Ryder Devapriam

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = | honorific-prefix = Bishop | name = B. R. Devapriam, CSI | honorific-suffix = D. D. (''Honoris Causa'') | title = CSI Bishop – in – Nandyal | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = Protestant Church of South India ''(comprising Anglican, Congregational, Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist: the SPG, WMMS, LMS, ABCFM, CMS and the Church of England)'' | archdiocese = | province = | metropolis = | diocese = Nandyal | see = CSI-Holy Cross Cathedral, Nandyal | elected = 1985<ref name="George"/> | term = 25 August 1985 – 4 September 1992<ref name="Nandyal">[http://dioceseofnandyal.org/ Diocese of Nandyal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106141716/http://dioceseofnandyal.org/ |date=6 January 2010 }}</ref> | quashed =  | predecessor = P. John, CSI | successor = G. T. Abraham, CSI | opposed = | other_post =  | ordination = | ordained_by = Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) | consecration = 1985,<ref name="Millington"/> CSI-Holy Cross Cathedral, Nandyal | consecrated_by = The Most Reverend I. Jesudasan, CSI, Bishop - in - South Kerala and Moderator (Principal consecrator), The Right Reverend Sundar Clarke, CSI, Bishop - in - Madras and Deputy Moderator<ref name="George"/> (Co-consecrator) | cardinal = | created_cardinal_by = | rank = Bishop  | birth_name = Billa Ryder Devapriam | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1931|07|03}} | birth_place = Andhra Pradesh | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1992|09|04|1931|07|03}}<ref name="George">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. [https://books.google.com/books?um=1&q=]</ref> | death_place = Germany | buried = Nandyal | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = Indian | religion = Christianity | residence = | parents = | occupation = Priesthood | profession = *Pastor, Diocese of Nandyal, Church of South India {{small|(1956-1982)}} *Teacher, Andhra Christian Theological College, Rajahmundry/Secunderabad {{small|(1964-1983)}} | education = *B.A.(Madras),<ref name="Millington"/> *B.Ed. (Madras),<ref name="Millington"/> *M.A.<ref name="Millington"/> (Nagpur), *B.D. (Serampore), *S.T.M.<ref name="Millington"/> (McCormick), *{Th.D. (GTS)} | alma_mater = *Madras University,<ref name="Millington"/> Chennai (Tamil Nadu), *Nagpur University, Nagpur (Maharashtra), *Bishop's College, Kolkata (West Bengal), *McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago (United States), *General Theological Seminary, New York City (United States) | 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 = }} {{Portal|Christianity}} '''Ryder Devapriam'''<ref>''The Church of England Yearbook'', Volumes 108-111, Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Great Britain, 1992, p.256.[https://books.google.com/books?id=-a0mAQAAIAAJ&q=ryder+devapriyam]</ref> (3 July 1931 – 4 September 1992)<ref name="George"/> was systematic theologian<ref name="Punnaiah"/> who taught during the 1960s and the 1970s at the Andhra Christian Theological College,<ref name="WCC"/> a Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad, affiliated to the nation's first<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> University, the Senate of Serampore College (University)'' {a University under Section 2 (f) of the 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|accessdate=1 February 2016}}</ref>}<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.

Devapriam hailed from the Nandyal Diocese of the Church of South India and served as Bishop in Nandyal Diocese from 1985–1992.<ref>Geoffrey Wainwright, ''Lesslie Newbigin: a theological life'', Oxford University Press, 2000. p. 439. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SPnGbU67ZvQC&pg=PA439]</ref><ref name="Millington">Constance M. Millington, ''An Ecumenical Venture: The History of Nandyal Diocese in Andhra Pradesh, 1947-1990'', Issue 214 of ATC publication, Asian Trading Corporation, Bengaluru, 1993. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ue_jAAAAMAAJ]</ref>

==Studies== ===General=== Devapriam pursued graduate<ref name="Millington"/> and postgraduate<ref name="Millington"/> degrees from Madras University,<ref name="Millington"/> Chennai and Nagpur University, Nagpur.

===Spiritual=== Devapriam chose the vocation of Priesthood and enrolled for B. D. at the Bishops College,<ref name="George" /> Kolkata where Emani Sambayya happened to be one of the Spiritual Formators.<ref>Thompson, A. Frank,''The Bairagi Madonna: Leaves from a Calcutta Notebook'', Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (ISPCK), New Delhi, 1997.[http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9788172143725/Thompson,+A.+Frank/The+Bairagi+Madonna:+Leaves+from+a+Calcutta+Notebook/]</ref>

Before joining as Faculty Member of the Andhra Christian Theological College in Rajahmundry, Devapriam pursued a postgraduate degree leading to Master of Sacred Theology specializing in the discipline of Systematic theology at the McCormick, Chicago.

While teaching at the Andhra Christian Theological College which by then relocated from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad, Devapriam sought study leave from the Board of Governors of the College for undergoing further studies<ref name="George" /> on a World Council of Churches scholarship in 1975<ref name="WCC">[http://archives.oikoumene.org/Query/detail.aspx?ID=86268 World Council of Churches - Theological Education Fund Archive] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727141850/http://archives.oikoumene.org/Query/detail.aspx?ID=86268 |date=27 July 2011 }}</ref> enrolling at the General Theological Seminary,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=v0MtAQAAMAAJ&q=BR+Devapriam ''The Episcopal Church Annual'', Morehouse-Barlow, 1976, p.30]</ref> New York City and rejoined the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad in 1981.<ref name="Punnaiah"/>

==Ministry== ===Teaching=== Devapriam was on the faculty of the Andhra Union Theological College, Dornakal,<ref name="Millington"/> teaching along with Eric J. Lott, CSI, P. Victor Premasagar, CSI and B. E. Devaraj. In 1964, efforts were made by some of the Protestant Societies to come together in forming a united theologiate in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana comprising the Anglicans, Congregationalists and the Wesleyans represented through the Church of South India and the Church of North India, the Baptists through the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars and later on by the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, the Lutherans through the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church and the South Andhra Lutheran Church and the Methodists through the Methodist Church in India.

The efforts towards coming together of some of the Protestant societies resulted in the formation of the Andhra Christian Theological College in Rajahmundry in 1964 which was carved out of four existing century-old seminaries, namely, * the Andhra Union Theological College, Dornakal, * the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada, * the Lutheran Theological College, Rajahmundry, * the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam.

The Nandyal Diocese which was founded by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG) was one of the founders of the College which was represented on the Faculty through B. E. Devaraj followed by Ryder Devapriam who joined the College during the 1960s in Rajahmundry and moved on to Secunderabad when the College was relocated serving under the Old Testament Scholars, W. D. Coleman, AELC and followed by P. Victor Premasagar, CSI. It was during the 1970s that Devapriam went on to pursue doctoral studies in 1975<ref name="WCC"/> and returned in 1981<ref name="Punnaiah"/> by which time the New Testament Scholar K. David, CBCNC became the Principal.

During Devapriam's tenure at the College, his co-faculty included R. R. Sundara Rao, AELC, G. Solomon, STBC, Muriel Spurgeon Carder, CBCNC, M. Victor Paul, AELC, Suppogu Joseph, STBC, G. Devasahayam, AELC, Eric J. Lott, CSI Ravela Joseph, STBC and others. Devapriam taught Systematic theology along with Waldo Penner, CBCNC, one of the co-founders of the College hailing from the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars and was joined by R. Yesurathnam, CSI in 1974.<ref name="Punthi">R. Yesurathnam, ''A Christian Dialogical Theology: The Contribution of Swami Abhishiktananda'', Punthi Pustak, Calcutta, 2006.[https://books.google.com/books?id=XU7ZAAAAMAAJ&q=regunta+yesurathnam]</ref>

===Pastoral=== The Diocese of Nandyal, founded by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel could not join the Uniting church (Church of South India) in 1947. During the intervening period, the Diocese was under the care of the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma, and Ceylon followed by the Church of North India. Finally, after protracted ecclesiastical conversations, the Diocese of Nandyal was able to join the Church of South India only in 1975.<ref name="Millington"/> Devapriam, as a Priest of the Diocese of Nandyal had been involved in the ecumenical conversations resulting in the union.<ref name="Millington"/>

In 1985,<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=af_YAAAAMAAJ&q=BR+Devapriyam ''The National Christian Council Review'', Volume 105, 1985, p.645]</ref> Devapriam was consecrated as Bishop by the Moderator Isaiah Jesudason, CSI and Deputy Moderator Sundar Clarke, CSI at the CSI-Holy Cross Cathedral in Nandyal. Devapriam was elected as the Moderator of the Church of South India Synod held in 1992 at the XXIII session held in the Diocese of Tirunelveli at Palayamkottai.

During Devapriam's bishopric lasting nearly a decade, he attended<ref>''The truth shall make you free: the Lambeth Conference 1988 : the reports, resolutions & pastoral letters from the bishops'', Church House Publishing, 1988, p.261. [https://books.google.com/books?id=hOlCZJYIvysC&q=b.r.devapriyam]</ref> the twelfth Lambeth Conference in 1988 presided by Robert Runcie, CoE, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

==Honours, death and reminiscence== ===Honours=== During the convocation of the General Theological Seminary, New York City held in March 1992, Devapriam was conferred with a Doctor of Divinity degree by Honoris causa along with other notable Clergy comprising Herbert W. Chilstrom of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Robert Louis Ladehoff of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon, Helen Brogden Turnbull of the Episcopal Church and Gayraud Wilmore of the Presbyterian Church.

===Death=== Devapriam died on 4 September 1992<ref name="Nandyal"/> during an overseas sojourn in Germany and within a day he was brought back to Hyderabad and then taken by road to Nandyal, where he was buried. Then-Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao was instrumental in the quick passage of the body of Devapriam from Germany to India.<ref name="NCCI">[https://books.google.com/books?id=MgnZAAAAMAAJ&q=devapriam+nandyal ''National Council of Churches Review'', Volume 112, 1992, pp.774-775]</ref>

At the funeral ceremony held at Nandyal, bishops from the various dioceses of the Church of South India were present, including: P. Victor Premasagar; C. D. Jathanna; Samuel Amirtham; D. P. Shettian; N. D. Anandarao Samuel; S. J. Theodore; B. P. Sugandhar; G. Dyvasirvadam and others.<ref name="NCCI"/>

The Andhra Christian Theological College, where Devapriam had been a teacher, was also represented by the members of its faculty.<ref name="NCCI"/>

===Reminiscence=== Talathoti Punnaiah, who studied a 3-year theology course leading to Bachelor of Theology at the Andhra Christian Theological College, both at Rajahmundry and at Hyderabad from 1970–1973, recalls his association with Ryder Devapriam: {{blockquote|Ryder Devapriam was our English Teacher. He was well educated and had rich experience in administration. He visited me twice in Madras, once before going to the United States of America in 1974 and after returning in 1981. He was more than a teacher to me. I am so grateful for his moral support and love. I was invited to attend his consecration as bishop in Nandyal. He later became Moderator of the Church of South India.<ref name="Punnaiah">Talathoti Punnaiah, ''My Memoir, Ministry and Message: (60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010)'', Kakinada, 2010, p.23.</ref>}}

==References== ;Notes {{Reflist}} ;Further reading * {{cite journal | author=Episcopal Church | title=The Episcopal Church Annual | year=1976 | volume= | issue= | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=v0MtAQAAMAAJ&q=BR+Devapriam }} * {{cite book | author=Constance M. Millington | title=An ecumenical venture: the history of Nandyal diocese in Andhra Pradesh, 1947-1990 | year=1993 | volume= | issue= 214 of ATC publication | publisher=Asian Trading Corporation | isbn=9788170861539 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=ue_jAAAAMAAJ }} * {{cite book | author=Thompson, A. Frank | title=''The Bairagi Madonna: Leaves from a Calcutta Notebook'', Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (ISPCK), New Delhi | isbn = 81-7214-372-9 | year=1997 | volume= | publisher=ISPCK | url =http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9788172143725/Thompson,+A.+Frank/The+Bairagi+Madonna:+Leaves+from+a+Calcutta+Notebook/ }} * {{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= }} * {{cite journal | author=Talathoti Punnaiah | title=My Memoir, Ministry and Message: (60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010) | year=2010 | volume= | issue= | url = }} {{S-start}} {{S-rel}} {{Succession box| before=P. John, CSI | title=Bishop - in - Nandyal Nandyal | after=G. T. Abraham, CSI | years=25 August 1985 – 4 September 1992}} {{Succession box| before=P. Victor Premasagar, CSI | title=Moderator, Church of South India Synod Chennai| after=Vasanth P. Dandin, CSI | years=March 1992 – 4 September 1992}} {{S-aca}} {{Succession box | before=Waldo Penner, CBCNC| title=Teacher - in - Systematic Theology, Andhra Christian Theological College, Rajahmundry/Secunderabad|after=R. Yesurathnam, CSI| years=1964-1983}} {{S-end}} {{Moderators of the Church of South India}} {{Dioceses in the Church of South India}} {{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devapriam, Ryder}} Category:Anglican bishops of Nandyal Category:20th-century Anglican bishops in India Category:Indian Christian theologians Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni Category:1992 deaths Category:McCormick Theological Seminary alumni Category:General Theological Seminary alumni Category:University of Madras alumni Category:Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University alumni Category:1931 births Category:Academic staff of the Senate of Serampore College (University) Category:Church of South India clergy Category:Moderators of the Church of South India Category:Indian Christians