Mohit Raj at 22:55, 30 May 2025

2025-05-30T22:55:17Z

New page

{{About|the present [[Diocese of Medak|Bishop in Medak]]|the [[Christian artists|Christian artist]] specializing in [[Batik]]|P. Solomon Raj}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{short description|Indian Bishop of Medak}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = [[Bishop]]
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Reverend]]
| name = A. C. Solomon Raj, [[Church of South India|CSI]]
| honorific-suffix = ''[[Iyengar|Ayyagaru]]''
| title = [[Diocese of Medak|Bishop in Medak]]
| image = Solomon_Raj_5.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| alt =
| caption = Bishop Solomon Raj celebrating Good Friday Mass in 2021
| church = [[Church of South India]]
| archdiocese =
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese = [[Diocese of Medak]]
| see = [[Medak]]
| appointed = 12.10.2016<ref name="Namasthe">[[Namasthe Telangana]], ''మెదక్ చర్చి నూతన బిషప్‌గా సోలమాన్ రాజ్'', 13 October 2016. [http://www.namasthetelangaana.com/telangana-news/solomon-raj-appoints-as-medak-church-new-bishop-1-1-509501.html]</ref>
| quashed =
| predecessor = [[T. S. Kanaka Prasad]]
| successor = ''[[Incumbent]]''
| opposed =
| other_post = 
| ordination = As [[Deacon]] on 10 October 1992, As [[Presbyter]] on 5.4.1994<ref name="Synod">[[Church of South India Synod]] - ''Medak Ministerial Details''. [http://www.csisynod.com/Admin/ministerial/53_Ministerial%20Roll%20-%20Medak%20Diocese.pdf]</ref>
| ordained_by = [[Victor Premasagar]] and [[B. P. Sugandhar]]
| consecration = 13 October 2016<ref name="Hans">[[The Hans India]], ''Rev Solomon Raj is new Bishop of Medak church'', Friday, 14.10.2016.[http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2016-10-14/Rev-Solomon-Raj-is-new-Bishop-of-Medak-church/258621]</ref>
| consecrated_by = [[G. Dyvasirvadam]], Moderator (Principal Consecrator) [[Thomas K Oommen]], Deputy Moderator (Co-consecrator)
| cardinal =
| created_cardinal_by =
| rank = [[Bishop]]
| birth_name = Avulamanda Christopher Solomon Raj<ref name="Namasthe"/>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|03|18}}<ref name="Synod"/>
| birth_place = [[Telangana]], [[India]]
| nationality = [[Indian people|Indian]]
| spouse = Vajra Solomon{{Citation needed|reason=No visible citation; besides said personality is an ecclesiastical functionary, is there a need for personal family details, apart from parents.|date=September 2021}}
| children = Daughter (Shilpa){{Citation needed|reason=No visible citation; besides said personality is an ecclesiastical functionary, is there a need for personal family details, apart from parents.|date=September 2021}}; two sons (Finny, Benjamin){{Citation needed|reason=No visible citation; besides said personality is an ecclesiastical functionary, is there a need for personal family details, apart from parents.|date=September 2021}}
| religion = [[Christianity]]
| residence = [[Medak]]
| parents =
| occupation = [[Priesthood]]
| previous_post = [[Pastor]]
| education = [[Bachelor of Commerce|B.Com.]] ([[Osmania University|Osmania]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B.D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Theology|M.Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])<ref name="Synod"/>
| alma_mater = Giriraj Government College, [[Nizamabad district|Nizamabad]] ([[Telangana]])<ref name="Hindu">[[The Hindu]], [[Hyderabad]], ''Rev. Solomon Raj first Bishop of Telangana'', Thursday, 14.10.2016. [http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/rev-solomon-raj-first-bishop-of-telangana/article9217766.ece?ref=tpnews]</ref> [[United Theological College, Bangalore]] ([[Karnataka]])<ref name="Hindu"/>
| motto =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms =
| coat_of_arms_alt = 
| feast_day =
| venerated =
| saint_title =
| beatified_date =
| beatified_place =
| beatified_by =
| canonized_date =
| canonized_place =
| canonized_by =
| attributes =
| patronage =
| shrine =
| suppressed_date = 
| module =
| other =
}}

'''A. C. Solomon Raj''' (born 18 March 1961)<ref name="Synod"/> is the seventh successor of [[Frank Whittaker]] and eighth<ref>[[Deccan Chronicle]], Hyderabad, ''Rev. A. C. Solomon Raj is 8th Bishop in Medak, Church of South India'', 14.10.2016. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131226001700/http://epaper.deccanchronicle.com/epaper_main.aspx#page1257208]</ref> [[Bishop in Medak]] of the [[Protestant]] [[Church of South India]] Society and shepherds the Diocese from the ''[[Cathedra]]'' of the Bishop housed in the [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[Medak Cathedral]] in [[Medak]] Town, [[Telangana]], [[India]]. On 12 October 2016,<ref name="Hans"/> the [[Church of South India Synod]] headquartered in [[Chennai]], appointed Solomon Raj to assume the [[ecclesiastical]] Office of the Bishopric of [[Diocese of Medak|Medak]] and was consecrated the next day on 13 October 2016<ref>General Secretary's Report, [[Church of South India Synod]], 2017, pp.5-6.[http://www.csisynod.com/Admin/news/467_Synod_GS%20report_color%20pages_web.pdf]</ref> at the [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[St. George's Cathedral, Chennai]],<ref name="Hindu"/> ending four years<ref name="Anglican">George Conger, ''Four year wait for bishop ends for Central Indian diocese'', Anglican Ink, 20.10.2016.[http://www.anglican.ink/article/four-year-wait-bishop-ends-central-indian-diocese] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031025213/http://www.anglican.ink/article/four-year-wait-bishop-ends-central-indian-diocese|date=31 October 2016}}</ref> of ''[[sede vacante]]'' in the [[Diocese of Medak]] which was without a [[bishop]] during the intervening period of 2012–2016.<ref name="Asian"/>

Solomon Raj is an [[wikt:eloquent|eloquent]] speaker<ref>Indian Christian Secular Party''Rev. A.C Solomon Raj speech during party launch''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK9IZkp-2Nk]</ref> with near native fluency in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Hindi language|Hindi]], and [[English language|English]]. His [[sermons]] centre around the [[Eschatology|eschatologies]] of the [[Eschatology|end times]] focusing on [[Jesus Christ|Christ]]. He spent nearly a decade<ref name="Hiwale"/> undergoing spiritual studies under [[Old Testament]] Scholars<ref name="Hiwale"/> [[E. C. John]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] and [[Gnana Robinson]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] at the [[United Theological College, Bangalore]], an affiliated seminary of the [[Senate of Serampore College (University)]], India's first<ref name="Ray">Sankar Ray in [[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. [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2008/04/11/stories/2008041150100400.htm]</ref> University {a university under Section 2 (f)<ref>Under section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 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 recognized 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.[http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/history/u-g-c-and-serampore-college/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612143603/http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/history/u-g-c-and-serampore-college/|date=12 June 2017}}</ref> of the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] Act, 1956}<ref>{{cite web|title=UGC Act-1956|url=http://mhrd.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/upload_document/ugc_act.pdf|website=mhrd.gov.in/|publisher=Secretary, University Grants Commission|access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref> founded by the [[Baptist Missions]] led by [[Joshua Marshman]], [[William Carey (missionary)|William Carey]], and [[William Ward (missionary)|William Ward]].

==Studies and ministerial formation==

===Telangana===
For early schooling and pre-university studies, Solomon Raj enrolled at the educational institutions established by the [[Christian missions]], the [[English Wesleyan Mission|Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society]] and studied at [[Bellampalli]], [[Nizamabad district|Nizamabad]] and [[Secunderabad]] and took a basic degree from a State-run institution in [[Nizamabad, Telangana|Nizamabad]]. Solomon Raj first schooled at the [[Church of South India|CSI]]-Wesley Boys School on [[Colonel]] Prenderghast Road in [[Secunderabad]]<ref name="Hindu"/> and later pursued collegiate studies at the Giriraj Government College in [[Nizamabad district|Nizamabad]]<ref name="Hindu"/> leading to [[B.Com.]]

===Karnataka===

====Spiritual studies====
During the Bishopric of the [[Old Testament]] Scholar, the [[Cantabrigian]] [[Victor Premasagar]], [[Church of South India|CSI]], Solomon Raj was admitted as a ministerial candidate of the [[Diocese of Medak]] to discern his avocation towards priesthood and spent a year assisting [[Presbyters]] during 1987–1988 in the [[Diocese of Medak]] that was predominantly [[Wesleyan Church|Wesleyan Methodist]]<ref name="Village">P. Y. Luke, J. B. Carman, ''Village Christians and Hindu Culture'', Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, 1968, pp.15, 17, 24.[https://books.google.com/books?id=YTqM8gCpXI0C&dq=village+christians+and+hindu+culture&pg=PP1]</ref> with a couple of [[Anglican Church|Anglican churches]]<ref name="Village"/> in the urban pastorate.

In the ensuing year, the Diocese of Medak sent Solomon Raj to the fully-[[ecumenical]]<ref name="Shared">fully-ecumenical that is [[Protestant]], [[Catholics]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] included. ''Shared Search - Souvenir of the inauguration of the academic collaboration between the [[United Theological College, Bangalore]] and the [[Dharmaram College]], [[Bangalore]]'', 1975, Bangalore, available at the Archives in the library of [[Karnataka Theological College]], [[Mangalore]].[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/702131970]</ref> [[United Theological College, Bangalore|United Theological College]], a Protestant Regional Theologiate, in [[Bangalore]] where he pursued propadeutic studies during 1988–1992<ref name="Hiwale">K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), ''Directory of the United Theological College 1910–1997'', Bangalore, 1997. Past students of the graduate course, p.77.</ref> during the Principalship<ref name="Hiwale"/> of the leading [[Old Testament]] Scholar [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[E. C. John]], [[Church of South India|CSI]], a direct student of [[Old Testament]]'s Master Specialists, [[Gerhard von Rad]] and [[Claus Westermann]] at the [[University of Heidelberg]], [[Germany]]. During the subsequent convocation of the university held in 1993, Solomon Raj was awarded a [[Bachelor of Divinity]] degree by India's first<ref name="Ray"/> University, the [[Senate of Serampore College (University)]], [[Serampore]], [[West Bengal]] during the Registrarship of the [[New Testament]] Scholar, [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[D. S. Satyaranjan]], [[Indian Pentecostal Church|IPC]].

Between 1988 and 1992,<ref name="Hiwale"/> in addition to the faculty at the [[seminary]] in [[Bangalore]] which comprised the [[Religious scholar]], [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[G. D. Melanchthon]],<ref name="Hiwale"/> [[Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church|AELC]], the [[New Testament]] scholar [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] K. James Carl,<ref name="Hiwale"/> [[South Andhra Lutheran Church|SALC]] and other notable faculty, Solomon Raj was also benefited by the scholarship of the visiting faculty from the [[Carmelites of Mary Immaculate]]-[[Dharmaram College]]<ref name="Shared"/> and the [[St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary]], also in Bangalore. Incidentally, the [[Homiletics]] Scholar [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[P. Surya Prakash]], [[Church of South India|CSI]], also hailing from the [[Diocese of Medak]] joined the college faculty in 1991, exactly a year before the final year of studies of Solomon Raj. [[Seminarians]] studying during that period included [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[Annie Watson]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref name="Hiwale"/> while [[The Right Reverend|The Rt. Rev.]] [[B. D. Prasada Rao]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref name="Hiwale"/> [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[H. R. Cabral]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref name="Hiwale"/> [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[Jonadob Nathaniel]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref name="Hiwale"/> and [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[Daniel Sadananda]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref name="Hiwale"/> were pursuing postgraduate courses.
[[File:Solomon Raj 2.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Bishop Solomon at CSI-Church of St. John the Baptist, Secunderabad in 2017.]]

====Advanced spiritual studies====
After a period of pastoral ministry, the [[Diocese of Medak]] once again re-sent Solomon Raj to the Protestant Regional Theologiate in [[Bangalore]] to upgrade his academics where Solomon Raj pursued a postgraduate course in spirituality specializing in [[Ethics]] during 1999<ref name="UK CSI">''70 years of God's Faithfulness: CSI (Medak Diocese) UK Telugu Christians Souvenir commemorating the 70th year of the formation of the [[Church of South India]]'', 2016.[http://www.revcvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CSI-UK-Souvenir-1.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827000405/http://www.revcvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CSI-UK-Souvenir-1.pdf|date=27 August 2017}}</ref> –2001<ref name="Synod"/> leading to [[Master of Theology]] during the Principalship<ref name="Hiwale"/> of the [[Old Testament]] Scholar [[Gnana Robinson]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] a direct student of [[Old Testament]]'s Master Specialist, [[Klaus Koch]] at the [[University of Hamburg]], [[Germany]]. Solomon Raj's postgraduate thesis was entitled ''Can violence be a means of achieving social justice? An ethical evaluation of the Naxalite Movement in Telangana'' and was subsequently published in the ''Bangalore Theological Journal''.<ref>A. C. Solomon Raj, ''Can violence be a means of achieving social justice? An ethical evaluation of the Naxalite Movement in Telangana'', ''Bangalore Theological Forum'', Volume 33, 2001.[https://books.google.com/books?id=DHjYAAAAMAAJ&q=a.c.solomon+raj]</ref> During the ensuing annual convocation of the [[Senate of Serampore College (University)]] held in 2002, Solomon Raj was awarded the postgraduate degree, again during the Registrarship of the [[New Testament]] Scholar, [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[D. S. Satyaranjan]], [[Indian Pentecostal Church|IPC]].

==Ecclesiastical ministry==
[[File:Medakcathedralsideview.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[Church of South India|CSI]]-Medak Cathedral where the [[Cathedra]] of the Bishop is located.]]
On completing spiritual studies in [[Karnataka]], Solomon Raj was ordained as a [[Deacon]] on 6.10.1992<ref name="Synod"/> in the [[Church of South India]] Society (comprising [[Wesleyan Church|Wesleyan Methodist]], [[Congregational]] and [[Anglican]] missionary societies – [[United Society|SPG]], [[English Wesleyan Mission|WMMS]], [[London Missionary Society|LMS]], [[Church Missionary Society|CMS]], and the [[Church of England]]) by then [[Bishop]] [[Victor Premasagar]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] and began his [[ecclesiastical]] ministry in the pastorates within the [[ecclesiastical]] jurisdiction of the [[Diocese of Medak]]. Subsequently, after a two-year ministry, he was ordained as a [[Presbyter]] on 5.4.1994<ref name="Synod"/> by the successive [[Bishop]] [[B. P. Sugandhar]], [[Church of South India|CSI]].

===Pastoral===
Solomon Raj as Presbyter served in all the three [[ecclesiastical]] District Church Councils of the [[Diocese of Medak]] and has been vice-chairperson of the [[Diocese of Medak]] for three terms, 2003–2007, 2007-2011 and 2013–2017.<ref name="UK CSI"/>

Before assuming the ''[[Cathedra]]'' in 2016, Solomon Raj was [[Presbyter|Presbyter – in – charge]]<ref>''[[Peoples Reporter]]'', Volume 28, Issue 24, 25 December 2015 – 10 January 2016, p.13.[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vibhuti_Patel2/publication/291514957_Gender_Implications_of_Ascent_of_Money/links/56a3739008aef91c8c12b86f.pdf?inViewer=0&pdfJsDownload=0&origin=publication_detail]</ref> at the [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[Holy Trinity Church, Bolarum|Holy Trinity Church]],<ref name="Anglican"/> [[Bolarum]], [[Secunderabad]] and had also led the [[Diocese of Medak]] as its Vice-chairperson<ref name="Carman">John B. Carman, Chilkuri Vasantha Rao, ''Christians in South Indian Villages, 1959-2009: Decline and Revival in Telangana'', William B. Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids, 2014. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bH9yCgAAQBAJ&dq=rev.a.c.solomon+raj&pg=PT208]</ref> under the guidance and mentorship of the [[Systematic theologian]], [[The Most Reverend]] [[G. Dyvasirvadam]].<ref name="Carman"/>
[[File:George'sCathedral.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[St. George's Cathedral, Chennai]] where Solomon Raj was consecrated on 13.10.2016.]]

===Bishopric===
In 2012,<ref name="Asian">[http://archive.asianage.com/hyderabad/two-csi-groups-fight-control-473 ''The Asian Age'', ''Two CSI groups fight for control'', 10.6.2012]</ref> Bishop [[T. S. Kanaka Prasad]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] had to relinquish<ref name="Anglican"/> the ''[[Cathedra]]'' as per an [[ecclesiastical]] [[communique]] from the [[Church of South India Synod]] in [[Chennai]] resulting in ''[[sede vacante]]'' during which time the [[Medak Diocese]] was overseen from [[Chennai]] by the [[Church of South India Synod]] led by then [[Moderator (town official)|Moderator]] and [[Systematic theologian]], [[The Most Reverend]] [[G. Dyvasirvadam]], [[Church of South India|CSI]].

After nearly five years of [[ecclesiastical]] [[Regulation|oversight]] of the [[Medak Diocese]], the [[Church of South India Synod]] appointed A. C. Solomon Raj to shepherd the Diocese, consecrating him on Thursday, 13.10.2016<ref name="Hindu"/> at the [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[St. George's Cathedral, Chennai]]<ref name="Hindu"/> where he was principally consecrated<ref name="Anglican"/> by the [[Systematic theologian]], [[G. Dyvasirvadam]], [[Church of South India|CSI]], then Moderator and co-consecrated<ref name="Anglican"/> by [[Thomas K. Oommen]], then Deputy Moderator in the presence of other [[Bishops]] including [[The Right Reverend|The Right Reverend Sister]] [[Eggoni Pushpalalitha]], [[CSI Order of Sisters]], [[Diocese of Nandyal|Bishop – in – Nandyal]] and [[The Right Reverend]] [[Daniel Thiagarajah]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] [[Jaffna Diocese of the Church of South India|Bishop – in – Jaffna]].

The consecration of Solomon Raj in [[Chennai]] makes him the second [[bishop]] from the [[Diocese of Medak]] after [[Frank Whittaker]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref>[[Life (magazine)]], ''Church Union in South India'', 1 Dec 1947.[https://books.google.com/books?id=kEgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=frank+whittaker+madras&pg=PA63]</ref> to have been consecrated as [[Bishop]] at the [[St. George's Cathedral, Chennai]] and the third [[bishop]] – in [[Diocese of Medak|Medak]] after [[H. D. L. Abraham]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref>Rajaiah David Paul, ''Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India'', Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1972, p.159. [https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ&q=luther+abraham]</ref> to have been consecrated as [[Bishop]] at a [[Cathedral]] other than the [[Cathedral]] in [[Medak]]. After the bifurcation of [[Andhra Pradesh]] State in 2014 into [[Telangana]] and the residuary [[Andhra Pradesh]], Solomon Raj is the second [[bishop]] to have been consecrated in the new [[Telangana]] State with the first [[bishop]] being [[The Right Reverend]] [[K. Reuben Mark]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] of the adjoining [[Diocese of Karimnagar]] also in the new [[Telangana]] State who was consecrated on 4 May 2015<ref name="Synod News">CSI Synod News, ''New Bishop consecrated and installed in CSI Karimnagar Diocese,'' Monday, 18 May 2015. [http://www.csisynod.com/news_view.php?Id=207]</ref> well after the formation of [[Telangana]] State.

==Ex-officio endeavours==

===Near-Ecumenical===
[[File:SolomonACTC1.jpg|left|thumb|Bishop Solomon Raj in [[Andhra Christian Theological College]]]]
Solomon Raj has been a member of the Board of Governors representing the [[Diocese of Medak]] in the near-[[ecumenical]]<ref>near-[[ecumenical]] comprises a few [[Protestant]] Church societies.</ref> [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Secunderabad]] comprising a few [[Protestant]] Societies that include the [[Methodists]], the [[Lutherans]], the [[Baptists]] and the [[Church of South India]] ([[Anglicans]], [[Congregationalists]], [[Wesleyans]]), since the present period of the [[Old Testament]] Scholars [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] T. Matthews Emmanuel, [[CBCNC]] and [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] Ch. Vasantha Rao, [[Church of South India|CSI]]. In early 2016<ref name="Senate"/> when the annual convocation of the [[Senate of Serampore College (University)]] took place in [[Secunderabad]]<ref name="Senate">[[Senate of Serampore College (University)]], ''Address of the President of the Senate''.[http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/address-of-the-president-of-the-senate/]</ref> in the presence of the [[Old Testament]] Scholar [[John Sadananda]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]<ref name="Senate"/> the Master<ref name="Senate"/> of the [[University]], after a gap of nearly three and half decades with the earlier convocation having been held in [[Secunderabad]] in 1979<ref name="Rayan">[https://books.google.com/books?id=VO0nAAAAYAAJ&q=samuel+rayan ''Religion and Society'', Volume 26, Issue 2, 1979, p.77]</ref> during the period of the [[Old Testament]] Scholars,<ref name="Wilson">[[H. S. Wilson]] (Edited), ''The Church on the Move: Essays in honour of [[Victor Premasagar]]'', Christian Literature Society, [[Madras]], 1988, p.vi. [https://books.google.com/books?id=S-wrAAAAMAAJ&q=babu+rao]</ref> [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] [[Victor Premasagar]],<ref name="Wilson"/> [[Church of South India|CSI]] and [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] G. Babu Rao,<ref name="Wilson"/> [[CBCNC]], the [[Diocese of Medak]] through Solomon Raj as vice-chairperson of the [[diocese]] and as member of the Board of Governors of the college had substantially contributed to the logistics ensuring the successful holding of the convocation.

===Fully-Ecumenical===
====Church unity====
[[File:Solomon Raj 1.jpg|thumb|Bishop Solomon leading the faithful in Secunderabad in 2017.]]
The [[Diocese of Medak]] of the [[Protestant]] [[Church of South India]] Society is represented on the fully-[[ecumenical]] ''[[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]] Federation of Churches''<ref>''[[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]] Federation of Churches''. [http://www.apbc.in/frederation.html]</ref> where Solomon Raj as vice-chairperson and now Bishop continues to represent the [[Diocese of Medak]] in the federation consisting of the [[Catholic Church]] ''([[Catholic Church in India|Latin]] and [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church|Syro-Malabar]] rites)'', [[Indian Orthodox Church]], [[Protestant Church]], the [[Charismatic Church]] and, the small and indigenous Churches.
At every periodical meeting of the federation held at the [[St. John's Regional Seminary|St. John's Regional Seminary (Theologiate)]],<ref name="Thumma">Anthoni Raj Thumma, ''Telugu Church leaders call for “visible signs” of Christian unity ''. Matters India, 22 February 2016.[http://mattersindia.com/2016/02/telugu-church-leaders-call-for-visible-signs-of-christian-unity/]</ref> Solomon Raj has been active participant working towards Church unity<ref name="Thumma"/> along with fellow [[Clergy]] from the [[Catholic Church]], [[The Most Reverend]] [[Doraboina Moses Prakasam]], [[Roman Catholic missionaries|RCM]], [[The Most Reverend]] [[Gallela Prasad]], [[Roman Catholic missionaries|RCM]], [[The Most Reverend]] [[Innayya Chinna Addagatla]], [[Roman Catholic missionaries|RCM]] and from the [[Assemblies of God]]<ref name="Thumma"/> and other Churches. Incidentally, Solomon Raj's mentor and guide, the [[Systematic theologian]], [[The Most Reverend]] [[G. Dyvasirvadam]], [[Church of South India|CSI]] has been the President of the fully-[[ecumenical]] ''[[Andhra Pradesh]] and [[Telangana]] Federation of Churches''.<ref>''Andhra Christians oppose state board for Church properties'', 12 September 2015.[http://www.ucanindia.in/news/andhra-christians-oppose-state-board-for-church-properties/30113/daily]</ref>

====Scriptural====
The [[Bible Society of India Telangana Auxiliary]] was bifurcated from the [[Bible Society of India Andhra Pradesh Auxiliary]] and inaugurated on 2 February 2016<ref name="BSI">[[Bible Society of India]], ''Telangana Auxiliary''. [http://www.bsind.org/Telangana-Auxiliary.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902232556/http://www.bsind.org/Telangana-Auxiliary.html|date=2 September 2017}}</ref> and takes forward the work of the [[Bible Society of India]] in translating and distributing the scriptures. The [[Bible Society of India]] has also published the complete [[Bible]] with the [[Deuterocanonical]] books<ref>[[Good News Bible]] with [[Deuterocanonical]] books, United Bible Societies, 1979. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bGEpQQAACAAJ&q=new+english+bible+with+deuterocanonical]</ref> making the scriptures available even to the [[Catholics]]. On 5 June 2016,<ref name="BSI"/> Solomon Raj, as vice-chairperson of the [[Diocese of Medak]] participated in the installation mass of the new Auxiliary Secretary, [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] P. K. Praveen Prabhu Sudheer, [[Church of South India|CSI]] held at the [[Church of South India|CSI]]-Wesley Centenary Church in [[Secunderabad]] in the presence of the [[Old Testament]] Scholar and [[Bible Society of India]] General Secretary, [[M. Mani Chacko]], [[Church of South India|CSI]].
==Honours==
On 8 April 2017, Solomon Raj was conferred with an [[Honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] ([[D.Min.]]) by the Protestant Regional Theologiate, the near-[[Ecumenical]] [[Andhra Christian Theological College]] (ACTC), [[Secunderabad]] led by [[The Right Reverend|The Right Rev.]] [[G. Dyvasirvadam]], [[Church of South India|CSI]], the chairperson of the Board of Governors of ACTC and [[The Reverend|The Rev.]] T. Matthews Emmanuel, [[CBCNC]], then Principal of ACTC in the presence of [[Bishop Emeritus]] [[John S. Sadananda]], [[Church of South India|CSI]], the Master of the [[Senate of Serampore College (University)]].<ref name="53grad">''53rd Graduation Service Booklet of the [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Secunderabad]] held on 8 April 2017'', p.11.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal
|author = CSI (Medak Diocese) UK Telugu Christians Souvenir commemorating the 70th year of the formation of the [[Church of South India]]
|title = 70 years of God's Faithfulness
|year = 2016
|url = http://www.revcvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CSI-UK-Souvenir-1.pdf
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170827000405/http://www.revcvr.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CSI-UK-Souvenir-1.pdf
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 27 August 2017
|access-date = 13 May 2017
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=Church of South India Synod
| author-link=Church of South India Synod
| title=Lenten retreat for Medak Diocese Pastors
| year=2015
| url=http://www.csisynod.com/news_view.php?Id=196
}}
* {{cite book
| author=John Braisted Carman
| author2=Chilkuri Vasantha Rao
| title=Christians in South Indian Villages, 1959–2009: Decline and Revival in Telangana
| year=2014
| isbn=978-0-8028-7163-3| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bH9yCgAAQBAJ&q=rev.a.c.solomon+raj&pg=PT208
}}
* {{cite book
| editor=Jerald D. Gort
| editor2=Henry Jansen
| editor3=H. M. Vroom
| title=Religions View Religions: Explorations in Pursuit of Understanding
| year=2006
| volume=25
| isbn=90-420-1858-5| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7m8xjpXTutEC&q=medak+christopher+dayanand&pg=PP5
}}
* {{cite book
| author=Anantha Sudhaker Babbili
| title=The Road from Poodur in Biographical Passages: Essays in Victorian and Modernist Biography : Honouring Mary M. Lago, University of Missouri, North America
| year=2000
| isbn=978-0-8262-1256-6| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=qfXSKIo4fDoC&q=diocese+of+karimnagar&pg=PA133
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=K. M. Hiwale (Compiled)
| title=Directory of the United Theological College 1910–1997
| year=1997
}}
* {{cite book
| author=P. Y. Luke
| author2=J. B. Carman
| title=Village Christians and Hindu Culture
| year=1968
| issue=Second
| isbn=978-8-1845-8089-1|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=YTqM8gCpXI0C&q=village+christians+and+hindu+culture+lutterworth&pg=PR4
}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-other}}
{{s-bef | before = [[Archbishop]] [[Thumma Bala]], [[Roman Catholic church|RCM]]}}
{{s-ttl | title = Chairperson, Federation of Telugu Churches | years = 2021–''present''}}
{{s-aft | after = ''[[Incumbent]]''}}
{{s-bef | before = ''Position created''}}
{{s-ttl | title = President, Telangana State Federation of Churches | years = 2021–''present''}}
{{s-aft | after = ''[[Incumbent]]''}}
{{S-hon}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Bishop]] [[T. S. Kanaka Prasad]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]| title=Member, Board of Governors, [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Secunderabad]] | after=''Incumbent'' | years=2012–''present''}}
{{S-edu}}
{{Succession box| before=[[Bishop]] [[K. Frederick Paradesi Babu|K. F. Paradesi Babu]], [[Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church|AELC]]| title=Chairperson, Board of Governors, [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Secunderabad]] | after=[[George Cornelious]], CSI| years=24.6.2022–29.11.2022}}
{{S-rel|[[Church of South India]] [[Diocese of Medak]] [[Ecclesiastical]] Titles}}
{{Succession box| before=Bishop T. S. Kanaka Prasad, [[Church of South India|CSI]] | title=[[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[Diocese of Medak|Bishop – in – Medak]], [[Medak]]| after=''Incumbent''| years=13.10.2016–}}
{{Succession box| before=[[The Reverend|The Rev.]] K. Zaccheus, CSI | title=[[Presbyter|Presbyter – in – Charge]], [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[Holy Trinity Church, Bolarum|Holy Trinity Church]], [[Bolarum]], [[Secunderabad]]| after=The Rev. E. J. David, CSI
| years=2012–2016<ref>[[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[Holy Trinity Church, Bolarum]]</ref>}}
{{Succession box| before=The Rev. B. D. Premsagar, CSI | title=Presbyter – in – Charge, [[Church of South India|CSI]]-[[Garrison Wesley Church]], [[Trimulgherry]], [[Secunderabad]]| after=The Rev. S. P. Vidyasagar, CSI| years=2009–2012}}
{{S-end}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|India|religion}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Solomon Raj, Avulamanda Christopher}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Anglican bishops of Medak]]
[[Category:Indian Christian theologians]]
[[Category:People from Nizamabad, Telangana]]
[[Category:Osmania University alumni]]
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni]]
[[Category:1961 births]]

A. C. Solomon Raj - Revision history

Mohit Raj at 22:55, 30 May 2025