View source for Luther Abraham

{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type        = Bishop
| name        = Luther Abraham, [[Church of South India|CSI]]
| title       = [[Bishop in Medak]]
| image       = 
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| church      = [[Church of South India]]
| archdiocese = 
| diocese     = 
| see         = [[Diocese of Medak of the Church of South India|Medak]]
| term        = 1969–1975<ref name="George" />
| predecessor = [[Eber Priestley]] 
| successor   = [[B. G. Prasada Rao]]
<!--   Orders   -->
| ordination     = 1940, Adoni<ref name="Sabhapathy" />
| ordained_by      =C. B. Firth of the [[English Wesleyan Mission|Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society]]
| consecration   = 17 November 1966<ref name="Gerhardus" />
| consecrated_by = 
| rank           = [[Bishop]]
<!--   Personal details   -->
| birth_date    = {{birth date|df=yes|1908|02|08}}<ref name="Sabhapathy" />
| birth_place   = [[Vikarabad]], [[Telangana]]
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=yes|1987|01|01|1908|02|08}}<ref name="Sabhapathy" />
| death_place   = [[Bellary]], [[Karnataka]]
| previous_post = Pastor - in - [[Church of South India Diocese of Mysore|Mysore]] {{small|(1940-1966)}}<br>Assistant [[Bishop]] - in - [[Church of South India Diocese of Mysore|Mysore]] {{small|(1966-1968)}}
}}

'''Henry Diwakar Luther Abraham''' (February 8, 1908 – January 1, 1987)<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> (H. D. L. Abraham;<ref>''The Church of England Year Book'', Volume 2006, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Great Britain, 1975.  p.235.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=--AAAAAAMAAJ&q=]</ref> known as Luther)<ref>[http://medakcathedral.org/about-us/about-bishops/third-bishop Medak Cathedral – Third Bishop] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707040520/http://medakcathedral.org/about-us/about-bishops/third-bishop |date=7 July 2011 }}</ref> was the second successor of [[Frank Whittaker]] as [[Bishop in Medak]] and an able administrator.<ref name="George">K. M. George, ''Church of South India: Life in Union, 1947–1997'', Jointly published by Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, New Delhi and Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 1999.  p. 56.[https://books.google.com/books?id=zmjZAAAAMAAJ&q=]</ref>

==Writings==
* Church and Evangelism<ref>H. D. L. Abraham, ''Church and Evangelism'' in Joseph Houldsworth Oldham (Edited), ''[[International Review of Mission]]'', Volume 45, 1956.  Also cited in ''The Congregational Quarterly'', Volume 34, Congregational Union of England and Wales, 1956.  p.287. [https://books.google.com/books?id=sZg9AAAAYAAJ&q=]</ref>
* The Teaching Ministry in My Diocese – Efforts and Deficiencies<ref>H.D.L.Abraham, ''The Teaching Ministry in My Diocese – Efforts and Deficiencies'' in ''South India Churchman'', Chennai, September 1973.  Cited in ''[[Bangalore Theological Forum]]'', Volume 37, Bengaluru, 2005.  p.53.  [https://books.google.com/books?lr=&cd=2&id=-nnYAAAAMAAJ&dq=]</ref>

==Appraisal by Scholars==
K. M. George who authored ''Church of South India: Life in Union, 1947–1997'':<ref name="George" />
{{quote|.....An able administrator, courageous and bold like Martin Luther and Abraham.}}

N. Sabhapathy, a former Presbyter in Bellary who wrote about the life of Abraham:<ref name="Sabhapathy">N. Sabhapathy, ''A Short Sketch on the Life of Right Reverend H. D. L. Abraham'' in ''Lily of Sharon'', Volume 1, Issue 4, July 2007, Bellary.  pp.7–9.  ''Lily of Sharon'', a Registered Magazine in Karnataka (KARNEGO 3427/10/1/2006-TC), Published by G. H. David Sundaram on behalf of Christian Friends Association, Guru Colony, First Cross, Cantonment, Bellary 583 104 and printed by K. Bheema Reddy at Brindavan Offset Printers, Kalamma Street, Bellary.</ref>
{{quote|.....He seemed to have a good influence among Village Elders and Christians in many villages.  A person of great talent blessed with good health and having a zeal for evangelism.  He initiated jathara in accordance with the Indian culture in the Indian situation.}}

==History and studies==
Abraham was born on 8 February 1908<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> in [[Vikarabad]], [[Telangana]] to Evangelist J. Y. Abraham<ref>Peter Penner, ''Russians, North Americans and Telegus: the Mennonite Brethren mission in India, 1885–1975'', Issue 10 Perspectives on Mennonite life and thought, Volume 10 of Russians North Americans & Telagus, Kindred Productions, 1997.  p.79.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZMo4V4Ll8wC&pg=PA106&dq=]</ref> and [[Smt.]] Paranjyothamma<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> and studied at Wardlaw High School in [[Bellary]] from where he went to [[Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh|Anantapur]] and studied for a degree in Arts<ref>[[Norman C. Sargant]], ''From Missions to Church in [[Karnataka]], 1920–1950'', Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1987.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ts0WAAAAIAAJ&q=]</ref> (BA)<ref>The National Christian Council review, Volume 93, National Christian Council of India, Nagpur, 1973.  p.273.[https://books.google.com/books?id=xfbYAAAAMAAJ&q=]</ref> at the Ceded Districts (C.D.) College in [[Anantapur]].  He went to the [[United Theological College (Bangalore)|United Theological College]], [[Bengaluru]] between 1934 and 1937.<ref name="Directory">K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), ''[[United Theological College (Bangalore)|United Theological College]], Directory 1910–1997, Bengaluru, 1997.  p. 18.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCvXPgAACAAJ&dq]</ref>

==Ecclesiastical ministry==
===Pastor===
In 1937,<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> he was posted to Hacholli as Assistant Pastor and in 1940, he was ordained by C. B. Firth in [[Adoni]].  Abraham also established new congregations in Challakudlur, Ravihal, Lingaladinne and Chickbellary.<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> He seemed to have a good influence among Village Elders and Christians in many villages.  E. Herbert Lewis, then Missionary supervised Abraham in his work.  In 1945, Abraham was transferred from Hacholli to [[Adoni]] to a [[Kannada]]-speaking congregation.<ref name="Sabhapathy" />

Two years later, the [[Church of South India]] was formed on 27 September 1947.  After serving three years in [[Adoni]], Abraham was transferred to [[Bellary]] where he served till 1962.<ref name="Sabhapathy" />  In 1953, he proposed to start a Jathara at Chickbellary during holy Easter week for three days under the [[mangroves]] of the River [[Tungabhadra]].<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> It was in April 1954 that the Jathara was held.

In 1956, Abraham was sent to the [[Selly Oak Colleges]], Birmingham to lecture on Pastoria and Church Ethics for overseas missionaries.  He was then assigned a teaching and administrative roles at the Union Kanarese Seminary in [[Tumkur]] before being transferred back to [[Bellary]].<ref name="Sabhapathy" />

In 1962, Abraham was transferred to Cowlbazar,<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> [[Bellary]] where he began serving until 1966.

===Bishopric===
Abraham was consecrated as Assistant [[Bishop]] - in - [[Church of South India Diocese of Mysore|Mysore]] on 17 November 1966<ref>Rajaiah David Paul, ''Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India'', Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1972.  p.146.[https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ&q=]</ref> at the St. Mark's Cathedral,<ref name="Gerhardus">Gerhardus Cornelis Oosthuizen, ''Theological battleground in Asia and Africa: the issues facing the churches and the efforts to overcome Western divisions'', C. Hurst, 1972.  p.102.[https://books.google.com/books?id=PckRAQAAIAAJ&q=]</ref> Bengaluru by [[Norman C. Sargant]], [[Bishop]] - in - [[Church of South India Diocese of Mysore|Mysore]].

After more than two years' of shepherding in [[Karnataka]], Abraham was transferred and installed as [[Diocese of Medak|Bishop - in - Medak]] on 3.2.1969<ref>Rajaiah David Paul, ''Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India'', Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1972, p.159.[https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ&q=bishop+luther+abraham+mysore&dq=bishop+luther+abraham+mysore&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwii5ezHmdXXAhXEvY8KHT6KAMsQ6AEIKTAB]</ref> to set right some long-pending problems and to provide stable leadership.  Abraham retired in 1975 on reaching superannuation and settled down in [[Bellary]].<ref>[[Mar Aprem Mooken|Mar Aprem]], ''Indian Christian who is who'', Bombay Parish Church of the East, Mumbai, 1983.  p. 50.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=u2s5AAAAMAAJ&q=]</ref>

==Ex officio endeavours==
Abraham also became the President of the College Council of [[Karnataka Theological College]], [[Mangalore]].<ref>Karl Ignaz Trübner in '' Richard Kukula (Edited), ''Minerva'', Volume 35,&nbsp;Part 2, W. de Gruyter, 1969.  p.1554.  [https://books.google.com/books?id=tjI6AAAAMAAJ&q=]</ref>

The Synod of the Church of South India again sought Abraham to set right disturbances at the Diocese of Krishna-Godavari as [[N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel]], Bishop – in – Krishna Godavari had left the diocese in 1978<ref name="Sabhapathy" /> and sought refuge in Chennai, the Synodical Headquarters of the Church of South India.  Abraham was again brought to Diocese of Northern Karnataka to act as Moderator's Commissary until the consecration of V. P. Dandin in 1981.<ref name="Sabhapathy" />

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
;Further reading
* {{cite journal
 | author=Joseph Houldsworth Oldham
 | title=International review of mission
 | year=1956
 | volume=45
 | issue=
 | url =https://books.google.com/books?cd=3&id=PZ8TAAAAIAAJ&dq=
}}
* {{cite journal
 | author=Rajaiah David Paul
 | title=Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India
 | year=1972
 | volume=
 | issue=
 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ&q=
}}
* {{cite journal
 | author=K. M. George
 | title=Church of South India: life in union, 1947–1997
 | year=1999
 | volume=
 | issue=
 | url =https://books.google.com/books?um=1&q=
}}

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{{Succession box| before=[[Eber Priestley]] | title=Bishop - in - [[Diocese of Medak|Medak]],<br>[[Medak]] | after=[[B. G. Prasada Rao]] | years=1969–1975}}
{{Succession box| before=''Position created''| title=Assistant Bishop - in - [[Church of South India Diocese of Mysore|Mysore]],<br>[[Bangalore]] | after=''Position discontinued'' | years=1966–1968}}
{{S-hon}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Eber Priestley]]| title=Member, Board of Governors,<br>[[Andhra Christian Theological College]], <br>[[Rajahmundry]]/[[Secunderabad]] | after=[[B. G. Prasada Rao]]| years=1969-1975}}
{{S-aca}}
{{Succession box| before=| title=Seminary Teacher<br>Union Kanarese Seminary, <br>[[Tumkur]] | after=| years=1956-1962}}
{{S-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abraham, Luther}}
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Kannada people]]
[[Category:Anglican bishops of Medak]]
[[Category:20th-century Anglican bishops in Asia]]
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Indologists]]
[[Category:1908 births]]
[[Category:1987 deaths]]
[[Category:Church of South India clergy]]