Meeting with Episcopal Church Leaders in New York

In a significant ecumenical visit, the Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma, and the Diocesan Bishop of   North America, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa, met with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, Most Rev. Sean Walter Rowe, at the Episcopal Centre in Manhattan, New York.

Bishop Rowe, who was enthroned as the 28th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church on November 1, 2024, warmly welcomed the delegation. Also present at the meeting were Rev. Canon Dr. C. K. Robertson, Senior Advisor to the Presiding Bishop, and Rev. Joel Samuel Thomas, Diocesan/Bishop’s Secretary of the North American Diocese of the Mar Thoma Church.

The  visit renewed the longstanding relationship between the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the Episcopal Church, especially in the areas of mission and ministry. They reflected on the shared history of partnership dating back to the early 1980s, particularly recalling the signing of the original Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 1982 between the then Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma, and the then Episcopal Presiding Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. John Allin.

During the meeting, both Metropolitan Theodosius Mar Thoma and Presiding Bishop Rowe expressed interest in revisiting and redrafting the MoU to reflect current contexts and emerging ecclesial challenges. The initiative seeks to build on the churches’ historical commitments while charting a course for future collaboration.

The visit also extended an invitation to Bishop Rowe and Rev. Canon Dr. Robertson to attend the Maramon Convention in 2026, the largest annual Christian gathering in Asia. Both dignitaries expressed enthusiastic interest in visiting Kerala and participating in the convention.