V. E. Christopher

infobox bishopbiog
name = V. E. Christopher


religion=Christian
See =Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)| Title =Moderator / Bishop
Period = 2005—2009
consecration = June 1, 2005
Predecessor = Ch. Victor Moses
Successor = "Incumbent"
post = Vice-President of the AELC
ordination = 1978
date of birth = 19 January 1949
place of birth = Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh
date of death =
place of death=

V. E. Christopher [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Country Packets, Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. Internet, accessed 14 September 2008. [http://archive.elca.org/countrypackets/india/aelc.html] ] is the present Moderator / Bishop and the twelfth [See List of Presidents of AELC in Wikipedia article Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.] in succession of India's largest [The Lutheran World Federation, New President for India's Largest Lutheran Church. Internet, accessed 14 September 2008. [http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/1760.EN.html] ] Lutheran Church, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Moderator's Office "(also referred to as the President's Office)" is situated in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh.

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

Early years

Ernest Christopher was born into a pastoral family in Bhimavaram in Andhra Pradesh to Rev. Vardanapu Krupadas and Smt. Bhagyamma. His father, Rev. V. Krupadas was a pastor of the AELC. ["Prema Sakshi", National Christian Telugu Monthly, August 2006.] He had his schooling in Bhimavaram and collegiate education in Rajahmundry ["Ibid.] . Later, he pursued degree studies in Sri Y. N. College "(an NAAC-A grade college affiliated to the Andhra University)", Narsapur in West Godavari District.

Divinity

Like his father, Christopher had an inclination to pursue the ultimate profession of priesthood. His Church society "(the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church)" readily sponsored him for his priestly studies. The AELC was then headed by Rev. Dr. S. W. Schmitthener.

Armed with a sponsorship letter from his Church society, Christopher enrolled ["Ibid.] for the graduate degree of Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.) offered by the ecumenical Andhra Christian Theological College "(affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University))", Hyderabad.

The then Principal of the College was the Cantabrigian Victor Premasagar. With disciplined faculty at ACTC, the young Christopher had a sound priestly formation. He was taught New Testament by Muriel Carder and K. David while Victor Premasagar and G. Babu Rao, taught him Old Testament, the core subjects in any seminary or theological faculty of a University. Christopher was known to be studious and disciplined.

Ordination & Pastorship

After Christopher's ordination, his Church President, the India-born Rev. Dr. S. W. Schmitthener posted ["Ibid.] him to East Godavari District to minister in a rural parish. He also served in Lutheran parishes in Rajahmundry and Bhimavaram.

Higher Studies

Christopher later enrolled for the degree of Bachelor of Divinity (B. D.) at his "alma mater", the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad and upgraded himself to earn a B. D. degree.

ynod of the AELC

Rev. Christopher was twice ["Ibid.] elected as the Synod President of the West Godavari Synod, one of the six Synods of the AELC.

Presidentship

In due course of time, Christopher was elected to the Vice-Presidentship ["Ibid.] of the Church Society. Later on June 1, 2005 ["Ibid.] , he was declared elected as the President of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Like his predecessors, Bishop Christopher provides sound leadership to this Church Society.

ee also

"Other Bishops"
* Archbishop M. Joji
* Bishop G. Dyvasirvadam
* Bishop D. M. Prakasam----"Ecumenical Seminaries"
* Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad
* Bethel Bible College, Guntur
* Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai----"Missionary educational enterprises"
* Andhra-Christian College, Guntur
* Serampore College, West Bengal
* St. Stephen's College, New Delhi

References

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box | before=Rev. Ch. Victor Moses| title=President [The Lutheran World Federation, "op. cit."]
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, Guntur|after="Incumbent"| years=2005–2009succession box | before=| title=Vice-President
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, Guntur|after=| years=succession box | before=| title=West Godavari Synod President
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church|after=| years=succession box | before=| title=Pastor
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church|after=| years=succession box | before=Rev. C. L. Johnson| title=Chairperson
Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad| after="Incumbent"| years=2007–succession box | before=| title=Council Member [Members of the Gurukul College Council. Internet, accessed 16 September 2008. [http://www.gltc.edu/gurukul/02-administration/administration/council.htm] ]
Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai| after="Incumbent"| years=2007–succession box | before=| title=National Board MemberChurch's Auxiliary for Social Action, New Delhi [Church's Auxiliary for Social Action, National Board Members. Internet, accessed 14 September 2008. [http://www.casa-india.org/link_desc.php?lid=38] ] | after=| years=2007-2010succession box | before=| title=Vice President United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, Chennai [The 26^th triennial conference of the UELCI held in Don Bosco School in Jharkhand elected new officers. [http://asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=21] ] | after=| years=2006–succession box | before=| title=Council Member
Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore [CMC News Line, Volume No. 44, No. 50, June 4, 2007. Internet, accessed 14 September 2008. [http://www.cmch-vellore.edu/pdf/weeklynews/2007/06.04.07.pdf] ] | after=| years=2005–

Further reading

* cite journal
author=Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley (Ed.)
title=The Encyclopedia of Christianity, William B. Eerdmans Publishing, ISBN 0802824153, 9780802824158
year=1999
volume=Page 357
issue=
url =http://books.google.co.in/books?id=7ly4DgtT3LkC&pg=PA357&lpg=PA357&dq=andhra+evangelical+lutheran+church&source=web&ots=8BEHd-wdl-&sig=hx_ct2PC_2LEB2UiyHHn2kMsKlw&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result