Regunta Yesurathnam

Regunta Yesurathnam (born 16 October 1941; died 8 August 2011) was a Systematic Theologian^[4] with major contribution to Dialogical Theology whose works were listed in the Elenchus of Biblica^[5], an annual bibliography listing published by the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, and his writings began appearing in academic journals that included Dialogue and Alliance, National Council of Churches Review and the International Bulletin of Missionary Research^[1]. Yesurathnam's works are available in nearly 35^[6] research institutes of repute comprising Seminaries,^[6], State Universities^[6] and Research Academies^[6] across Asia,^[6] Australia,^[6] Europe,^[6] and North America.^[6] Yesurathnam was a pupil of the notable Systematic Theologian Joshua Russell Chandran, CSI under whom he was groomed in the sixties. During the subsequent decade, as evidenced by his interest in Dialogical Theology, Yesurathnam seemed to have been influenced by the Religions Scholars, Stanley Jedidiah Samartha, CSI, David C. Scott,^[7] and Herbert Jai Singh^[8]. During the initial years of his doctoral research in the seventies, it was the Dalit Theologian Arvind P. Nirmal, CNI who supervised and enabled Yesurathnam to push through his doctoral studies.

As a Youth, Yesurathnam was was inspired by the work of the Christian missions in Telangana comprising the Roman Catholic missionaries and the Protestant missionaries and the selfless lives they led and avowed to live for Christ his entire life and entered the ministry of the Church through the Diocese of Medak, established by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (that later on united with other Church Societies to form the Church of South India in 1947) becoming a ministerial candidate during the bishopric of Frank Whittaker, the first Bishop - in - Medak stepping into the portals of a Seminary in Bangalore for spiritual formation and was ordained in 1966 by Bishop Eber Priestley, then Bishop - in - Medak and led the life of a Priest for nearly half-a-century that ended in 2011 on account of his sudden death.

Contribution

Dialogical theology

Yesurathnam sought to engage Christianity with other Religions, through inter-disciplinary research methods, finding ways through which Christianity could relate itself with the rich and diverse religious traditions of India. Pioneers like Yisu Das Tiwari, MCI and Stanley Jedidiah Samartha, CSI have done much much to build inroads for Christianity to explore common ethos in other religions through Comparative religion resulting in yields which has been termed as Dialogical Theology that could propel the Gospel to unexplored ground. The Old Testament Scholars, G. Solomon, STBC (1957)^[9] and G. Babu Rao, CBCNC (1990)^[10] have expounded the need for comparative analysis, especially in building existential communities and relating to each other in a setting of religions (Sitz im Leben).

Yesurathnam's work on the concept of Avatara Vis-à-vis Christ have drawn the attention of Scholars and his works were quoted extensively by Research Scholars at the University of London, England and the University of Birmingham, England by Bob Robinson (2004)^[7] who took note of the work of Yesurathnam on Avatara with special emphasis on Christianity and by Steven Tsoukalas (2007) who quoted Yesurathnam's work on the forms of Avatara.^[11]

Professor Jutta Sperber (2000)^[12] of the University of Münster, Germany in a major work about Dialogical Theology with special reference to the activities of the World Council of Churches and its unit on Dialogue has quoted the work of Yesurathnam on the Christian-Muslim dialogue.

Contextualization

Inter-disciplinary writings by Yesurathnam have struck new ground in inculturation as espoused by Swamy Amalorananda and the New Testament Scholar Suppogu Joseph, STBC (2007)^[13] had made a sustained research exploring possibilities for the Gospel to adapt itself to the multi-religious ethos of India. Yesurathnam's definition of Contextualization has been acknowledged by Scholars as a resourceful addition. Professor Charles E. Van Engen (2005)^[4] of the Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California wrote a major work on Contextualization in which he acknowledges the contribution of Yesurathnam^[4] and takes cue to the definition of Contextualization as defined by Yesurathnam,

The term contextualization includes all that is implied in indigenization or inculturation, but also seeks also to include the realities of contemporary, secularity, technology, and the struggle for human justice... Contextualization both extends and corrects the older terminology. While indigenization tends to focus on the purely cultural dimension of human experience, contextualization broadens the understanding of culture to include social, political, and economic questions. In this way, culture is understood in more dynamic and flexible ways, and is seen not as closed and self-contained, but as open and able to be enriched by an encounter with other cultures and movements.^[4]

Renewal of the Church

Much like the Practical Theologian M. Victor Paul, AELC (1990),^[14] Yesurathnam cautioned the Church against falling into traditionalism. During the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Uniting church, the Church of South India held in Chennai in 1997,^[15] Yesurathnam spoke on the ills befalling the Church in India,

(Adapted) The church hierarchy of Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons and Laity is turning into a Chaturvarna system, with the Laity and Women as the Shudras, the bottom-most caste.^[16]

Echoing the apprehensions by Yesurathnam, Stanley Jedidiah Samartha who was also present at the Jubilee in Chennai, pointed out that one must first introspect before raising cudgels against the Indian caste system and believed that one failed to notice the gradual transformation of the episcopacy into such a system.^[17]

Writings

• 1972, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's concept of man and its relevance for a Christian interpretation of man in India,^[18]
• 1987, The adequacy of the concept of Avatara for expounding the Christian doctrine of incarnation,^[5]
• 1988, Religious Pluralism: Some Implications for the Mission of the Church,^[19]
• 1990, Abhishiktananda : An Indian Christian Theologian with a difference,^[20]
• 1998, Liberation from Jubilee Perspective,^[21]
• 1999, Can the Clergy make it ?,^[22]
• 1999, Book Review: Mission Today, Challenges and Responses,^[1]
• 2001, Book Review: Relevant Patterns of Christian Witness in India: People as Agents of Mission,^[23]
• 2001, Channels of Peace: A Theological Perspective,^[24]
• 2003, The Cross of Christ as the Anchor of Hope in Suffering,^[25]
• 2006, A Christian Dialogical Theology: The Contribution of Swami Abhishiktananda (Henri Le Saux),^[2]

Studies

Graduate

After initial schooling at the Christian mission schools founded by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) in Telangana, Yesurathnam discerned his avocation to take up Priesthood during the successive bishoprics of Frank Whittaker and Eber Priestley who became his Spiritual Confessors and led Yesurathnam to take up spiritual studies at the United Theological College, Bangalore {affiliated to the nation's first^[26] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University)} during 1961-1965^[3] then under the notable principal Joshua Russell Chandran, CSI and the Old Testament Scholar E. C. John, CSI and other Spiritual Formators. Yesurathnam's companions at the College studying at varying internals included Arvind P. Nirmal, CNI, K. C. Abraham, CSI,^[3] C. L. Furtado, CSI, G. T. Abraham, CSI, Philipose Mar Eusebius, MOSC and others. At the subsequent convocation of the Senate of Serampore College (University), Yesurathnam was awarded a B. D. degree during the Registrarship of Chetti Devasahayam, CBCNC.

Postgraduate

In 1969 during the bishopric of H. D. L. Abraham, Bishop - in - Medak, Yesurathnam was recalled from parish work and sent to the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Bangalore for further spiritual studies leading to M. Th. during 1969-1972^[3] where he researched under Joshua Russell Chandran, CSI. This time around, Yesurathnam's companions included D. W. Jesudoss, TELC, and his graduate companion Philipose Mar Eusebius, MOSC, who returned the same time as Yesurathnam for pursuing postgraduate studies. Yesurathnam's other companions from the graduate section comprised S. J. Theodore, CSI, Timotheas Hembrom, NELC, H. S. Wilson, CSI, D. I. Hans, CSI, P. J. Lawrence, CSI, Basil Rebera, J. W. Gladstone, CSI, D. Dhanaraj, CSI, Sydney Salins, CSI, John Sadananda, CSI, Christopher Asir, CSI and others.^[3]

Yesurathnam was awarded the postgraduate degree of M. Th. in the ensuing convocation of University led by the Registrar, Chetti Devasahayam, CBCNC.

Doctoral

After a 5-year teaching ministry that began in 1973 at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad, Yesurathnam qualified to undertake doctoral level research in 1978^[3] and sought a 5-year study leave from then Principal Victor Premasagar, CSI who enabled the leave through the Board of Governors of the College. Yesurathnam's Bishop during that period, B. G. Prasada Rao, Bishop - in - Medak made efforts to ensure that Yesurathnam was able to join his alma mater, the United Theological College, Bangalore where Yesurathnam was able to take up research in the discipline of Systematic theology under the guidance of the notable Systematic Theologian Arvind P. Nirmal, CNI who incidentally was his graduate companion during 1963-1965. Yesurathnam also came under the tutelage of Stanley Jedidiah Samartha, a leading authority on Dialogical Theology.^[27] During the research period between 1978-1982,^[3] Yesurathnam was also sent to the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England in 1979^[2] for a two-year^[2] research exposure where he was supervised by Walter Jacob Hollenweger. Though Yesurathnam completed his studies in 1982 and rejoined the Andhra Christian Theological College, it was only in 1987,^[28] that the Senate of Serampore College (University) awarded the doctoral degree of D. Th. during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC. Nearly two decades later, Yesurathnam sought permission from the Senate of Serampore College (University) to publish his doctoral work in 2006.^[2]

Ministry

Pastoral ministry

Yesurathnam was ordained in 1966 by Bishop Eber Priestley, then Bishop - in - Medak and was assigned ministerial functions in the parishes falling under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Medak and served upto 1969. After a three-year period of study for postgraduate studies, Yesurathnam again returned in 1972 and pastored for two more years until 1974^[2] when he took up teaching ministry at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad.

In 1992, when Victor Premasagar, CSI vacated the bishopric of Medak on attaining superannuation, the ensuing Sede vacante was contested among whom Yesurathnam stood in the fray for the vacant bishopric, which was overseen by Ryder Devapriam, CSI, then Moderator of the Church of South India Synod and a former colleague of Yesurathnam at the Protestant Regional Theologiate. However, the sudden death of Ryder Devapriam, CSI on 4 September 1992^[29] while in Germany turned the tides for those in fray, resulting in the appointment and subsequent consecration of B. P. Sugandhar, CSI.

Teaching ministry

In 1972, the Andhra Christian Theological College moved from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad. The Systematic Theologian, Waldo Penner, CBCNC, one of the co-founders of the College hailing from the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars did not move to the new location in Secunderabad and the unfilled vacancy that arose was sourced by inviting Yesurathnam from the Diocese of Medak of the Church of South India. Yesurathnam joined the College during in 1974^[2] during the Principalship of the Cantabrigian and Old Testament Scholar, Victor Premasagar, CSI and his colleagues in Systematic theology comprised Ryder Devapriam, CSI and was later joined by B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC in 1977^[3] and the two led the teaching of Systematic theology^[1] for nearly a decade until they were joined in 1984 by G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI.^[3] In 1986 when Suppogu Joseph, STBC became Principal of the College, the Systematic Theologian Jürgen Fangmeier,^[30] from Germany came to teach as a Guest Professor enriching the discipline of Systematic theology at the College followed by Ray Waldock^[31] from Canada.

In 1993, during the Principalship of M. Victor Paul, AELC, Yesurathnam was sent to the de:Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany as Guest Professor where he taught for a year and returned in 1994 to take up the Principalship of the College for a 4-year period that saw new faculty which joined the College comprising K. Reuben Mark, the present Bishop - in - Karimnagar and others.

Yesurathnam spent nearly a quarter of a century during 1974-2001 at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad in teaching successive ministerial aspirants along with notable faculty members that included W. D. Coleman, AELC, R. R. Sundara Rao, AELC, G. Devasahayam, AELC, G. Solomon, STBC, Ravela Joseph, STBC, Suppogu Joseph, STBC, Eric J. Lott, CSI, Ryder Devapriam, CSI, G. T. Abraham, CSI, Muriel Spurgeon Carder, CBCNC and others.

In 1998, the four-year cycle of Principalship passed on from the Church of South India to the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars which was represented by a two-member faculty comprising the Church Historian D. J. Jeremiah, CBCNC and the Religions Teacher, K. D. G. Prakasa Rao, CBCNC. Meanwhile, Yesurathnam proceeded on a year's sabbatical leave in 1998 to the Overseas Ministries Study Center,^[1] New Haven, Connecticut to continue his research pursuits^[23] and rejoined the Theologiate in Secunderabad and after continuing to teach for two more years', he accepted a call for overseas missionary service and bid farewell to the Theologiate in 2001.

Missionary service

The Council for World Mission (CWM) headquartered in England is involved in missionary enterprise in far reached areas around the globe. During the tenure of G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI as General Secretary at the Church of South India Synod, efforts were made by the CWM to garner missionary service from the participating dioceses of the Church of South India. Yesurathnam's former colleague, G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI sought the permission of B. P. Sugandhar, then Bishop - in - Medak to enable Yesurathnam's missionary service to the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and in 2001, Yesurathnam moved to the International University of the Caribbean, Kingston (Jamaica) where he^[32] began his sojourn in the New millennium and served as a theological educator for nearly a decade^[33] until his sudden death on 8 August 2011 at the Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.

Legacy

As a Spiritual Formator at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad since 1974, Yesurathnam, together with other Faculty Members, were able to guide in the spiritual formation of ministerial aspirants to continue the selfless work of the Christian missions that included the 1974 batch of aspirants comprising Alexander John, CSI, T. Punnaiah, STBC, L. Samuel John, AELC, D. Vasantha Rao, CBCNC, K. C. Martin, CSI, Bishop Emeritus A. Rajarathnam, CSI, Bishop Emeritus T. S. Kanaka Prasad, CSI and others^[34] and the successive aspirants Ch. Victor Moses, AELC, V. E. Christopher, AELC, B. Suneel Bhanu, AELC and continues to live on through the present leadership of the Churches who include,

• Andhra Pradesh
  • The Rev. Kaki John Emmanuel, CBCNC,^[35] Chairperson of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada,
  • The Right Reverend Sister Eggoni Pushpalalitha, CSI Order of Sisters, Bishop - in - Nandyal, Nandyal,
  • The Right Reverend Boyineni Deva Prasada Rao, CSI, Bishop - in - Rayalaseema, Cuddapah,
  • Bishop K. Frederick Paradesi Babu, AELC, President of the AELC Society, Guntur,
• Telangana
  • The Rev. Anuparthi John Prabhakar, STBC, Principal-designate^[36] of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad,
  • The Right Reverend Vadapalli Prasada Rao, CSI, Bishop - in - Dornakal, Dornakal,
• South Africa
  • The Rev. Ayyala John, CoE,^[37] Diocese of Natal, Anglican Church of Southern Africa Society, Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal

References

Further reading

• R. North, S.J. (Edited) (1987). "Elenchus of Biblica". 3. 
• Charles E. Van Engen (2005). "Five Perspectives of Contextually Appropriate Missional Theology". 

1. ↑ WorldCat search on "Regunta Yesurathnam".