Samuel Amirtham
Samuel Amirtham | |
---|---|
The Right Reverend | |
Church | Church of South India |
Diocese | South Kerala Diocese |
Appointed | 20 May 1990[1] |
In office | 1990-1997[1] |
Retired | 19 August 1997[1] |
Predecessor | Isaiah Jesudason, CSI |
Successor | J. W. Gladstone, CSI |
Previous post(s) | Teacher - in - Old Testament, United Theological College, Bangalore, (1963-1969), Principal, Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary, Madurai (1969-1978), Director, Programme on Theological Education, World Council of Churches, Geneva (1978-1990)[2] |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1957[3] by A. H. Legg, CSI |
Consecration | 20 May 1990[3] by P. Victor Premasagar, CSI and Vasanth P. Dandin, CSI |
Rank | Bishop |
Personal details | |
Born | Samuel Amirtham August 19, 1932[3] |
Died | September 26, 2017 as birth_place | (aged 85)
Buried | Parassala |
Nationality | Indian |
Denomination | Christianity |
Parents | Mother: Smt. Annal, Father:Sri J. Amirtham[4] |
Occupation | Pastor |
Education | B. Sc. (Madras),[4] B. D. (Serampore), Dr. Theol. (Hamburg)[4] |
Alma mater | Madras Christian College, Tambaram (Tamil Nadu), United Theological College, Bangalore (Karnataka), Missions Academy at the University of Hamburg, Hamburg (Germany) |
Samuel Amirtham (19 August 1932 - 26 September 2017[3]) was an Indian religious figure. He was the bishop of the South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India between 1990 and 1997. He also spent many years working with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, writing and lecturing on ecumenical issues.
Studies
After completing his bachelor's degree in Divinity, Samuel Amirtham was appointed as pastor in the London Mission Pastorate Church, Parassala, now named the Abbs Memorial Church, Parassala, after founder and LMS Missionary Rev. John Abbs. He was instrumental in the construction of the new Church building. He also secured a substantial amount as donation from the Hessan Churches in West Germany for this construction. Finally the Church Building was erected at a total cost of Rs 55,000. The Most Revd AH Legg, moderator of South India and Bishop in South Kerala Diocese dedicated the new Church Building on 4 November 1961. His efforts behind the installation of the electric bell, the electric cluster lights, and the lightning arrester are appreciable.
He was also a tutor in Physics at Scott Christian College Nagercoil, lecturer at the United Theological Seminary Bangalore, and visiting professor at the Garreut Theological Seminary. In 1969, Amirtham was appointed as the first principal of the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in Madurai. He introduced the gurukulam model of community living at the seminary, and is known for having established a living theology concept.[5] The Rural Theological Institute was thus established, and he became its director. He established the Palmyrah Workers Development Society (PWDS) in 1977.[6]
He was Director of the Programme on Theological Education and Director of the Ecumenical Institute, Bossey of the World Church Council (WCC) from 1980 to 1990. In 1986, Amirtham and C. H. S. introduced a new concept when they presented "The Teaching of Ecumenics" at the WCC. The next year, they co-edited a book by the same name.[7] Amirtham was the bishop of the South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India from 1990 to 1997.[1]
Honors
The Serampore University conferred on him an honorary doctorate in 1987.
References
- ^ a b c d South Kerala Diocese, About.[1]
- ^ C. S. Song, Theology from the Womb of Asia, Wipf and Stock Publishers, Eugene, 1986, p.xii.[2]
- ^ a b c d Mangalore Today, Kerala CSI Bishop Amirtham passes away, September 28, 2017.[3]
- ^ a b c Matters India, Bishop Samuel Amirtham passes away, September 27, 2017.[4]
- ^ Kim, Sebastian C. H. (ed.) (2008). Christian Theology in Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 59. ISBN 1139472062. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
{{cite book}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ Duranti, Marco. "From the margin to the centre: Seeking economic growth for India's rural poor". Madurai Messenger. No. June 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
- ^ Fahlbusch, Erwin; Bromiley, Geoffrey William, eds. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 2. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. p. 38. ISBN 9004116958. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
Further reading
- Samuel Amirtham, C. R. W. David (1990). "Venturing into life: the story of the first twenty years of the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary".
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(help) - David J. Hesselgrave, Edward Rommen (1989). "Contextualization: Meanings, Methods, and Models".
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- Living people
- 1932 births
- Church of South India
- 2017 deaths
- Old Testament scholars
- Indian Christian theologians
- Indian Christian clergy
- Indian biblical scholars
- University of Hamburg alumni
- Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni
- Senate of Serampore College (University) faculty
- Anglican biblical scholars