The Malankara Jacobite Church is not keen on effecting a revamp of its top governing bodies. Neither is it ready for secret ballots. Except for the priest trustee, who may move out on health ground, all others are set to continue, some by swapping positions.
The Malankara Association is meeting at Puthencruz, near here, on August 30 for picking the office-bearers and the managing committee for the next five years.
According to a top church official, the present team may get a ‘thumbs up’ to continue for another term. “There may not be any elections as the chances are that the panel proposed by Catholicos Baselios Thomas-I may get overwhelming support at the association meeting,” the official said.
Indications are that priest trustee Corepiscopa Kurien Kaniamparambil, 99, will relinquish the post on health ground. Of the remaining three top posts, the Sabha secretary Thampu George Thukalan and laity trustee George Mathew may swap positions, as the church constitution does not permit them to hold posts continuously over two terms.
A resolution may be passed to ensure the continuation of Catholicos Mar Baselios Thomas-I as metropolitan trustee. Though the Catholicos had sought permission from the Patrirach for relinquishing the posts, the latter refused to grant the prayer, the church official said.
The Akhila Malankara Almaya Forum, an organisation fighting for free elections in the church, had filed a series of cases in courts in Perumbavoor, Kottayam and Kattapana for the purpose.
According to forum president Manoj Kokkattu, there was no transparent election in the church in 2002 and 2007, the two earlier occasions the Malankara Association met after a new constitution was adopted.