K. Reuben Mark

{{Short description|Church of South Indian bishop}} {{BLP primary sources|date=April 2023}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = | honorific-prefix = The Most Rt. Rev. Dr. | name = K. Reuben Mark, moderator of CSI | honorific-suffix = | title = Bishop – in – Karimnagar and Moderator of CSI Inter-diocesan Office - in - Chennai | image = Kantipudi Reuben Mark.jpg | image_size = 225px | alt = | caption = Bishop Reuben Mark at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad on 1 January 2019 | church = Church of South India (''A Uniting church comprising Wesleyan Methodist, Anglican, the Church of England, Lutheran churches, and missionary societies: SPG, WMMS, LMS, Basel Mission, and CMS in India )'' | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = Karimnagar | see = | elected = 2015 | term =  | quashed =  | predecessor = Bishop P. Surya Prakash, CSI | successor = ''Incumbent'' | opposed = | other_post =  | ordination = 1988 | ordained_by = Bishop K. E. Swamidass, CSI at CSI-Wesley Cathedral, Karimnagar | consecration = 4 May 2015<ref name="Synod">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> | consecrated_by = The Most Reverend G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI, then Moderator and Principal consecrator and The Right Reverend Thomas K. Oommen, CSI then Deputy Moderator<ref name="Synod"/> and co-consecrator | cardinal = | created_cardinal_by = | rank = Bishop  | birth_name = Kantipudi Reuben Mark | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|03|29}} | birth_place =  | death_date =  | death_place =  | buried =  | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = Indian | religion = Christianity | residence = Mukarampura, Karimnagar | parents = Sri Shadrach | occupation = Priesthood | previous_post = Priest, Diocese of Karimnagar, Church of South India {{small|(1988–1995)}}, Professor, Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad {{small|(1995-2015)}} | education =B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore), Ph.D. (Higginbottom) | alma_mater = United Theological College, Bangalore (Karnataka), University of Copenhagen Faculty of Theology, Copenhagen (Denmark), Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) | 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 = }} '''Rt. Rev. Dr. K. Reuben Mark''' is the present moderator of church of South India and (2015<ref name="Synod"/> onwards) Bishop in Karimnagar<ref>Anglican Communion, ''Member Churches''.[http://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches/member-church/diocese/position.aspx?church=south-india&dio=karimnagar&pos=bishop-of-karimnagar&posID=19736]</ref> and the sixth in succession and occupies the ''Cathedral'' of the Bishop placed in Karimnagar's CSI-Wesley Cathedral. Reuben Mark is currently a Council Member<ref>United Theological College, Bangalore, ''Council 2015-2018''.[http://www.utc.edu.in/home/council] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825103524/http://www.utc.edu.in/home/council |date=25 August 2017 }}</ref> for the period 2015–2018 at the fully-ecumenical United Theological College, Bangalore. During the XXXVIth session of Church of South India Synod, Reuben Mark has been elected as Deputy Moderator for the triennium 2020-2023 succeeding V. Prasada Rao.<ref name="George">George Conger, ''New moderator for the Church of South India'', Anglican Link, January 12, 2020.[http://anglican.ink/2020/01/12/new-moderator-for-the-church-of-south-india/]</ref>

Before he assumed the ecclesiastical office of the Bishop, Reuben Mark was Professor in Homiletics from 1995 through 2015.<ref name="Senate Directory" /><ref name="Surya">P. Surya Prakash, ''Karimnagar Diocese 133 years and Beyond: Church of South India Karimnagar Diocese - A Story of Transformation (1879-2012)'', 2013. [https://oimts.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/2013-2-prakash.pdf]</ref> Mark's professorship was at the Andhra Christian Theological College, affiliated to India's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University)'' {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}<ref>The 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.[http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/history/u-g-c-and-serampore-college/]</ref>'' with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.<ref>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. [http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2008/04/11/stories/2008041150100400.htm]</ref>

==Moderator of CSI== He was elected as Deputy Moderator of CSI Synod from 2020 to 2023. After Reuben Mark was the Moderator of the CSI Synod from July 2025

==Ministerial formation== ===Graduate=== After the completion of graduate studies in Hanumakonda, Reuben Mark discerned his avocation towards priesthood and became a ministerial candidate of the Diocese of Karimnagar of the Church of South India, then under the bishopric of G. B. Devasahayam, CSI who took him into the Church and became his Spiritual Confessor and sent him for spiritual formation to the United Theological College, Bangalore, where he studied Bachelor of Divinity degree from 1984 to 1988<ref name="Hiwale">K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), ''Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997'', Bangalore, 1997. pp.70 and 134</ref> under the Principalship of the Old Testament Scholar, E. C. John, CSI and was taught by faculty that comprised G. D. Melanchthon, AELC<ref name="Hiwale"/> James Carl, SALC<ref name="Hiwale"/> Theodore N. Swanson, ELCA, D. N. Premnath, CSI and others. In 1988 when Reuben Mark returned to the Diocese, he was ordained in 1988/1989 by then Bishop K. E. Swamidass, CSI following which he began ministering in parishes of the Diocese of Karimnagar.

===Postgraduate=== In 1992, Reuben Mark was resent to the United Theological College, Bangalore to upgrade his academics and studied from 1992 to 1994 during the successive Principalships of E. C. John, CSI and Gnana Robinson, CSI taking a postgraduate degree in Master of Theology<ref name="Hiwale"/> specializing in Homiletics under Professor P. Surya Prakash, CSI then Faculty Member<ref name="Hiwale"/> at the United Theological College, Bangalore. Reuben Mark was awarded graduate and post-graduate degrees by the Senate of Serampore College (University) during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC.

===Research studies=== After a period of teaching ministry at the near-ecumenical Seminary in Secunderabad, Reuben Mark was again sent by his Bishop S. John Theodore, CSI for research studies at the University of Copenhagen Faculty of Theology, Copenhagen, Denmark where he researched from 2000 to 2004 on the theme, ''A Homiletical analysis of the Revival Sermons of D. G. S. Dhinakaran and its Relevance of the Dalit Perspective''<ref name="Allahabad">''Annual Report'', Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad, 2008-2009, p.22. [http://shiats.edu.in/upd/ar_0809.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314171959/http://shiats.edu.in/upd/ar_0809.pdf|date=14 March 2016}}</ref> and later transferred himself to the Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad researching under the able guidance of Prof. V. K. Singh<ref name="Allahabad"/> and was awarded the doctoral degree in 2009.<ref>''List of Ph.D. Scholars.'' Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Allahabad. [http://14.139.57.198/webwapp/PhdPassout.asp]</ref><ref>User ''Bishopreuben'' unsourced edit on 13 March 2016: He registered on 1-9-2000 as a Ph.D. Student in the Copenhagen University and studied for three years (I.e. Up to 31-8-2004) in the field of Homiletics, concentrating especially on the Indian revival sermons by Dhinakaran. He has also conducted valuable fieldwork in India and gathered material related his research. He had fulfilled Ph.D.requirements of Copenhagen University except submission of his thesis. He wanted to transfer his Ph.D. Studies to one of the Indian universities that are under UGC, India for he wanted to do it in India under and Indian scholar for an able guidance, for which the University of Copenhagen also agreed and transferred his candidature from University of Copenhagen to any of the Universities in India. The reasons to transfer his candidature firstly, the research is mostly I.e. 80% related to Indian context. Secondly, as there was no Indian scholars in Copenhagen University and as the studies needed to have further guidance and to be evaluated by Indian experts, informed about the specific social and religious environment in India. Hence, he got transferred to Sam Hagginbotham Institute of Agriculture and Technological Sciences (formerly Allahabad Agricultural Institute) - Deemed University and was awarded a Ph.D. on 25 February 2009.</ref>

==Ecclesiastical ministry==

===Pastoral=== After his Seminary studies, Reuben Mark was ordained as a Deacon in 1988 by then Bishop K. E. Swamidass, CSI and the following year as a Presbyter at the CSI-Wesley Cathedral in Karimnagar and began pastoring parishes within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Karimnagar until 1992 when he went to upgrade his academics in the Protestant Seminary in Bangalore. After his return from the Seminary in 1994, Reuben Mark began re-pastoring the parishes until 1995 when Bishop S. John Theodore, CSI sent him for teaching ministry to the Protestant Regional Seminary in Secunderabad.

===Teaching=== In 1995, Reuben Mark joined the Faculty of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad and began teaching Practical Ministry/Homiletics<ref name="Senate Directory">Senate of Serampore College (University), ''Directory of Teaching Staff''. [http://www.senateofseramporecollege.edu.in/faculty.php?college=Select%20College&spez=Christian%20Ministry&i=40]</ref> at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad from 1995 to 2015 and taught<ref name="Surya"/> in a near-ecumenical setting comprising the Wesleyan, Methodist, Lutheran, Congregational, Baptist, and Anglican Church societies beginning with the periods of Principalship comprising the Church of South India, the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars, the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, and the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church notably under The Rev. R. Yesurathnam, CSI, The Rev. K. D. G. Prakasa Rao, CBCNC and D. J. Jeremiah, CBCNC, The Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC, The Rev. N. V. Luther Paul, AELC, The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI and The Rev. T. Mathews Emmanuel, CBCNC.

After a two-decades teaching ministry that began in 1995, Reuben Mark was recalled to the Diocese of Karimnagar by the Church of South India Synod in mid-2015 as his name was announced as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Karimnagar resulting in his resignation from the Faculty of the near-ecumenical Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad.

===Bishopric===  During the period when Reuben Mark was teaching at the Seminary in Secunderabad, the Diocese of Karimnagar saw the change of at the Bishopric in 2007 following which P. Surya Prakash, CSI, Reuben Mark's Professor at Bangalore was consecrated as the fifth Bishop - in - Karimnagar who occupied the Cathedra up to 2014 until his resignation on account of superannuation resulting in sede vacante. The Church of South India Synod conducted elections for the Bishopric following which G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI, then Moderator of the Church of South India Synod announced the appointment of K. Reuben Mark as Bishop-elect for the Diocese of Karimnagar.

On 4 May 2015<ref name="Synod"/> the Most Reverend G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI, then Moderator principally consecrated Reuben Mark with other co-consecrator, The Right Reverend Thomas K. Oommen, CSI, then Deputy Moderator at the CSI-Wesley Cathedral, Karimnagar in the presence of Bishops of the adjoining dioceses, B. D. Prasada Rao, CSI, Eggoni Pushpalalitha, CSI Order of Sisters, V. Prasada Rao, CSI and the General Secretary of the Church of South India Synod, Daniel Sadananda, CSI. Also present were the two living patriarchs of the Diocese of Karimnagar, the Old Testament Scholar S. J. Theodore, CSI and P. Surya Prakash, CSI.<ref name="Synod"/>

{{S-start}} {{S-rel}} {{Succession box | before=Bishop V. Prasada Rao 2017-2019| title=Deputy Moderator,<ref name="George"/> CSI Synod, Chennai |after=''Incumbent'' | years=2020-2023 }} {{Succession box | before=Bishop P. Surya Prakash 2007-2014| title=Bishop - in - Karimnagar, Church of South India, Karimnagar |after=''Incumbent'' | years=2015-''Present'' }} {{S-aca}} {{Succession box | before=The Rev. P. Joseph, STBC 1986-1994| title=Professor - in - Homiletics, Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad|after=The Rev. A. John Prabhakar, STBC 1999-| years=1995-2015}} {{S-end}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * {{cite journal | author=K. M. Hiwale (Compiled) | title=Directory of the United Theological College 1910–1997 | year=1998 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=yCvXPgAACAAJ&q=Directory+of+the+United+Theological+College+1910%E2%80%931997 }} * {{cite book | author=Anantha Sudhaker Bobbili | 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 | publisher=University of Missouri Press | isbn=978-0-8262-1256-6| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=qfXSKIo4fDoC&q=diocese+of+karimnagar&pg=PA133 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reuben Mark, K.}} Category:21st-century Anglican bishops in India Category:Anglican bishops of Karimnagar Category:Indian Christian theologians Category:Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences alumni Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni Category:Indian expatriates in Denmark Category:Living people Category:Academic staff of the Senate of Serampore College (University) Category:1961 births Category:Indian Christians