Govada Dyvasirvadam

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Template:Infobox bishopbiog Template:Anglican Portal

G. Dyvasirvadam (born 28 March1951) is the Bishop-in-Krishna Godavari belonging to the Church of South India ( incorporating Anglicans, Methodists, and Presbyterians).[1]

St. Andrew's Cathedral in Machilipatnam is the seat of the Bishop-in-Krishna Godavari.

Earlier, in 1998, Dyvasirvadam was elected as the General Secretary of the CSI, the youngest ever in the history of the CSI[2].

The Bishop is well versed in Sanskrit as well as Telugu, Greek and English.

He was also a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches headquartered in Geneva.[3] as well as a member of the General Committee of the Christian Conference of Asia headquartered in Thailand. [4]

Early years

Dyvasirvadam was born on 28 March 1951 in Challapalli in Krishna District. He was the tenth child of his parents, Rev. Govada Devamani and Smt. Suguna Sundaram[5]. Schooling was in Krishna and West Godavari districts. He had been an alma mater of Sreemanthu Raja Higher Secondary School, Challapalli in Krishna District and the Municipal School in Eluru in West Godavari District.

He later did his college studies in A.V.N. College (established in 1860), one of the oldest institutes in Visakhapatnam.[6] It may be mentioned that the Nobel laureate Sir C. V. Raman too studied in the same college.

Dyvasirvadam also pursued post-graduate studies in Noble College, Machilipatnam.

Divinity

Around this time, Dyvasirvadam had a call to serve God. The Diocese of Krishna Godavari sent him to the Bishop's College, Calcutta [established in 1824 and affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)][7] where he studied under learned Professors.

The then Principal was Rev. P. B. Santram [8] During his studies there in Bishop's College, wearing of the cassocks was compulsory throughout the day. Rev. G. D. V. Prasad, the present Director - Translations of the Bible Society of India headquartered in Bangalore was a contemporary of Dyvasirvadam.

Ordination & Pastorship

After returning back from Bishop's College, the Diocese of Krishna Godavari first posted him to Kanumolu near Hanuman Junction in Krishna District[9].

In March 1978, he was ordained by Bishop Henry Lazarus as a Deacon in the St. Andrew's Church in Machilipatnam[10]. Later, he was posted to Christ Church in Eluru in West Godavari District. The then Moderator's Commisary, The Right Reverend H. D. L. Abraham (Bishop in Medak) ordained him as a Priest.

Higher Studies & Professorship

With interest to pursue higher studies in theology, the Diocese granted him study leave. Dyvasirvadam proceeded to the United Theological College, Bangalore, [the only autonomous college under the Senate of Serampore College (University)] and enrolled himself for the post-graduate degree of Master of Theology (M. Th.) in the discipline of Systematic Theology. Rev. J. Russel Chandran was the Principal of UTC during that time.[11]

After successful completion of post-graduate studies in theology, his diocese assigned him a teaching task at the ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College in Hyderabad in which his diocese is a participating member.[12]

Dyvasirvadam taught Systematic Theology to students pursuing Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) and Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.). While at ACTC, he was disciplined, simple and student-friendly. However, he never compromised on indiscipline or laxity amongst the students.[13]. His contemporaries in the discipline of Systematic Theology included Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar and Rev. Dr. R. Yesurathnam[14]. During the period in which Dyvasirvadam taught in ACTC, his colleague also included the Old Testament Scholar Rev. G. Babu Rao[15].

Rev. Dyvasirvadam served in ACTC under three Principals, namely, Rev. Dr. K. David, Rev. Dr. S. Joseph, and Rev. Dr. M. Victor Paul[16].

Research

Later, on invitation from the UTC, Bangalore, he went on study leave to serve as the Acting Registrar there. Subsequently, he enrolled for pursuing the doctoral degree (Doctor of Theology - D. Th.) in the South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI) in Bangalore. He chose the discipline of Liberation Theology.[17]

Subsequently, he went back to ACTC to resume his teaching responsibilities and became Warden.

Synod of the CSI

Director of Pastoral Aid Department

The then Moderator of the CSI the Most Reverend Ryder Devapriyam[18] invited Dyvasirvadam to serve as a Director in the Synod's Pastoral Aid Department[19].

General Secretary

The biennial Synod of the CSI elected Rev. Dyvasirvadam as its General Secretary in 1998 in Arogyavaram in Chittoor District.[20] He was again re-elected in the Synod of 2000 in Secunderabad.

Bishopric

The CSI Diocese of Krishna-Godavari is one of the largest extending from Ongole District in the south through Srikakulam District in the norther circars of Andhra Pradesh. Its Cathedral was first erected in Eluru and was subsequently shifted to Vijayawada. Earlier Bishop's who served in this diocese were notable and exemplary. Following the retirement of The Right Reverend T. B. D. Prakasa Rao, Rev. Dyvasirvadam contested and was elected unopposed. Subsequently, the Cathedral was shifted to Machilipatnam. St. Andrew's Church was consecrated as a Cathedral.

The Moderator of the CSI during that time was The Most Reverend K. J. Samuel who principally consecrated him in the St. Andrew's Cathedral in Machilipatnam.

File:Govada.jpg
Dyvasirvadam taught Systematic Theology at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad.


Appraisal

  • The Right Reverend K. J. Samuel

    .....Dyvasirvadam had been a terror to the distractors of the Church

    [21]
  • The Right Reverend B. P. Sugandhar,

    .....His contribution to the Church both as a theological teacher and a church leader has been tremendous

    [22]

Honours

In the year 2001, friends of the Bishop proceeded to write a 365-page fetschrift in his honour on the occasion of the completion of fifty years. Rev. Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel and Rev. Dr. P. Surya Prakash edited the fetschrift.

File:Govada1.jpg
Ecumenism is one of the concerns of Dyvasirvadam.

Notable among the contributors include:

Later, on his consecration as the Bishop-in-Krishna Godavari in 2001 in Machilipatnam, a well-wisher presented him with a copy of the Latin Vulgate.

References

  1. ^ Anglican Communion, Provincial Directory: Krishna-Godavari[1]
  2. ^ Vinod Victor in Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (Eds.), Ecumenism: Prospects and Challenges - A Fetschrift to the Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam, Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (ISPCK), New Delhi, 2001, pp.xxix - xxxiv
  3. ^ The eighty assembly of the world council of churches held from 3 - 14 December 1998 in Harare, Zimbabwe elected a total of 37 members to its central committee[2]
  4. ^ The eleventh assembly of the CCA held in Indonesia from 2-6 June 2000 elected Dyvasirvadam as a member of its general committee.[3]
  5. ^ Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (Eds.), op. cit.
  6. ^ Ibid.
  7. ^ Bishop's College, Calcutta[4]
  8. ^ Rev. Santram was also a member of the Society for Biblical Studies in India (SBSI) incorporating Biblical Scholars of the Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions. In fact, in 1972, he was elected as an office-bearer of the SBSI.
  9. ^ Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (Eds.), op. cit.
  10. ^ Ibid.
  11. ^ Ibid.
  12. ^ Ibid.
  13. ^ Ibid.
  14. ^ Past & Present Faculty, Andhra Christian Theological College
  15. ^ G. Babu Rao taught in Serampore College and Andhra Christian Theological College.[5]
  16. ^ See Principals List of Andhra Christian Theological College
  17. ^ Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (et. al.), op. cit.
  18. ^ See past faculty list of Andhra Christian Theological College. Also see successor of Victor Premasagar
  19. ^ Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (Eds.), op. cit.
  20. ^ Ibid.
  21. ^ K. J. Samuel in Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (Eds.), pp. ix-x
  22. ^ B. P. Sugandhar in Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (Eds.), pp. xi-xii
Template:S-ecc
Preceded by Bishop in Krishna Godavari

of the Church of South India
2001–Incumbent

Succeeded by
Preceded by
Dr. George Koshy
 General Secretary

of the Synod of the Church of South India
1998–2001

Succeeded by
Dr. Pauline Sathyamurthy
Preceded by
Rev. B. S. Devamani
 Director of the Pastoral Aid Department

of the Synod of the Church of South India
1992–1998

Succeeded by
Rev. G. Devakadasham
Preceded by
 Acting Registrar

of the United Theological College
1988–1991

Succeeded by
Preceded by
Rev. Dr. R. Yesuratnam Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar
 Lecturer in Systematic Theology

in Andhra Christian Theological College
1984–1988 & 1991–1992

Succeeded by
Rev. Dr. R. Yesuratnam Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar

Further reading

  • Vinod Victor, Leslie Nathaniel (); et al. (2001). "Ecumenism: Prospects and Challenges - A Fetschrift to the Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam, Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (ISPCK), New Delhi ISBN 81: 72146183". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)
  • Thompson, A. Frank (1997). "The Bairagi Madonna: Leaves from a Calcutta Notebook, Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (ISPCK), New Delhi [[ISBN]] 10: 8172143729". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
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