# Gone Benjamin Devasahayam

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**Bishop G. B. Devasahayam** *(born 23 August 1925; died 20 August 1996)[2]* was the second[1] elected [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-Bishop - in - [Karimnagar Diocese of the Church of South India](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese_of_the_Church_of_South_India) who occupied the *[Cathedra](/source/Cathedra)* from 1982 through 1987[1] placed in the [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-Wesley Cathedral in [Karimnagar](/source/Karimnagar) Town in [Telangana](/source/Telangana), [India](/source/India)

Devasahayam hailed from the [Protestant](/source/Protestant) [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) which was predominantly a [Wesleyan Methodist](/source/Wesleyan_Church) congregation initiated by the [Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society](/source/English_Wesleyan_Mission)[6] which unionized itself into the [Church of South India](/source/Church_of_South_India) that was inaugurated on 20 September 1947[7] at the [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[St. George's Cathedral, Chennai](/source/St._George's_Cathedral,_Chennai). After Devasahayam discerned his avocation towards priesthood, then Bishop, [Frank Whittaker](/source/Frank_Whittaker) sent him to the [Protestant](/source/Protestant) Regional Theologiate in [Bangalore](/source/Bangalore) for ministerial formation during 1952–1956 after which Devasahayam was ordained and began ministering in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the [Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) during the successive bishoprics of [Frank Whittaker](/source/Frank_Whittaker), [Eber Priestley](/source/Eber_Priestley), [H. D. L. Abraham](/source/H._D._L._Abraham) and [B. G. Prasada Rao](/source/B._G._Prasada_Rao). After nearly 25 years of pastoral ministry, Devasahayam contested the bishopric in the adjoining [Diocese of Karimnagar](/source/Diocese_of_Karimnagar) and was declared elected by the [Church of South India Synod](/source/Church_of_South_India_Synod) resulting in his appointment as the second[1] [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Bishop](/source/Bishop) - in - [Karimnagar](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese) where he began his bishopric from 1982[1] and continued to build up the ministry and evangelism[8] in the diocese following the precedent set by his predecessor [B. Prabhudass](/source/B._Prabhudass).[8]

In 1987,[1] after shepherding the bishopric for nearly six years, Devasahayam announced his resignation from the ecclesiastical office of the Bishop citing health reasons and vacated the *[Cathedra](/source/Cathedra)* resulting in *[sede vacante](/source/Sede_vacante)*. The sudden turn of events took the ecclesiastical circles by storm making the [Church of South India Synod](/source/Church_of_South_India_Synod) led by Moderator [I. Jesudason](/source/I._Jesudason)[1] and Deputy Moderator [P. Victor Premasagar](/source/Victor_Premasagar)[1] to huddle and take steps to fill the *[sede vacante](/source/Sede_vacante)* caused by the resignation of Devasahayam.

## Ministerial formation

### Graduate

Devasahayam pursued spiritual studies at the [United Theological College, Bangalore](/source/United_Theological_College,_Bangalore) affiliated to India's first[9] University, the [Senate of Serampore College (University)](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University))*{a University under Section 2 (f) of the [University Grants Commission](/source/University_Grants_Commission_(India)) Act, 1956}*[10] with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the [Government of West Bengal](/source/Government_of_West_Bengal). Devasahayam studied at the seminary for four years from 1952 to 1956[3] during the Principalships[3] of [Max Hunter Harrison](/source/Max_Hunter_Harrison) and [Joshua Russell Chandran](/source/Joshua_Russell_Chandran) leading to award of [Bachelor of Divinity](/source/Bachelor_of_Divinity) during the annual convocation of the university held in 1957 during the Registrarship of William Stewart.

### Postgraduate

After a decade and half of ecclesiastical ministry, the [Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) led by [H. D. L. Abraham](/source/H._D._L._Abraham) sent Devasahayam to the [McCormick Theological Seminary](/source/McCormick_Theological_Seminary),[5] [Chicago](/source/Chicago)[5] in 1971[5] to upgrade his academics where he enrolled for a [Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts)[3][4] programme leading to the award of the [M.A.](/source/Master_of_Arts) by the seminary.

## Ecclesiastical ministry

### Pastorate

After a 4-year ministerial formation at the [Protestant](/source/Protestant) Regional Theologiate in [Bangalore](/source/Bangalore) during 1952–1956,[3] Devasahayam was ordained as a [Pastor](/source/Pastor) by [Frank Whittaker](/source/Frank_Whittaker), the first [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Bishop](/source/Bishop) - in - [Medak](/source/Medak_Diocese) following which he began to minister parishes in the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the [Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) pastoring in [Secunderabad](/source/Secunderabad), [Nizamabad](/source/Nizamabad,_Telangana), Dudgaon in Telangana region of the erstwhile [Andhra Pradesh](/source/Andhra_Pradesh) state.

### Bishopric

In 1982[1] when the first [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Bishop](/source/Bishop) - in - [Karimnagar](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese), [B. Prabhudass](/source/B._Prabhudass) vacated the *[Cathedra](/source/Cathedra)* on attaining superannuation, the [Church of South India Synod](/source/Church_of_South_India_Synod) announced the conduction of fresh elections to fill in the *[sede vacante](/source/Sede_vacante)*, following which Devasahayam from the adjoining [Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) was declared elected and appointed to the bishopric leading to his consecration in 1982 by [I. Jesudasan](/source/I._Jesudasan) then Moderator of the [Church of South India Synod](/source/Church_of_South_India_Synod) who principally consecrated Devasahayam as [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Bishop](/source/Bishop) - in - [Karimnagar](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese) in the presence of Sundar Clarke, the Deputy Moderator and co-consecrator.[1]

As Bishop, Devasahayam took part in the biennial conclaves of the [Church of South India Synods](/source/Church_of_South_India_Synod) of 1984 and 1986 held at [Secunderabad](/source/Secunderabad) and [Trivandrum](/source/Trivandrum) respectively.[1]

In 1987,[1] Devasahayam vacated the Bishopric on account of health reasons resulting in an unexpected *[sede vacante](/source/Sede_vacante)* very much similar to the present papacy of [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) who resigned citing health reasons in 2013. The [Church of South India Synod](/source/Church_of_South_India_Synod) filled the *[sede vacante](/source/Sede_vacante)* by announcing the appointment of [K. E. Swamidass](/source/K._E._Swamidass), who incidentally was a companion of Devasahayam during his seminary studies in Bangalore.[3]

## Governor

As [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Bishop](/source/Bishop) - in - [Karimnagar](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese), Devasahayam was *[ex officio](/source/Ex_officio)* member of the Board of Governors of the near-[ecumenical](/source/Ecumenical) [Andhra Christian Theological College](/source/Andhra_Christian_Theological_College), a [Protestant](/source/Protestant) Regional Theologiate situated in [Hyderabad](/source/Hyderabad) comprising a few [Protestant](/source/Protestant) societies, the [Wesleyans](/source/Wesleyans), [Methodists](/source/Methodists), [Lutherans](/source/Lutherans), [Baptists](/source/Baptists), [Congregationalists](/source/Congregationalists), and the [Anglicans](/source/Anglicans). Devasahayam represented the [Karimnagar Diocese](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese) which was again a [Wesleyan](/source/Wesleyan) congregation from 1982 through 1987 on the Board of Governors coinciding with the successive cycle of Principalships held by [Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars](/source/Convention_of_Baptist_Churches_of_Northern_Circars) and the [Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches](/source/Samavesam_of_Telugu_Baptist_Churches) led by [The Rev.](/source/Reverend) K. David, [Ph.D.](/source/Ph.D.) ([Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh)) and [The Rev.](/source/Reverend) [S. Joseph](/source/Suppogu_Joseph), [D.Th.](/source/D.Th.) ([Serampore](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University))) respectively.

## Retirement and death

After Devasahayam sought early retirement from the bishopric in 1987[1] on account of health reasons,[1] he returned to the [Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) and resided in [Secunderabad](/source/Secunderabad). In 1992[11] Devasahayam took part in the consecration of the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) Scholar [S. John Theodore](/source/S._John_Theodore) as the fourth [CSI](/source/Church_of_South_India)-[Bishop](/source/Bishop) - in - [Karimnagar](/source/Karimnagar_Diocese) along with his predecessor [B. Prabhudass](/source/B._Prabhudass) as well as [K. E. Swamidass](/source/K._E._Swamidass) his successor.[11]

Devasahayam continued to minister in the [Diocese of Medak](/source/Diocese_of_Medak) until his death on 20 August 1996.[2]

## References

1. K. M. George, *Church of South India: life in union, 1947–1997*, Jointly published by Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and Christava Sahitya Samithi, Tiruvalla, 1999, p.108. [\[1\]](https://books.google.com/books?um=1&q=)

1. *[The Hindu](/source/The_Hindu)*, Hyderabad Edition, *Death Anniversaries* August 20, 2016, p.4.

1. K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), *Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997*, Bangalore, 1997. p.26

1. [Mar Aprem Mooken](/source/Mar_Aprem_Mooken), *Indian Christian Who is Who*, Bombay Parish Church of the East, Bombay, 1983, p.41. [\[2\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=u2s5AAAAMAAJ&q=g.b.devasahayam)

1. *Minutes of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America*, Part 1, United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. General Assembly Office of the General Assembly, 1972, p.1201. [\[3\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=kcMcAQAAMAAJ&q=gone+benjamin+devasahayam)

1. P. Y. Luke, J. B. Carman, *Village Christians and Hindu Culture* (first published by Lutterworth Press in 1968) ISPCK, New Delhi, 2009, pp.16-17.[\[4\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=YTqM8gCpXI0C&dq=Wesleyan+Methodist+Missionary+Society+medak&pg=PA17)

1. Charles Yrigoyen Jr., Susan E. Warrick (Edited), *Historical Dictionary of Methodism* (Third edition), Scarecrow, Lanham, 2013, p.197.[\[5\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=aWUYAgAAQBAJ&dq=20+september+1947+CSI&pg=PP1)

1. [P. Surya Prakash](/source/P._Surya_Prakash), *Karimnagar Diocese 133 years and Beyond: Church of South India Karimnagar Diocese - A Story of Transformation (1879-2012)*, 2012, p.5.[\[6\]](https://oimts.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-2-prakash.pdf)

1. Sankar Ray, The Hindu (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. [\[7\]](http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2008/04/11/stories/2008041150100400.htm)

1. The [Senate of Serampore College (University)](/source/Senate_of_Serampore_College_(University)) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under which 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 recognised 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.

1. *National Council of Churches Review*, Volume 113, National Christian Council of India, 1993, p.193. [\[8\]](https://books.google.com/books?id=PgrZAAAAMAAJ&q=t.b.d.prakasa+rao)

## Further reading

- [Mar Aprem Mooken](/source/Mar_Aprem_Mooken) (1983). "*Indian Christian Who is Who*"
- Madathethu Abraham Thomas (1992). "*A Leap Into the Unknown: Autobiographical Anecdotes*"
- [The Church of England](/source/The_Church_of_England) (1992). "*[The Church of England](/source/The_Church_of_England) Yearbook*". Vol. 108-111.
- [National Council of Churches in India](/source/National_Council_of_Churches_in_India) (1993). "[*National Council of Churches in India Review*](/source/National_Council_of_Churches_in_India)". Vol. 113.
- [The Church of England](/source/The_Church_of_England) (1999). "*[The Church of England](/source/The_Church_of_England) Yearbook*". Vol. 115.
- Anantha Sudhaker Bobbili (2000). ['**The Road from Poodur in Biographical Passages: Essays in Victorian and Modernist Biography : Honouring Mary M. Lago, University of Missouri, North America'**](https://books.google.com/books?id=qfXSKIo4fDoC&dq=diocese+of+karimnagar&pg=PA133). University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-8262-1256-6.

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