Pushpa Lalitha

The Right Reverend Sister Eggoni Pushpa Lalitha is the Bishop of the Nandyal Diocese of the Church of South India. She is the first woman to become a bishop in Church of South India.^[1]

Pushpa Lalitha is a member of the CSI Order of Sisters headquartered in Bangalore. Although Pushpa Lalitha is the first woman to be consecrated as Bishop of Church of South India, the first woman to be consecrated a bishop in any church in Asia was A. Katakshamma^[2] of the Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church. The first woman ordained priest in India is Sr. Elizabeth Paul, also of the CSI Order of Sisters.

Early years

Eggoni Pushpa Lalitha was born to a family of agriculturists in Diguvappad village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. She acknowledges the influence of the Protestant and Catholic Missionaries who lead a selfless life and she very much wanted to lead such a life and became a member of the CSI Order of Sisters.^[3]

She holds degrees in economics and divinity^[1] from the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad affiliated to the nation's first^[4] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) where she studied under the Edinburgh-Scholar, Komaravalli David, CBCNC, then Principal of the Protestant Regional Seminary in Hyderabad. She later had an exposure at the Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham and at the United Church of Jamaica and Cayman Islands.^[3]

Ordination and pastorship

Eggoni Pushpa Lalitha was ordained as a priest on 1984. She held the post of director of Vishranthi Nilayam in Bangalore and the administrative head of the Church of South India women fellowship. She has also served as chairperson of the Deanery committee.

Bishopric

Eggoni Pushpa Lalitha was appointed as the bishop of Nandyal Diocese on 25 September 2013. She was consecrated as bishop on 29 September 2013 at Anglican cathedral in Nandyal by Moderator G. Devakadasham and Deputy Moderator G. Dyvasirvadam.^[5]

References