John Wilson Gladstone (born 25 December 1945) was the Moderator of the Church of South India[1] as well as Bishop of South Kerala.[2]
John Wilson Gladstone | |
|---|---|
| Bishop in South Kerala | |
| Church | Christian |
| See | Church of South India |
| In office | 1997–2010 |
| Predecessor | Rev. Dr. Samuel Amirtham |
| Successor | Rev. A. Dharmaraj Rasalam |
| Previous post(s) | Professor of Church History, Kerala United Theological Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 20 July 1975 |
| Consecration | 16 September 1997 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 December 1945 |
Early years
Rev. Dr. Gladstone was born on 25 December 1945 in Travancore.[3] into a pastoral family. His father, Rev. J. Wilson, was a Pastor of the CSI[4]
He had an inclination towards priesthood and after his schooling pursued bachelor's and master's degrees in economics[4] in Thiruvananthapuram.
Divinity and higher studies
In 1969, Rev. Dr. Gladstone joined the United Theological College [UTC, Bangalore – the only autonomous college under the Senate of Serampore College] where he received a Bachelor of Divinity degree.[4] After finishing his studies in divinity in 1972 he again enrolled at UTC where, in 1975, he obtained a Master of Theology degree in the discipline of church history.[4]
Ordination and lecturership
After returning from Bangalore, Rev. Dr. Gladstone was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of South Kerala of the Church of South India on 20 July 1975.[3]
The diocese designated him as Youth Pastor[4] and thereafter, Gladstone was assigned a teaching task at the Kerala United Theological Seminary,[5] [KUTS – affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College] Thiruvananthapuram.
Research studies
Later in the year 1978,[4] Rev. Dr. Gladstone took study leave from KUTS and proceeded to the University of Hamburg in Germany for research studies in church history.
In 1983,[4] the University of Hamburg awarded him a Doctorate of Theology degree 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, Thiruvananthapuram in 1984.[6]
Return to KUTS
Subsequently, Rev. Dr. Gladstone returned to Thiruvananthapuram to resume his teaching responsibilities. In 1991 he became Principal of the KUTS, Thiruvananthapuram.[3]
Works
Church historian
Rev. Dr. Gladstone is a member of the Church History Association of India (CHAI), a body of church historians and has published more than 100 articles.[3]
Senate responsibilities
Rev. Dr. Gladstone served as the President of the Senate of Serampore College, India's first university, from 2000 to 2005[7]
Bishopric
On 16 September 1997, Rev. Dr. Gladstone was consecrated as the Bishop in South Kerala.[3]
Moderatorship
During the XXXI session of the synod of the CSI held in Visakhapatnam from 11–14 January 2008, Rev. Dr. Gladstone was elected as the Moderator of the CSI for a biennium.[8] He succeeded the Most Reverend B. P. Sugandhar (Bishop-in-Medak).
Memberships and honours
Memberships
- Church History Association of India
Honours
In 2005, Rev. Vinod Victor and Rev. Gideon Sobhanam brought out a festschrift in honour of Gladstone entitled Shepherd of a Pilgrim People: Essays in Honour of Bishop J. W. Gladstone[9]
In 2008 Canterbury Christ Church University, (established in 1962 by the Church of England with degree granting authority), admitted Rev. Dr. Gladstone to its honorary fellowship at Canterbury Cathedral on 1 February.[4]
References
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