V. E. Christopher
Encyclopedia
V. E. Christopher was the Moderator / Bishop of India's largest Lutheran Church, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
.
in Andhra Pradesh
to Rev.
Vardanapu Krupadas and Smt. Bhagyamma. His father, Rev.
V. Krupadas was a pastor of the AELC. He had his schooling in Bhimavaram
and collegiate education in Rajahmundry
. Later, he pursued degree studies in Sri
Y. N. College (an NAAC
-A grade college affiliated to the Andhra University
), Narsapur
in West Godavari
District.
) readily sponsored him for his priestly studies. The AELC was then headed by Rev.
Dr. S. W. Schmitthener.
Armed with a sponsorship letter from his Church society, Christopher enrolled for the graduate degree of Bachelor of Theology
(B. Th.) offered by the ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College (affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)
), Hyderabad.
The then Principal of the College was the Cantabrigian
Victor Premasagar
. With disciplined faculty at ACTC, the young Christopher had a sound priestly formation. He was taught New Testament by Muriel Carder and K. David while Victor Premasagar
and G. Babu Rao, taught him Old Testament, the core
subjects in any seminary or theological faculty of a University
. Christopher was known to be studious and disciplined.
Dr. S. W. Schmitthener posted him to East Godavari
District to minister in a rural parish. He also served in Lutheran parishes in Rajahmundry
and Bhimavaram
.
(B. D.) at his alma mater
, the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad and upgraded himself to earn a B. D. degree.
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...
.
Early years
Ernest Christopher was born into a pastoral family in BhimavaramBhimavaram
Bhimavaram is a city and mandal in the West Godavari District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located east of state capital, Hyderabad....
in 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...
to Rev.
The Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
Vardanapu Krupadas and Smt. Bhagyamma. His father, Rev.
The Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
V. Krupadas was a pastor of the AELC. He had his schooling in Bhimavaram
Bhimavaram
Bhimavaram is a city and mandal in the West Godavari District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located east of state capital, Hyderabad....
and collegiate education in Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
. Later, he pursued degree studies in 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...
Y. N. College (an NAAC
National Assessment and Accreditation Council
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an organization that assesses and accredits institutions of higher education in India. It is an autonomous body funded by University Grants Commission of Government of India headquartered in Bangalore.-History:NAAC was established in 1994 in...
-A grade college affiliated to the Andhra University
Andhra University
Andhra University or Andhra Viswa Kala Parishad , located in Visakhapatnam, north east coastal Andhra Pradesh, is one of the older premier universities in India with a broad focus...
), Narsapur
Narsapur, West Godavari
Narsapur is a town, Mandal and a municipality in West Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Its geographical coordinates are 16° 27' 0" north, 81° 40' 0" east. Some say there are other narasapurams in Krishna and Medak districts....
in West Godavari
West Godavari
West Godavari District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Eluru, is the district headquarter...
District.
Divinity
Like his father, Christopher had an inclination to pursue the ultimate profession of priesthood. His Church society (the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran ChurchAndhra 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...
) readily sponsored him for his priestly studies. The AELC was then headed by Rev.
The Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
Dr. S. W. Schmitthener.
Armed with a sponsorship letter from his Church society, Christopher enrolled for the graduate degree of Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
(B. Th.) offered by the ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College (affiliated to 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....
), Hyderabad.
The then Principal of the College was the Cantabrigian
Cantabrigian
Cantabrigian is an adjective that is used in two meanings: 1) to refer to what is of or pertaining to the University of Cambridge or Harvard University, as both are located in towns named Cambridge ; or 2) to refer to what is of or pertaining to the locales of Cambridge, England and its namesake -...
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:...
. With disciplined faculty at ACTC, the young Christopher had a sound priestly formation. He was taught New Testament by Muriel Carder and K. David while 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:...
and G. Babu Rao, taught him Old Testament, the core
Core
- Science and Academics :* Core , in mathematics, an object in group theory* Core , in mathematics, a subset of the domain of a closable operator* Core , in mathematics, the homomorphically minimal subgraph of a graph...
subjects in any seminary or theological faculty of a University
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. Christopher was known to be studious and disciplined.
Ordination & Pastorship
After Christopher's ordination, his Church President, the India-born Rev.The Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
Dr. S. W. Schmitthener posted him to East Godavari
East Godavari
East Godavari District is a district situated on the northeast of the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Its district headquarters is Kakinada. It is the second richest district in the whole country...
District to minister in a rural parish. He also served in Lutheran parishes in Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry is a city and municipal corporation of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. It is located east of the state capital, Hyderabad, on the banks of the River Godavari. Known as the Cultural Capital, Rajahmundry is noted for its intense Veda culture and intellect...
and Bhimavaram
Bhimavaram
Bhimavaram is a city and mandal in the West Godavari District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located east of state capital, Hyderabad....
.
Higher Studies
Christopher later enrolled for the degree of Bachelor of DivinityBachelor 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.) 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:...
, the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad and upgraded himself to earn a B. D. degree.