P. Surya Prakash
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend P. Surya Prakash is the Bishop of the Karimnagar Diocese
Karimnagar Diocese
The Diocese of Karimnagar is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India.- Bishops :* 1945-1955 – A. B. Eliott* 1955-1978 – P. Solomon* 1978-1982 – B. Prabhudass* 1982-1987 – G. B. Devasahayam* 1987-1992 – K. E. Swamidass...

 in the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...

. The Cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...

of the Bishop is placed in Wesley Cathedral in Karimnagar
Karimnagar
As of 2011 India census Estimation, Karimnagar city had a population of 2,99,660. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% has an average literacy rate of 86.75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.61%, and female literacy is 80.79%. In Karimnagar, 12% of...

.

Surya Prakash also served as a Council Member of the Council of Senate of Serampore College (University)
Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....

, India's first University (a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission
University Grants Commission (India)
The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory organisation set up by Union government in 1956, for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition for universities in India, and provides funds for government-recognised...

 Act, 1956)
with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal
Government of West Bengal
The Government of West Bengal also known as the State Government of West Bengal, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of West Bengal and its 19 districts...

.

Early years

Surya Prakash was born in Dudgaon in Nizamabad District
Nizamabad district
Nizamabad District is located in the north-western region in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also known as Induru. Nizamabad is the current and official name of the district....

 in the state of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 to Smt. Guyyani Sundaramma and Sri
Sri
Sri , also transliterated as Shri or Shree or shre is a word of Sanskrit origin, used in the Indian subcontinent as polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language, or as a title of veneration for deities .-Etymology:Sri has the root meaning of radiance, or...

 Perumalla Prakasham who realised the need for education and sent him to Wesley Boys High School, Secunderabad
Secunderabad
Secunderabad popularly known as the twin city of Hyderabad is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh north of Hyderabad. Named after Sikandar Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, Secunderabad was founded in 1806 AD as a British cantonment...

 from where he completed schooling and pre-university studies in 1968. Thereafter he enrolled at the Nizam College
Nizam College
Nizam College was established in 1887 during the reign of Nawab Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. It is located at Basheerbagh.-History:...

 under Osmania University
Osmania University
Osmania University , , since 1918, is a public university located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. It was established and named after the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan. It is one of the oldest modern universities in India. It is the first Indian University to have Urdu and...

 and earned a degree (B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

) in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

 in 1972.

Prakash is a communicant member of the Church of South India, Diocese of Medak
Diocese of Medak
The Diocese of Medak is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India.-Geography and history:The diocese of Medak is one of the largest dioceses in the Christian world, including five revenue districts of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh state: Adilabad, Medak, Nizamabad,...

.

Divinity

During the incumbency of H. D. L. Abraham, then Bishop - in - Medak (1968–1975), Surya Prakash evinced interest in pursuing a priestly vocation and was sent to the United Theological College, Bengaluru in 1972. The College was then headed by Joshua Russell Chandran. Surya Prakash completed the graduate degree of Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....

 (B. D.) in 1976 during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan
D. S. Satyaranjan
D. S. Satyaranjan is a Pastor, a New Testament Scholar, and an Administrator.-Early life and education:Satyaranjan was born on January 19, 1939 in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India...

 at Bengaluru. Christopher Asir and J. W. Gladstone
J. W. Gladstone
John Wilson Gladstone was the Moderator of the Church of South India as well as Bishop of South Kerala.-Early years:Rev. Dr. Gladstone was born on 25 December 1945 in Kerala. into a pastoral family. His father, Rev. J...

 presently heading the Church of South India
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...

 while also pursuing theology at the same College during that period.

Ordination & Pastorship

Soon after Surya Prakash's return to his Diocese, he was assigned a Deacon's role in Parishes of the Diocese of Medak. He was posted at Varni near Nizamabad and was ordained later by the then Bishop - in - Medak, B. G. Prasada Rao (1976–1981) as a Presbyter on 31 July 1977 in the Medak Cathedral
Medak Cathedral
Medak Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop in Medak for the Church of South India . The Cathedral is the largest of all churches in Andhra Pradesh. The Cathedral also sees over the Diocese of Medak, which is the single largest diocese in Asia and the second largest diocese in the world. It was...

 in Medak
Medak
Medak , is a municipality in Medak District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 100 km to the north of Hyderabad.-Geography:Medak is located at . It has an average elevation of 442 metres .-Demographics:...

 after which he was made Presbyter - in - Charge in Adilabad
Adilabad
Adilabad , is a town and a municipality in Adilabad district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It has a population of 108,233 . It is the headquarters of the district of the same name.-History:...

.

Post-graduate

Prakash wanted to pursue further studies in theology and was again sent to the United Theological College, Bengaluru where he enrolled for the post-graduate degree of Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...

 (M. Th.) in the discipline of New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

 in 1980 and studied under J. G. F. Collison and K. James Carl then Professors of New Testament. Collison, a thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 academician and scholar was known to be very demanding. However, Surya Prakash managed to be in the good books of Professor Collison by adhering to the tough scholarly regimen stipulated by his Professors. This was during the time that the Old Testament Scholar G. Babu Rao began doctoral studies in Bengaluru. Prakash's classmates included Prasanna Kumari Samuel of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church was constituted in the year 1927 in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the Indian successor to the United Lutheran Church in America which was started as a self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating church among Telugu Christians.-Memberships:* Andhra...

.

Surya Prakash also went to Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...

, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...

, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

 and had an exposure at the Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology
Boston University School of Theology is the oldest theological seminary of American Methodism and the founding school of Boston University, the largest private research university in New England. It is one of thirteen theological schools maintained by the United Methodist Church...

 where he was also Student Chaplain at the United Methodist Church of All Nations

By the year 1982, Surya Prakash was awarded an M. Th. in New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....

 by the Senate of Serampore College (University)
Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....

.

Prakash was then re-assigned a ministerial role in the Diocese of Medak
Diocese of Medak
The Diocese of Medak is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India.-Geography and history:The diocese of Medak is one of the largest dioceses in the Christian world, including five revenue districts of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh state: Adilabad, Medak, Nizamabad,...

 as Presbyter - in - Charge in Bellampalli.

Research

In the year 1987, during the Bishopric of Victor Premasagar
Victor Premasagar
Victor Premasagar was the fourth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak. He was an Indian churchman and Old Testament scholar. He also became Moderator of the Church of South India.-Early years:...

 (1982–1992), the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

 Scholar, Surya Prakash was sent for higher studies to Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...

, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...

, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 where he pursued a doctoral degree (Dr. Theol.) in Homiletics under the India-born Traugott Stählin at the Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel.

The dissertation submitted was entitled "The Preaching of Sadhu Sundar Singh
Sadhu Sundar Singh
Sadhu Sundar Singh was an Indian Christian missionary. He is believed to have died in the foothills of the Himalayas in 1929.-Early years:...

: A Homiletic Analysis of Independent Preaching and Personal Christianity"
which was later published in 1991.

Professorship

The United Theological College, Bengaluru, then under the Principalship of the Biblical Scholar (Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

)
E. C. John, Dr. Theol. (Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...

), invited Surya Prakash to serve on its faculty. Surya Prakash taught Practical Theology from 1991 - 2000. Prakash continued to don the priestly mantle. He was Associate Presbyter at St. Peter's Telugu Church, Mission Road and at St. Marks Cathedral, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore
Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore
Mahatma Gandhi Road also known as M.G. Road is a road in Bangalore, India. It runs east from Trinity Circle at one end to Anil Kumble circle at the other. Known as South Parade earlier to pre-independence, it was renamed as Mahatma Gandhi Road on 26 February 1948.M. G...

.

In 1993 during the Principalship of Gnana Robinson
Gnana Robinson
- History :Robinson was born into a Christian family who were communicant members of what was then the South India United Church. He was educated in Eraniel in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, India...

 Prakash was sent to Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...

, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

 for a course in Speech Communication in Ministry and Worship

Sabbatical

During the academic year 1997 - 1998, the Professor went on a sabbatical as Visiting Professor to San Francisco Theological Seminary
San Francisco Theological Seminary
San Francisco Theological Seminary is a graduate school affiliated with Presbyterian Church located in San Anselmo, California. Founded in 1871, SFTS is a graduate theological institution that is focused on graduate theological education in the Reformed tradition...

, San Anselmo and thereafter to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 to the historical Mission Seminary in Hermannsburg
Hermannsburg
Hermannsburg is a municipality in the Celle district, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the River Örtze, approx. 15 kilometers east of Bergen and 30 kilometers north of Celle.-Division of the municipality:...

. He also taught at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...

Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel, Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...

 before returning to Bengaluru.

Stint at EMS

While teaching at the Seminary in Bengaluru, the Evangelisches Missionswerk in Südwestdeutschland (EMS) - (Association of Churches and Missions in South Western Germany), Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....

 invited Surya Prakash to be its Liaison Secretary for India in 2000. The then Principal of the Seminary, O. V. Jathanna relieved him while the Diocese of Medak
Diocese of Medak
The Diocese of Medak is one of the 22 dioceses of the Anglican Church of South India.-Geography and history:The diocese of Medak is one of the largest dioceses in the Christian world, including five revenue districts of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh state: Adilabad, Medak, Nizamabad,...

 under B. P. Sugandhar
B. P. Sugandhar
Badda Peter Sugandhar was the fifth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak in the Church of South India . He was consecrated by Vasant P...

 (1993–2008) loaned the services of Surya Prakash to the EMS, Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....

. Surya Prakash began monitoring partnership between the EMS and the Church of South India. He was also made the Deputy General Secretary of the EMS in 2002.

While at Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....

, Surya Prakash was also on the Chaplaincy of St. Catherine's Church.

With the end of the term of Surya Prakash at the EMS, he returned to Medak Diocese in 2005 and was made Presbyter - in - Charge of Church of St. John the Baptist, Secunderabad.

Bishopric

The Diocese of Karimnagar had seen four Bishop's since its erection post 1950. Bishops B. Prabhudass, G. B. Devasahayam, K. E. Swamidass and John Theodore provided stable leadership.

The current predecessor S. John Theodore, M. Th. (Serampore
Serampore
Serampore is a city and a municipality in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a part of the area covered by Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority. It is a pre-colonial town on the right bank of the Hoogli River...

), is a Biblical Scholar who pursued post-graduate studies in Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

 at the Seminary in Bengaluru under E. C. John as early as 1973.

Theodore also happens to be a member of the Society for Biblical Studies in India in which Surya Prakash is also a member. On attaining superannuation, John Theodore vacated the seat as Bishop in Karimnagar paving way for fresh elections.

Surya Prakash, although belonging to the neighbouring Medak Diocese, contested and was elected unopposed. The then Moderator of the Church of South India, B. P. Sugandhar
B. P. Sugandhar
Badda Peter Sugandhar was the fifth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak in the Church of South India . He was consecrated by Vasant P...

 principally consecrated Surya Prakash as Bishop - in - Karimnagar on 26 March 2007 at the Wesley Cathedral, Karimnagar
Karimnagar
As of 2011 India census Estimation, Karimnagar city had a population of 2,99,660. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49% has an average literacy rate of 86.75%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 92.61%, and female literacy is 80.79%. In Karimnagar, 12% of...

.

Lambeth Conference

The Church of South India (CSI)is an autonomous body in the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...

 headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...

, Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...

. Bishop's of the CSI also participate in the decennial Lambeth Conference. Bishop Surya Prakash attended the fourteenth Lambeth Conference held at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...

, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...

 from 16 July - 3 August 2008.

Further reading

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