Maraland.NET - The Home of Mara people on the Internet

The Church was established in 1907. It became autonomous in 1961. In 1976 its name was changed from Mara Independent Evangelical Church into Independent Church of Maraland to avoid the impression that church membership was limited to Mara people. In 1989 the term “Independent” was dropped. The administrative center was moved in the same year(1989) from Serkawr to Saiha. A controversy arose which eventually led to a split. A minority opposing the changes decided on June 9, 1989, to form the Congregational Church of India (Maraland); cf. no. 5. The majority stayed with the Evangelical Church of Maraland.

North East India Christian Council
Indian Evangelical Mission

Publications:
Krizyhpa Chiahmie - monthly magazine
ECM Newsletter - weekly newspaper

Members

Total: 30,327

Admitted to participate in the Lord's Supper: 17,771

Baptised: 18,295

Parishes

74

Number of growing parishes

Which (as yet) have no parish structure (e.g. subsidiary parishes, house fellowships): 4

Ordained clergy

Total: 29

Men: 29

Women: 0

women´s ordination
They have one female assistent-deacon, two female theological graduates and 4 female theological students.

Elders/Presbyters

Total: 567

Men: 566

Women: 1

Deacons

Total: 460

Men: 459

Women: 1

deacons not available

Missionaries

Total: 131

Men: 129

Women: 2

missionaries do not working abroad

Baptismal practice

infant and believer’s baptism

godparents Godfathers customary

Lord's Supper

Frequency per annum: 12
four times a year at one local church

Newspapers/ Periodicals

Publication of magazines

Theological training facilities

18

Schools providing general education

no information about other schools

Founded in

1907

Organizational structures

local church committee, pastorate council, presbytery council, assembly council

Traditional type

* evangelical

Official languages

English, Mara, Mizo,

Languages during church services

English, Mara, Mizo,

Confessions

* Apostles´ Creed

Partner churches

* Mara Evangelical Awnanopa (Evangelical Mission Myanmar)

Associations

International associations
* World Alliance of Reformed Churches

National associations
* National Council of Churches in India

The Mara people live in the western part of the country (Myanmar). The first missionaries were a British couple, Rev. and Mrs. Reginald Arthur Lorrain (1907). Two years before they had founded the Lakher Pioneer Mission in London. A church was founded in Serkawr (India), and the number of converts increased rapidly. With the independence of India (1947) and Burma (1948), the church was divided into two bodies (cf. India no. 4) in the respective territories. In 1970 the church in Burma suffered a split over the location of the headquarters (Mara Independent Evangelical Church and Mara Independent Church). Efforts at reconciliation succeeded in 1987. The church is self-supporting and active in evangelism among the neighboring tribes.

Members

Total: 17170

Admitted to participate in the Lord's Supper:

Baptised:

Parishes

96

Number of growing parishes

Which (as yet) have no parish structure (e.g. subsidiary parishes, house fellowships): 2

Ordained clergy

Total: 43

Men:

Women:

women’s ordination

Elders/Presbyters

Total:

Men:

Women:

Deacons

Total: 0

Men:

Women:

deacons available

Missionaries

Total: 0

Men:

Women:

no information about missionaries working abroad

Baptismal practice

infant and believer’s baptism

No information about godparents

Lord's Supper

Frequency per annum: 4

Newspapers/ Periodicals

no information about publication of magazines

Theological training facilities

0

Schools providing general education

other schools

Organizational structures

local church committee, circle committee, Presbytery, General Assembly

Official languages

Mara,

Confessions

* Apostles´ Creed
* Nicene Creed (381)

Partner churches

* Evangelical Church of Maraland

Associations

International associations
* World Alliance of Reformed Churches