Ravela Joseph
| R. Joseph | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1937[1] Ravela, Guntur |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Theologian |
| Parent(s) | Rev. Paul and Smt. Santoshamma |
| Writings |
|
Offices held | President, Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam |
| Title | The Reverend |
R. Joseph (Ravela Joseph) is a Theologian who taught[5] at the Andhra Christian Theological College, one of the affiliated Colleges of the nation's first University,[6] the Senate of Serampore College (University) {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}[7] with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.
Studies and Academics
The American Baptist Mission/Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches was one of the Protestant missions in Andhra Pradesh. R. Joseph was sent for spiritual formation to the historical Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam which was then directly affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University) taking a graduate degree B.D. in 1967[1] from the Seminary President, Louis F. Knoll[8] after which he was assigned[1] a teaching role in that Seminary.
In 1972,[1] The Council of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam and the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches sent R. Joseph to the Andover Newton Theological School, Newton for postgraduate studies where he earned a Master of Sacred Theology[1] (S.T.M.) degree and on his return continued to teach at the Seminary which by then had integrated its B. D. section into the Andhra Christian Theological College and R. Joseph was reassigned[1] to teach there by the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches.
In 1978,[9] the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches had accorded study leave to R. Joseph who went to the United Theological College, Bangalore to pursue a Master of Theology (M. Th.) degree and researched on the writings of Puroshottam Choudhary[3] under the supervision of Joshua Russell Chandran and Eric J. Lott,[3] his Professors. By 1980, R. Joseph rejoined Andhra Christian Theological College and resumed his teaching responsibilities. Again in 1983,[1] he returned to the United Theological College, Bangalore to undertake doctoral studies but had to leave it midway as he was called to teach at his alma mater the Baptist Theological Seminary,[10] Ramayapatnam[1] from where he again joined the Andhra Christian Theological College.
In 1985, R. Joseph enrolled at the State-run Osmania University from where he studied Master of Arts.[1]
Contribution
R. Joseph has been a prolific writer contributing to theological writings.
- In 1973, The American Baptist Mission among the Telugus, Andover Newton Theological School, Newton.[2]
- This book is a postgraduate thesis of R. Joseph published by the School in Newton. In 2003, R. Joseph's postgraduate thesis[11] was revised and printed in India under the title A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches (American Baptist Mission), Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.[12] - In 1993, Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India in Telugu,[13] Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bangalore.
- During the tenure of D. S. Satyaranjan at the Senate of Serampore College (University), bibliography of original Christian writings were undertaken to compile such writings in the vernacular writings in the post-Vatican context. - In 2004, Bhakti Theology of Puroshottam Choudhary, CLS, Madras[3]
- The influence of the Bhakti Movement had touched Christian writings and lyrics. R. Joseph had researched on the lyrics of Puroshottam Choudhary who belonged to the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars Church Society. In 2011, James Elisha Taneti in History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography published by Scarecrow, Plymouth[14] writes that Ravela Joseph book on the life of Puroshottam Choudhary had been to analyse his contribution as an early Indian Christian to Christology. - In 2013, Christian Theology (in Telugu), Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad.[1]
In 2012, the Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity (edited by Roger E. Hedlund)[15] included five articles contributed by R. Joseph,[16]
- on Puroshottam Choudhary,
- on Chetty Bhanumurthy,
- on Paraiah Yerraguntla,
- on Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
Reminisces
Talathoti Punnaiah who underwent a 1-year spirituality course in 1969 at the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary at Ramayapatnam as an Aspirant to discern his avocation towards religious life writes that,
| “ | Ravela Joseph was the youngest among the Teachers at the Ramayapatnam Seminary and was teaching Church History. He used to love playing football. Later he did his S.T.M. in the United States of America and then M. Th.. He later became the President of the Seminary and Professor at the Andhra Christian Theological College. Joseph is a good writer, singer and composer.[17] | ” |
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |
Professor, Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad |
Succeeded by |
| Other offices | ||
| Preceded by Danam Israel[18] |
President, Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam 1993-1997[18] |
Succeeded by J. M. Franklin[18] |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R. Joseph, Christian Theology, Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, 2013.
- 1 2 R. Joseph, The American Baptist Mission among the Telugus, Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, 1973.
- 1 2 3 4 R. Joseph, Bhakti Theology of Puroshottam Choudhary, CLS, Madras, 2004.
- ↑ R. Joseph, A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches (American Baptist Mission), Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, 2003. Cited by James Elisha Taneti in Caste, Gender and Christianity in Colonial India.
- ↑ Directory of Teaching Staff, Senate of Serampore College (University)
- ↑ Sankar Ray, The Hindu (Business Line), 11 April 2008 Almost a century later, the charter was endorsed officially under the Bengal Govt Act IV of 1918. Internet, accessed 30 November 2008.
- ↑ The Senate of Serampore College (University) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under which a University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recoginsed by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal.
- ↑ B. R. Moses, President's Centenary Report in K. J. W. Jayakumar (collected), The Lights that never quench, Nellore, 2008, p.111
- ↑ Gnana Robinson (Compiled), Directory 1910-1997 of the United Theological College, Bangalore, 1997, p.115
- ↑ Print Asia
- ↑ James Elisha Taneti, History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography, Scarecrow, Plymouth, 2011, p.91.
- ↑ R. Joseph, A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches (American Baptist Mission), Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad. Cited by James Elisha Taneti in Caste, Gender and Christianity in Colonial India.
- ↑ Ravela Joseph, Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India in Telugu, published by the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore, Bangalore, 1993.
- ↑ James Elisha Taneti, History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography, Scarecrow, Plymouth, 2011, pp.9, 11, 15, 64.
- ↑ Roger E. Hedlund (Edited), The Oxford Encyclopedia of South Asian Christianity, 2012.
- ↑ Oxford Reference
- ↑ Talathoti Punnaiah, My Memoir, Ministry and Message: (60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010), Kakinada, 2010, pp.12-13.
- 1 2 3 Ravela Joseph, A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches (American Baptist Telugu Mission), Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, 2003, p.231.