Thread by @ashlinpmathew

A thread: Today as PM Modi addressed the 90th b'day celebrations of Rev Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church, a student decided to protest and resign from the church.

She wrote a letter critical of the misogyny in church, PM invite

Reproducing the letter below

I have been officially a member of Mar Thoma Church ever since my baptism at 4 months of age. This church gave me the confidence to stand and speak on public podiums; introduced me to music through church choir; taught me morals and inspired me to follow Christ and his ways.

This same church asked me to cover my head when I was 14 because I was a woman. At the age of 18 when I decided that I will not adhere to this tradition, I was mocked by the church members. They yelled at the Church vicar who supported my decision.

They said I made the holy communion impure by not covering my head. I nevertheless continued going to the very same church as an Achen once had told me "Church is like your family. When there's a difference of opinion.., you try to convince and change and not leave the family."

Once at one of the youth conferences that I attended, a young woman raised a question on why women were not allowed in the altar of Mar Thoma Church and why women are not ordained in the Mar Thoma church. Impolitely hushing the woman before she could even complete her question

These were the 2 points made by the Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church:
1. An Achen's workload is too much for women to handle. They will not be able to work day & night.
2. Women get pregnant. Church will have to give maternity leave. Who will take care of the church then?

After hearing what he had to say the otherwise vocal me just stood there silent and frozen in utter shock.
But still I remembered what the Achen had told me, "your church is like your family".

This church has hushed sexual harassment perpetrated by their ordained ministers. This church has worked like a toxic capitalistic institution - the rich who give the highest amount of money to the church get the highest positions and respect in the church.

The irony is that ever since my Sunday School time, I was taught the story of "the widow who offered 2 copper coins".

This religious institution made huge church buildings worth crores but failed to provide shelter to stranded migrants during #Corona lockdown or to Muslim brothers & sisters during the Delhi Pogrom while I have been taught the story of the good samaritan ever since I was a child

And now I get to know, the Mar Thoma Church has invited the PM of India, Mr #NarendraModi for the inauguration of the 90th birthday celebration of the Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church.

Narendra Modi the leader of that fascist ruling party which promoted mob lynching of minorities and Dalits across the country, which passed anti-minority bills such as CAA-NRC and arbitrarily arrested human rights activists.

The very man who propagates Hindutva ideology - the same ideology which burned Graham Steins and his family alive, that massacred Adivasi and Dalit Christians, Muslims and other oppressed castes across the country.

Mar Thoma Church did not for once utter a word against any of these political and social persecution of the minorities and oppressed castes in the country.

I firmly believe, that Jesus was a revolutionary. He expressed his political stand loud and clear when he cast out those who did trade in the temple of Jerusalem and said, "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

He took a firm political stand when he questioned the religious practices and challenged the teachers and priests. Jesus was crucified because he was political and his politics was standing against injustice by being righteous.

Now by inviting this man, the church's message seems to be loud and clear. The church has given a political message to the people on where its interest lies and thus I hereby, convey my political message on where my interest lies.

Yes, this church was a family but a family that turned out to be toxic and it's high time I dissociate myself from Mar Thoma Church and stand for what is just and righteous.

With a firm believe on Jesus's promise that where two or three are gathered in his name, he will be among them, I am hereby taking the decision of resigning from Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

(Letter ends)

While the letter itself is great, what was surprising was the comment section.
One would imagine she would get trolled, but most of the comments of even her church friends have been supportive. Maybe change is possible.

The priests, of course, disagreed with her decision

Several of the Marthoma church goers have come together to question the arbitrary decisions taken by the church authority and the autocratic functioning mechanism that is being adopted by the church.
A letter putting forth these concerns and demanding reformation has been sent..

I do know that this is of no interest to most on my timeline, but this had to be put here. It shouldn't remain only on Facebook.

And the letter was written by Justey Alex.