John Gladstone (bishop)

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]

Early years

Rev. Dr. Gladstone was born on 25 December 1945 in Kerala.^[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 and master degrees in economics^[4] in Thiruvananthapuram.

Divinity and higher studies

The autonomous college in Bengaluru where Gladstone pursued graduate and post-graduate studies. {Picture credit: Colette Cook}

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