Protestants and Anglicans

Abstract

Asian churches created numerous and vigorous Christian communities that by the seventh century were spread from Iran to China, India and Sri Lanka. Over the centuries, Roman Catholic Church, various Orthodox churches from both the Western and Eastern/Southern branches of Christianity, Protestant churches, and most recently Pentecostal and Independent churches have established churches in South and Central Asia. In Central Asia, the smattering of Protestants today mostly belong to various minority ethnic groups such as the German Lutherans and Korean Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians. However, converts from other groups are joining Protestant churches. In none of the countries is Christianity the religion of the majority of the population; and among Christians in each country, confessional Protestants and Anglicans consist of a minority of believers. This leaves them socially and politically vulnerable to the majority population and to governments. Confessional Protestant and Anglican churches can be of foreign populations, identified with a particular region (e.g Tamil Nadu Lutherans), or spread across the nation (national churches such as the Methodist Church in India). Confessional Protestant and Anglican churches provide South and Central Asia add richness and complexity of Christian life and diversity to the church universal.