Regunta Yesurathnam

Dialogical theology

Yesurathnam sought to engage Christianity with other Religions, through inter-disciplinary research methods, finding ways through which Christianity could relate itself with the rich and diverse religious traditions of India. Pioneers like J. Monchanin, RCM, Bede Griffiths, OSB Cam., Yisu Das Tiwari, MCI, Raimon Panikkar, RCM and Stanley Jedidiah Samartha, CSI have done much much to build inroads for Christianity to explore common ethos in other religions through Interfaith dialogue resulting in yields which has been termed as Dialogical Theology that could propel the Gospel to unexplored ground.

Professor Jutta Sperber (2000) of the University of Münster, Germany in a major work about Dialogical Theology with special reference to the activities of the World Council of Churches and its unit on Dialogue has quoted the work of Yesurathnam on the Christian-Muslim dialogue. Similarly, Sonia Calza (2001), while researching on Interfaith dialogue with reference to Hinduism and Christianity at the University of Venice, Italy had referred to Yesurathnam's work on Dialogical Theology while writing about the contribution of Henri Le Saux, OSB, one of the founders of the Saccidananda Ashram in 1938 in Tannirpalli along the banks of the River Cauveri in Tamil Nadu.

Comparative religion

The Old Testament Scholars, G. Solomon, STBC (1957), G. Babu Rao, CBCNC (1990) and Madanu Francis, RCM (1998) have expounded the need for comparative analysis, especially in building existential communities and relating to each other in a setting of religions (Sitz im Leben). Yesurathnam's writings on Comparative religion could best be understood if one were to take a look at the Old Testament Scholar, Gnana Robinson's, CSI (1998) work promoting the cause of Interfaith dialogue with special reference to Christianity in the Indian subcontinent,

(adapted)...there are also spiritual traditions other than Christianity, which affirm life and are therefore to be listened to and appreciated, a position many scholars of religion in Europe and America, find it difficult to accept. These spiritual traditions also offer for millions of adherents, essential visions for living, and one cannot brush these aside as matters of no consequence. The God, revealed in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Creator, the Sustainer and the Redeemer of all people and is present and active in all spiritual traditions affirming life, whether they come under the label Christian or not.

Edward Geoffrey Parrinder (1997) of King's College, London defined Avatara as the manifestation of the divine in human form. Yesurathnam, also wrote on the work on the concept of Avatara, which has drawn the attention of Scholars and his works were quoted extensively by Research Scholars at the Universities of London and Birmingham, England by Bob Robinson (2004) who took note of the work of Yesurathnam on Avatara with special emphasis on Christianity and by Steven Tsoukalas (2007) who quoted Yesurathnam's work on the forms of Avatara. Similarly, Professor M. Sukdaven (2012), of the University of the Free State, South Africa wrote about the forms of Vishnu Avataras as induced from the Bhagavata Purana and quotes Yesurathnam in stating that the number of Vishnu Avataras may practically be endless.

Contextualization

Inter-disciplinary writings by Yesurathnam have struck new ground in inculturation as espoused by Swamy Amalorananda and the New Testament Scholar Suppogu Joseph, STBC (2007) had made a sustained research exploring possibilities for the Gospel to adapt itself to the multi-religious ethos of India. Earlier proponents who experimented with Contextualization, emphasizing on the presentation of Christ adapting to the Indian culture, were Robert de Nobili, SJ, E. Stanley Jones, MCI, and B. V. Subbamma, AELC, who together were known for their contribution to the Christian Ashram Movement in India.

Yesurathnam's definition of Contextualization has been acknowledged by Scholars as a resourceful addition. Professor Charles E. Van Engen (2005) of the Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California and Professor Akintunde E. Akinade (2012) of the Georgetown University in Qatar in their works on Contextualization refer to the word Contextualization as defined by Yesurathnam,

The term contextualization includes all that is implied in indigenization or inculturation, but also seeks also to include the realities of contemporary, secularity, technology, and the struggle for human justice... Contextualization both extends and corrects the older terminology. While indigenization tends to focus on the purely cultural dimension of human experience, contextualization broadens the understanding of culture to include social, political, and economic questions. In this way, culture is understood in more dynamic and flexible ways, and is seen not as closed and self-contained, but as open and able to be enriched by an encounter with other cultures and movements.

Renewal of the Church

Much like the Christian ministry Scholar M. Victor Paul, AELC (1990), who wrote on Church renewal, Yesurathnam cautioned the Church against falling into traditionalism. During the Golden Jubilee of the founding of the Uniting church, the Church of South India held in Chennai in 1997, Yesurathnam spoke on the ills befalling the Church in India,

(Adapted) The church hierarchy of Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons and Laity is turning into a Chaturvarna system, with the Laity and Women as the Shudras, the bottom-most caste.

Echoing the apprehensions by Yesurathnam, Stanley Jedidiah Samartha who was also present at the Jubilee in Chennai, pointed out that one must first introspect before raising cudgels against the Indian caste system and believed that one failed to notice the gradual transformation of the episcopacy into such a system. Yesurathnam, in an introduction to the book Jesus' Tears! by Elizabeth Thelma Johnson (2007), has highlighted the work of a Laity and appreciated their contribution towards the Christian missions.

Graduate

Nirmal in northern Telangana; the birthplace of Yesurathnam.

After initial schooling at the Christian mission schools founded by the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society (WMMS) in Telangana, Yesurathnam discerned his avocation to take up Priesthood during the successive bishoprics of Frank Whittaker and Eber Priestley who became his Spiritual Confessors and led Yesurathnam to take up spiritual studies at the United Theological College, Bangalore {affiliated to the nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University)} during 1963-1967 then under the notable principal Joshua Russell Chandran, CSI and the Old Testament Scholars, Samuel Amirtham, CSI, E. C. John, CSI and other Spiritual Formators including V. C. Samuel, MOSC.

Yesurathnam's companions at the College studying at varying internals included Arvind P. Nirmal, CNI, K. C. Abraham, CSI, C. L. Furtado, CSI, G. T. Abraham, CSI, B. P. Sugandhar, CSI, Wesley Ariarajah, CMC,Philipose Mar Eusebius, MOSC and others. At the subsequent convocation of the Senate of Serampore College (University), Yesurathnam was awarded a B. D. degree during the Registrarship of Chetti Devasahayam, CBCNC.

Postgraduate

French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ (1881 - 1955); Yesurathnam undertook a study during 1969-1972 on Chardin's The Phenomenon of Man.

In 1969 during the bishopric of H. D. L. Abraham, Bishop - in - Medak, Yesurathnam was recalled from parish work and sent to the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Bangalore for further spiritual studies leading to M. Th. during 1969-1972 where he researched under Joshua Russell Chandran, CSI. This time around, Yesurathnam's companions included D. W. Jesudoss, TELC, and his graduate companion Philipose Mar Eusebius, MOSC, who returned the same time as Yesurathnam for pursuing postgraduate studies. Yesurathnam's other companions from the graduate section were S. J. Theodore, CSI, P. J. Lawrence, Timotheas Hembrom, NELC, H. S. Wilson, CSI, D. I. Hans, CSI, P. J. Lawrence, CSI, Basil Rebera, J. W. Gladstone, CSI, D. Dhanaraj, CSI, Sydney Salins, CSI, John Sadananda, CSI, Christopher Asir, CSI and others.

Yesurathnam was awarded the postgraduate degree of M. Th. in the ensuing convocation of University led by the Registrar, Chetti Devasahayam, CBCNC.

Doctoral

Henri Le Saux, OSB (1910-1973) (Swami Abhishiktānanda); Yesurathnam researched during 1978-1982 on Benedictine monk's experiences of spirituality as found in Hinduism and Christianity

After a 5-year teaching ministry that began in 1974 at the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad, Yesurathnam qualified to undertake doctoral level research in 1978 and sought a 5-year study leave from then Principal Victor Premasagar, CSI who enabled the leave through the Board of Governors of the College. Yesurathnam's Bishop during that period, B. G. Prasada Rao, Bishop - in - Medak made efforts to ensure that Yesurathnam was able to join his alma mater, the United Theological College, Bangalore, where Yesurathnam was able to take up research in the discipline of Systematic theology under the guidance of the notable Systematic Theologian Arvind P. Nirmal, CNI who incidentally was his graduate companion during 1963-1965. Yesurathnam also came under the tutelage of Stanley Jedidiah Samartha, a leading authority on Dialogical Theology. During the research period between 1978-1982, Yesurathnam was also sent to the University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England in 1979 for a two-year research exposure through the efforts of Gordon Shaw who ensured his overseas travel and stay in to England at Kingsmead College under the Selly Oak Colleges, where he was supervised by Walter Jacob Hollenweger, a leading authority on Pentecostalism and who also happened to supervise the doctoral studies of the notable Christian artist P. Solomon Raj, AELC who was pursuing a doctoral programme under the same supervisor.

By 1981, Yesurathnam returned to the United Theological College, Bangalore and began shaping his doctoral dissertation under the guidance of David C. Scott, MCI and by 1982, he rejoined the Andhra Christian Theological College, which by then was being led by the New Testament Scholar, K. David, CBCNC and took up his teaching role in Systematic theology, but was able to submit his doctoral thesis to the University through his supervisor at the United Theological College, Bangalore and finally in 1987, much before nearing a decade of registering with the University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) awarded the doctoral degree of D. Th. during the Registrarship of D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC.

Though Yesurathnam sought permission from the Senate of Serampore College (University) to publish his doctoral work, nearly two decades later, in 2006, his original thesis, as submitted to the Senate of Serampore College (University), was already being referred by Research Scholars on works relating to the contribution of Swami Abhishiktānanda.

Pastoral ministry

The CSI-Medak Cathedral,Medak where Yesurathnam was ordained in 1967 by Bishop Eber Priestley, Bishop - in - Medak.

Yesurathnam was ordained in 1967 by Bishop Eber Priestley, then Bishop - in - Medak and was assigned ministerial functions in the parishes falling under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Diocese of Medak and served in Sangareddy and other towns shepherding congregations for nearly a decade until he was recalled in 1974 by then Bishop H. D. L. Abraham, Bishop - in - Medak and re-assigned the role of a Spiritual Formator.

In 1992, when Victor Premasagar, CSI vacated the bishopric of Medak on attaining superannuation, the ensuing Sede vacante was contested among whom Yesurathnam stood in the fray for the vacant bishopric, which was overseen by Ryder Devapriam, CSI, then Moderator of the Church of South India Synod and a former colleague of Yesurathnam at the Protestant Regional Theologiate. However, the sudden death of Ryder Devapriam, CSI on 4 September 1992 while in Germany turned the tides for those in fray, resulting in the appointment and subsequent consecration of B. P. Sugandhar, CSI.

Teaching ministry

Teacher

Hussain Sagar Lake in Secunderabad in Telangana; Yesurathnam taught at the Protestant Regional Theologiate, located on the eastern bank of the Hussain Sagar Lake for nearly three decades (1974-2001).

In 1972, the Andhra Christian Theological College (founded in 1964 and managed by the Anglicans, Congregationalists, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, and the Wesleyans) moved from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad. The Systematic Theologian, Waldo Penner, CBCNC, one of the co-founders of the College hailing from the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars did not move to the new location in Secunderabad and the unfilled vacancy that arose was sourced by inviting Yesurathnam from the Diocese of Medak of the Church of South India who joined the College in 1974 during the Principalship of the Cantabrigian and Old Testament Scholar, Victor Premasagar, CSI and his colleagues in Systematic theology were Ryder Devapriam, CSI and was later joined by B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC in 1977 and the two led the teaching of Systematic theology for nearly a decade until they were joined in 1984 by G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI. In 1986 when Suppogu Joseph, STBC became Principal of the College, the Systematic Theologian Jürgen Fangmeier, from Germany came to teach as a Guest Professor enriching the discipline of Systematic theology at the College followed by Ray Waldock from Canada.

Yesurathnam spent nearly a quarter of a century during 1974-2001 at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad in teaching successive ministerial aspirants along with notable faculty members that included W. D. Coleman, AELC, R. R. Sundara Rao, AELC, G. Devasahayam, AELC, G. Solomon, STBC, Ravela Joseph, STBC, Suppogu Joseph, STBC, Eric J. Lott, CSI, Ryder Devapriam, CSI, G. T. Abraham, CSI, and Muriel Spurgeon Carder, CBCNC, which coincided with the teaching period of Udamala Bala, RCM and Anthoniraj Thumma, RCM, then Faculty Members in the discipline of Systematic theology at the St. John's Regional Seminary (Theologiate), the Catholic Regional Theologiate in Ramanthapur.

Guest Professor

de:Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany; Yesurathnam was Guest Professor in 1993.

In the Seventies, during the Principalship of Victor Premasagar, CSI, the Andhra Christian Theological College had entered into a partnership with the de:Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel in Germany for academic resource sharing of Systematic theology faculty, which resulted in the deputation of B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC to Germany in 1979. In the next decade, Eighties, when Suppogu Joseph, STBC was the Principal, the de:Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel sent the notable Systematic Theologian de:Jürgen Fangmeier to teach at the Andhra Christian Theological College in Secunderabad.

In the Nineties, in continuation of the academic partnership, during the Principalship of M. Victor Paul, AELC, Yesurathnam was sent to the de:Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel, Germany in 1993 as Guest Professor, where he taught for a year until 1994.

Principal

After the four-year cycle of Principalship with the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society ended in 1994, it was the turn of the Church of South India to lead the four-cycle of Principalship and Yesurathnam happened to be the lone representative hailing from the Church of South India as G. T. Abraham, CSI had been recalled by the Diocese of Nandyal and assigned pastoral roles. Then Board of Governors of the College during the Chairpersonship of K. Nathaniel, AELC, together with the Bishop - in - Medak B. P. Sugandhar, CSI, appointed Yesurathnam as Principal of the College for the ensuing four-year cycle for the period 1994-1998.

Yesurathnam who had just returned from Germany was installed as Principal in 1994 in the presence of P. Joseph, STBC, a Military chaplain and acting Principal, to take up the Principalship of the College for a 4-year period that saw new faculty joining the College, comprising K. Reuben Mark, the present Bishop - in - Karimnagar and Ch. Vasantha Rao, the present Principal of the United Theological College, Bangalore coinciding with the return of senior faculty, Ravela Joseph, STBC, M. Victor Paul, AELC and Suppogu Joseph, STBC. Yesurathnam worked together with the students, the faculty and the Board of Governors, which was led by Chairpersons comprising K. Nathaniel, AELC, T. B. D. Prakasa Rao, CSI and K. Jesudas, SALC. There was also availability of international scholars at the Seminary with the teaching of Henriette Howarth, C of E,, an Utrecht University Scholar who was able to take up the teaching of the Old Testament and Hebrew under the guidance of the Old Testament Scholar, G. Babu Rao, CBCNC.

In 1998, when the four-year cycle of Principalship passed on from the Church of South India to the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars which was represented by a two-member faculty comprising the Church Historian D. J. Jeremiah, CBCNC and the Religions Teacher, K. D. G. Prakasa Rao, CBCNC. Meanwhile, Yesurathnam proceeded on a year's sabbatical leave in 1998 to the Overseas Ministries Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut to continue his research pursuits and rejoined the Theologiate in Secunderabad and after continuing to teach for two more years', he accepted a call for overseas missionary service and bid farewell to the Theologiate in 2001.

Missionary service

The Council for World Mission (CWM) headquartered in England is involved in missionary enterprise in far reached areas around the globe. During the tenure of G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI as General Secretary at the Church of South India Synod, efforts were made by the CWM to garner missionary service from the participating dioceses of the Church of South India. Yesurathnam's former colleague, G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI sought the permission of B. P. Sugandhar, then Bishop - in - Medak to enable Yesurathnam's missionary service to the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and in 2001, Yesurathnam moved to the International University of the Caribbean, Kingston (Jamaica) where he began his sojourn in the New millennium and served as a theological educator for nearly a decade until his sudden death on 8 August 2011 at the Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad.

The sudden death of Yesurathnam in 2011 was mourned by the theological fraternity in the Indian subcontinent. During the 86th meeting of the Senate of Serampore College (University), under the Presidentship of The Right Reverend Issac Mar Philoxenos Episcopa, MMTSC, held in Dehradun in February 2012,, the death of Yesurathnam was reported by then Principal of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI, in the presence of the nearly 100 Senate Members, being members, invitees, and guests, who observed a moment of silence for those Theologians deceased during the period under review (2011-2012) for which a prayer was offered by the New Testament Scholar, Takatemjen Ao, NBCC of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council.

Ministerial

As a Spiritual Formator at the Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad since 1974, Yesurathnam, together with other Faculty Members, were able to guide in the spiritual formation of ministerial aspirants to continue the selfless work of the Christian missions that included the 1974 batch of aspirants comprising Alexander John, CSI, T. Punnaiah, STBC, L. Samuel John, AELC, D. Vasantha Rao, CBCNC, K. C. Martin, CSI, Bishop Emeritus A. Rajarathnam, CSI, Bishop Emeritus T. S. Kanaka Prasad, CSI and others and the successive aspirants Ch. Victor Moses, AELC, V. E. Christopher, AELC, B. Suneel Bhanu, AELC and continues to live on through the present leadership of the Churches who include,

• Telangana
  • The Reverend T. Bhasker, CSI, Vice-Chairperson of the Diocese of Medak, Secunderabad,
  • The Rev. Anuparthi John Prabhakar, STBC, Principal-designate of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad,
  • The Right Reverend Vadapalli Prasada Rao, CSI, Bishop - in - Dornakal, Dornakal,
• Andhra Pradesh
  • The Rev. Kaki John Emmanuel, CBCNC, Chairperson of the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada,
  • The Right Reverend Sister Eggoni Pushpalalitha, CSI Order of Sisters, Bishop - in - Nandyal, Nandyal,
  • The Right Reverend Boyineni Deva Prasada Rao, CSI, Bishop - in - Rayalaseema, Cuddapah,
  • The Rev. S. Angela Veronica, AELC, Woman priest at the AELC Society, Guntur,
  • Bishop K. Frederick Paradesi Babu, AELC, President of the AELC Society, Guntur,
• South Africa
  • The Rev. Ayyala John, CoE, Diocese of Natal, Anglican Church of Southern Africa Society, Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal

Writings

Yesurathnam's works are available in nearly 35 research institutes of repute, consisting of Seminaries,, State Universities and Research Academies across Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. The Systematic Theologian, Michael Amaladoss, SJ, of the Institute of Dialogue with Cultures and Religions, Loyola College, Chennai has accessioned a title of Yesurathnam in 2014 which is available at the Institute.

• 1972, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin's concept of man and its relevance for a Christian interpretation of man in India,
• 1987, The adequacy of the concept of Avatara for expounding the Christian doctrine of incarnation,
• 1987, The Mythic Symbol Avatara in Indian Conceptual Formulations,
• 1988, Religious Pluralism: Some Implications for the Mission of the Church,
• 1990, Abhishiktānanda : An Indian Christian Theologian with a difference,
• 1993, Contours of the emerging Indian Church: Problems and Possibilities,
• 1998, Liberation from Jubilee Perspective,
• 1999, Can the Clergy make it ?,
• 1999, Book Review: Mission Today, Challenges and Responses,
• 2000, Contextualizing in Mission,
• 2001, Book Review: Relevant Patterns of Christian Witness in India: People as Agents of Mission,
• 2001, Channels of Peace: A Theological Perspective,
• 2003, The Cross of Christ as the Anchor of Hope in Suffering,
• 2006, A Christian Dialogical Theology: The Contribution of Swami Abhishiktānanda (Henri Le Saux),