John Gladstone (bishop)
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John Wilson Gladstone (25 December1945—) is the present Moderator of the Church of South India[1] as well as Bishop-in-South Kerala, in the state of Kerala in India[2].
The Bishop is well versed in German as well as Malayalam, Greek and English.
Early years
John Wilson Gladstone was born on 25 December 1945 in Kerala[3] into a pastoral family. His father, J. Wilson, was a Pastor of the CSI[4].
He had an inclination towards priesthood - the ultimate professon. After his schooling, he pursued Bachelors and Masters degrees in Economics[5] in Trivandrum.
Divinity & higher studies
In 1969, Gladstone joined the United Theological College [UTC, Bangalore - the only autonomous college under the Senate of Serampore College (University)] where he received a B.D. degree. [6] After successfully finishing his studies in divinity in 1972, he enrolled himself at UTC again where he obtained in 1975 a M.Th. degree in the discipline of Church History [7].
Ordination & Lecturership
After returning from Bangalore, Gladstone was ordained as a Priest of the Diocese of South Kerala of the Church of South India on 20 July 1975[8].
The diocese designated him as Youth Pastor[9] and thereafter, Gladstone was assigned a teaching task at the Kerala United Theological Seminary[10], [KUTS - affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)] Trivandrum.
Research studies
Later in the year 1978[11], Rev. Gladstone took study leave from KUTS and proceeded to the University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany for research studies in Church History.
While at Hamburg, his university mates from India also included Rev. G. Babu Rao[12] from the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad and Rev. Dr. D. Dhanaraj[13] of the Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore.
In the year 1983[14], the University of Hamburg awarded him the doctoral degree of Doctorate of Theology magna cum laude. His doctoral thesis was entitled Protestant Christianity and People's Movements in Kerala, 1850-1936 which was later published by the KUTS, Trivandrum in the year 1984[15].
Return to KUTS
Subsequently, Rev. Dr. Gladstone returned to Trivandrum to resume his teaching responsibilities. In the year 1991, he became Principal of the KUTS, Trivandrum[16].
Works
Church Historian
Dr. Gladstone is a member of the elite Church History Association of India (CHAI), the body of Church Historians and has more than a hundred published articles to his credit[17].
Senate responsibilities
Rev. Dr. J. W. Gladstone served as the President of the Senate of Serampore College (University), India's first University from 2000 to 2005[18] He was preceded and succeeded Old Testament Scholars, Rev. Dr. Gnana Robinson and Rev. Dr. John S. Sadananda.
Memberships & honours
Memberships
Honours
In the year 2008, the Canterbury Christ Church University (established in 1962 by the Church of England with degree granting authority), admitted Gladstone to its honorary fellowship at Canterbury Cathedral on 1 February 2008[19].
Bishopric
On 16 September 1997, Rev. Dr. J. W. Gladstone was consecrated as the Bishop in South Kerala[20].
Moderatorship
During the XXXI session of the Synod of the CSI held in Visakhapatnam from 11 - 14 January 2008, Bishop Gladstone was elected as the Moderator of the CSI for a biennium[21]. He succeeded the Most Reverend B. P. Sugandhar (Bishop-in-Medak).
References
- ^ Anglican Communion: Primates of the Anglican Communion[1]
- ^ Anglican Communion, Provincial Directory: South Kerala [2]
- ^ Prof. J. M. Stewart in Profile of the Bishop in Mateer Memorial Church, Trivandrum, Kerala [3]
- ^ Canterbury Christ Church University, Biographies of new Honorary Fellows [4]
- ^ ibid.
- ^ ibid.
- ^ ibid.
- ^ Prof. J. M. Stewart, op. cit.
- ^ Canterbury Christ Church University, op. cit.
- ^ Senate of Serampore College, Graduate and Post-graduate colleges affiliated [5]
- ^ Canterbury Christ Church University, op. cit.
- ^ G. Babu Rao was Professor of Old Testament in ACTC from 1977 to 1999 and a member of the Society for Biblical Studies in India.[6]
- ^ Dhanaraj is Professor of Old Testament in KTC. Dhanaraj was also a member of the Syndicate of the University of Mangalore[7]
- ^ Canterbury Christ Church University, op. cit.
- ^ Cited in Susan Billington Harper's The Shadow of the Mahatma: Bishop V. S. Azaraiah and the travails of Christianity in British India, Eerdmans and Curzon Press, p. 182, [8]
- ^ Prof. J. M. Stewart, op. cit.
- ^ ibid.
- ^ Senate of Serampore College (University), Presidents and Convenors of the Senate [9]
- ^ Canterbury Christ Church University, op. cit.
- ^ Prof. J. M. Stewart, op. cit.
- ^ Asia Pacific Ecumenical News, 20 May 2008, Indian Protestant Church elects new Moderator. Internet, accessed 20 May 2008[10]
Further reading
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