About Us
History
Church is positioned at Chittoor road, Katpadi, Vellore 7. Named after Mrs. Bernice, wife of Mr. Rottschaefer an American Missionary reformed church of America who founded the Katpadi Industrial Institute. The inhabitants who worked in the institute settled around the vicinity of katpadi Industrial Institute with their kin. An exclusive housing outpost was established for the enduring workers of the institute. Adjoining this area Missionary quarters and huddles of Christian families living which has been named as Mission Compound and they used to have their worship at CSI church, Katpadi.
As the parishioners grown to a large proportion and place at Katpadi church become scarce. So the members felt that another church is needed at Bernicepuram area and hence spin off took place in the year 1982-83. Roughly around 25 to 30 families started to attend church service to function at KII chapel. As the KII chapel, is very diminutive and inadequate to the budding members in the church flock it was strong-willed to construct a new building to the church, and documented a location which is facing the highway of Chittoor. Accordingly foundation stone was laid in the year 1984 by Bishop Rt. Rev. Sam J.Ponniah.
The church building was completed and dedicated on 12.11.1996 by the Bishop Rt.Rev. R.T.Bhaskaran.
Pastors Served in the Church
1. Rev. Singaram Durairaj
2. Rev. J.D. Balasundaram
3. Rev. Jacob Vivekanandan
4. Rev. Maj. Joe Williams
5. Rev. Noble Gemberam
6. Rev. D. Barnabas Absalom
7. Rev. Samuel Bhaskar
8. Rev. Arnold Joseph
9. Rev. L. Selvanathan
10. Rev. W. Paul David
11. Rev. Samuel Gemberam
12. Rev. Dr. Sathu Sathiyaraj
13.Rev.Karunagara sanjeevi doss
Present Pastor
Rev. Dr.Isaac Kadirvelu
CSI Rottschaefer Memorial Church
Present Status of CSI RM Church
Life and Work of CSI Rottschaefer Memorial Church,Bernicepuram, Katpadi VISION (Ezekiel 34:16)I will seek the Lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the crippled, and I will strengthen the weak, and thee fat and the strong I will watch over, I will feed them in justice. MISSION (Mathew 28:19-20)Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, I am with you always, to the close of the age.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS
1. To equip the Local Congregation for the Mission and Ministriesof the Church Mission and evangelism of outreach program in Chittoor Dt. of AP andTamilnadu in the Rural Area of CSI Vellore Diocese.
2. To create congregations where there is no denomination, churches,and build a church building and handover to the nearest CSI pastorate.
3. To create two sub congregations for RMC and build a church in VTKNagar. Weekly visits to rural area by the Gospel Team of RMC in order to understand the need of Evangelism and support the mission throughtheir prayers, participation and contributions.
II. Teaching Mission with the Church and Society
1. Preaching must also be teaching of the church, hence the preachingitself is teaching Mission.
2. To develop reading habit of the people of the congregation for Christianeducation through setting up a Library in the church Campus.
3. Weekly Bible Study, Weekly Adult Sunday School to study the churchhistory, and faith and order of the CSI Church.
III. To identify Mission Partners within the CSI RMC Church
1. Mission partners in different level, prayer partners, gospel team partners,participation through their contribution for the mission of the church.
2. One family to construct one new church in new village one RMC Missionpartners.
3. To create 10 new congregations and build 10 new churches the localleaders, elders, local pastors and church workers are mission partners.
IV. To convert every church or the CSI pastorate as missionary church todo missionary work and also encourage the younger generation to participate and continue this mission as mission partners. Rev. Dr. I. Isaac Kadirvelu Presbyter in-charge, RMC, Bernicepuram