The Rt. Rev. Jeyaraj George Stephen was consecrated and installed as the bishop of the one of the ancient historical dioceses of the Indian church on 19 March 2016. From the beginning, his appointment was shrouded in controversy and there was illegality about the whole event as the consecrator Rt. Rev. Dyvasirvadam could not be considered any longer the Moderator of the Church of South India on that particular date of consecration to authenticate his action. The extension of the tenure of the Moderator from two years to three without the consent of the Synod of the CSI placed him in an unlawful position of making the decision for an appointment of George Stephen and executing it publicly when the Supreme Court of India in January 2016 announced that Bishop Dyvasirvadam will be the pro tem office bearer and shall not take any policy decision. Initiating the selection process and appointing you in that fashion come under the ambit of the major policy taking actions. Therefore the legality of the appointment of George Stephen was under question.

The CSI Life (April 2016) thus reported,

Hailing from a small village called Cheyyur near Arakkonam, and with a simple beginning, the Rev. J. George Stephen was ordained as a Presbyter in 1984. He has served the diocese in the capacity of a Presbyter in various Churches, both in urban and rural congregations, diligently and with humility.

We have now seen two stunning pictures of your pompous life-style as a bishop of the CSI. The projection of yourself in the photos with images of Lord and Chakravarthi goes against what you as Rev. George Stephen took oath in the presence of God and the people of the Church.

Rev. George Stephen responded on 19 March 2016, “I will” to the questions ‘Will you educate and empower the congregations in diakonia, mission in Christ’s way?’; ‘Will you be a faithful witness of Christ?’ and ‘Do you therefore promise to fulfil the duties of your office in accordance with the Constitution of this Church?’

Rev. George Stephen received the Pastoral staff with the admonition to him, “Be to the flock of Christ a good shepherd; feed them, exercising the oversight…as God would have you do it – not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be an example to the flock.”

Your six months of stay occupying the highest post in the diocese have not reflected these promises and declarations. Your behaviour among the people is consistently revealing that you mind is set on the worldly things and you are guided by lust for power to exercise authority and control on others. Therefore we feel that you are no longer fit for continuing in the office of the bishop in Madras.  

How can you accept a garland of rupee notes? What does money signify around the neck which wears a cross? When they were giving you money as a mark of honour, you should have declined it but instead, gladly accepted it and you moved around proudly with that garland. How can you and your spouse accept a chariot ride in a poor village? How can you as a servant of Christ who taught us ‘to serve and not to be served’ indulge in a self-glorifying action that brings disgrace to the episcopacy in the CSI?  

The eye-witness accounts of your speeches and conversations clearly portray that you have no idea of what Christian ministry of a bishop is. You have said boastingly: You are the Lord Bishop and the 2 lakh Christians of Madras diocese are your sheep. You will do with the gifts the way you decide. Your wife is coming from a superior society. No one can question you as you are surrounded by super theologians and that you will overrule the experts whoever they are. Your command to the people is that if they invite you they should arrange chariots, cars, elephants and horses to carry you around and you urge them to garland you with gold coins.

You have lured yourself into a life-style which is contrary to your social background and the early ministry in the diocese. In the office of the bishop you are expected to imitate the early apostles by being a true servant of Christ committed to evangelism, preaching and teaching the Word of God faithfully serving the people and feeding them with true piety and Christian witness and not feeding on them for material benefits.

You may rationalise your behaviour by saying that it is the people who give you money/gifts and you just receive them. Or, you may say, ‘All other bishops are doing it’. Both excuses are unacceptable. You have absorbed yourself into the image of the most corrupt leader the CSI has ever produced and not in the image of Christ, our Chief Shepherd.

On the above-mentioned reasons, we demand the resignation of Rt. Rev. George Stephen from the duties as the bishop of the diocese of Madras.

An Appeal by Resolute and Reformation CSI Christians