creeds, •	the unaltered Augsburg Confession and Luther's Small catechism and further elucidated in the other books of the Book of Concord.

•	MISSION PARTNERS ROLE IN TELC: Congregation had tended by German and Swedish Missionaries for more than 250 Years. Halle Mission and Francke Foundation (1706), Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Church, (LELM) (1841) were the pioneer missionary organizations, that helped the church to be rooted strongly in India. •	In 1848 then newly formed Church of Swedish Mission shared the mission work. In 1977 The Evangelical Lutheran Mission (ELM) became the Mission Partner of T.E.L.C. Though LELM, Renamed as Liepzig Mission Work (LMW) in later years, they continue their support to TELC till today. .