The Department of Elders Fellowship is dedicated to nurturing the spiritual growth of elders and encouraging their participation in the life of the church.
Director
Rev. Dr. I. Samuel Prabhakar
Associate Director
Dr. Ravi Samuel
The Department of Elders Fellowship is dedicated to the following:
To commemorate World Elders Day in the month of October 2025, the Department of Elders Fellowship was represented by the Director and Associate Director at the worship with a special sermon for the elders and a speech in the Church Elders Fellowship encouraging them to take care of their spiritual, physical and mental health.
21 October 2026
Venue: Wesley Tamil Church, Butt Road, St. Thomas Mount. The theme of the rallies is “Elders: Living Witnesses to God’s Grace”.
22 October 2026
Venue: St. Mark’s Church, Camp Road, Selaiyur, Tambaram. The theme of the rallies is “Elders: Living Witnesses to God’s Grace”.
5 November 2026
Venue: CSI Good Shepherd Church (Central Area), No. 5/66 CTH Road, Nemilicherry. The theme of the rallies is “Elders: Living Witnesses to God’s Grace”.
Every October
October 1st is World Elders’ Day; all churches will celebrate throughout October by organising special worship, expert speeches, retreats, and a gift for elders. At the diocese level, the Department of Elders Fellowship is organising four rallies covering the entire diocese. To minimize travel distance and encourage participation, we are holding rallies on the theme “Elders: Living Witnesses to God’s Grace” at the area level: Madras North, Madras South, Southern Area and Central Area.
17 October 2026
Venue: CSI Redeemer Church, D-129, Annanagar East. The theme of the rallies is “Elders: Living Witnesses to God’s Grace”.
5 November 2025
The Department of Elders Fellowship was inaugurated on 5th November 2025 by Rt. Rev. Dr Paul Francis Ravichandran, Bishop of Madras, in the august presence of MDC officers, Area Chairpersons, Pastors & the Director of the Department of Elders Fellowship and around 500 elders from the churches. Rev. Indira Paul, Bishop Amma, led the gathering in praise and worship. Rev. I Samuel Prabhakar, Director, Department of Elders Fellowship, welcomed the gathering and introduced the Department of Elders Fellowship and its intended activities for the elders' holistic care. Dr Samuel Cornelius, Treasurer, Diocese of Madras, read the scripture. The Bishop in his inaugural address, highlighted the need for recognising elders' contribution to the church and the importance of forming a department to look into the welfare of the elders. In his speech, the Secretary, Rev. S. Augustine Premraj, appreciated the Elders Fellowship in many churches for its active participation in the church. The guest speaker Dr Ravi Samuel, Consultant Psychotherapist, spoke about drawing inspiration from biblical figures like St. Paul to serve Christ despite physical challenges. He also stressed the need for elders to be mindful of their health and minimise emotional stress to enjoy good well-being. Rev. C. Jayaseelan Gnanadhikam, Vice President of MDC, gave the benediction. Rev. I Samuel Prabhakar, the Director, proposed the vote of thanks and concluded the rally by inviting everyone for lunch. A booklet on ‘Emotional Management for Elderly’ was distributed to the delegates.
