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The Reverend
R. Joseph, STBC
Ayyagaru
The poetic side of the Theologian
Born
Ravela Joseph

(1937-09-01)1 September 1937[1]
Ravela, Northern Circars (Madras Presidency)
Died12 April 2024(2024-04-12) (aged 86)
Secunderabad (Telangana)
Burial placeChristian Cemetery, Narayanguda, Hyderabad
NationalityIndian
Other namesR. J. Ayyagaru, /Acharya Ravela Ayyagaru, Rev. Ravela Ayyagaru
CitizenshipIndian
Education
Alma mater
OccupationTheologian
Years active1959 – 2024 (65 years)[2]
Known forCreative poetic compositions in Telugu language
Parent(s)Smt. Santoshamma (Mother),
Pastor R. Paul (Father)
ReligionChristianity
ChurchProtestant – Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches (STBC)
OrdainedAmerican Baptist Foreign Mission Society
WritingsSee complete list
Offices held
President, ABM-Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) (1993–1997)
TitleThe Reverend

Ravela Joseph (1 September 1937 – 12 April 2024)[2] was a Sapphire jubilee-Priest involved in Spiritual formation from the mid-1960s into the early 2000s in the Telugu states. He taught Systematic theology in Major Seminaries[3] affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University), the nation's first modern[4] University {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}[5] with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

Joseph died on 12 April 2024[2] while undergoing treatment in Secunderabad. A Funeral mass was conducted at 14:30 hours[2] on Monday, 15 April 2024 at STBC-Narayanaguda Baptist Church, Hyderabad led by G. Samuel, STBC.[2] The solemn mass was well-attended by the faithful, notable among them being Church Historian B. C. Paul, AELC,[2] Comparative religion Scholar T. Swami Raju, AELC, Entomologist P. Judson,[2] Old Testament scholar Ravela Jeeva Kumar, STBC[2] and others. A graveside burial mass held at 16:30 hours, the same day, at Christian Cemetery, Narayanguda, Hyderabad where Joseph's Mortal Remains were buried.[2]

Contribution

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Joseph's academic regimen as a Seminarian in established portals of learning, both in India and the United States shaped his thinking. His contribution, in particular to Church history in the Telugu states and to the field of Telugu literature, has marked him out as a major contributor enriching the history of Telugu people. A content analysis of the writings of Joseph reveals his voracious readership and an ability to quote from a variety of readings.

Telugu literature

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Main article: Telugu literature

In Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature,[6] published in 1987 by Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India, the contribution of R. Joseph to the field of Telugu Christian Literature in the modern times has been acknowledged. Incidentally, it was Joseph who took the onus to compile an exhaustive bibliography[7] of original Christian writings in Telugu language in the eighties[7] during the tenure of D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC at the Senate of Serampore College (University) in the post-Vatican context. This bibliography[8] became a ready source of reference for Theologians and those with academic interest to peruse material on Telugu Christian Literature.

Church history

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Main article: Church history

With special reference to the American Baptist Churches in Telugu states, Joseph's postgraduate thesis of 1973 was published in 2003 under the title, A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches: American Baptist Telugu Mission.

Systematic theology

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Main article: Systematic theology

The influence of the Bhakti Movement had touched Christian writings and lyrics. R. Joseph had researched on the lyrics of Puroshottam Choudhary . In 2011, James Elisha Taneti in History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography published by Scarecrow, Plymouth[9] writes that Ravela Joseph book on the life of Puroshottam Choudhary had been to analyse his contribution as an early Indian Christian to Christology.

Ecumenism

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Main article: Ecumenism

As a member of the fully-ecumenical, Fellowship of Telugu Churches, Joseph had been an active[10] contributor to the unity of the Churches in the Telugu states.[11] In 2016, Joseph's paper on Promoting unity of the body of Christ evoked an action-based response from the participants. Joseph's participation in ecumenical gatherings brought him into direct contact with Catholic prelates, Anthony Poola, Addagatla Chinna Innayya, Mallavarapu Prakash, Doraboina Moses Prakasam, Gali Bali and others.

Writings

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Inter-disciplinary research pursuits in the fields of Church history, Systematic theology, Telugu literature and Ecumenism prompted Joseph to publish his writings, these were spread over five decades, beginning with the 1970s.

1973–2002

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  • Joseph, Ravela (1973). The American Baptist Mission among the Telugus (S.T.M. thesis). Andover Newton Theological School.[12]
  • ——— (1980). A theological analysis of the writings of Purushottam Choudhary (M.Th. thesis). Senate of Serampore College (University).
  • ——— (March 1982). "Purushottama Choudari: His Special Contribution to Indian Christian Theology". Religion and Society. 29 (1): 29–54. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  • ——— (June 1982). "The Christology of an Indian Christian: Purushottama Choudari (1803-1890)". Bangalore Theological Forum. 14 (1): 69–81. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  • ———; Suneel Bhanu, Busi (1993). Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India in Telugu.[7]
  • ——— (1993). "Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches: A Brief History and Baptist Doctrinal Distinctives". In Toews, Paul (ed.). Mennonites and Baptists: A Continuing Conversation. Kindred Press. pp. 133–140.

2003-2012

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2013-2022

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  • ——— (2013). Christian Theology (in Telugu). Hyderabad: GS Media. ISBN 978-9385080197.[1]
  • ——— (2016). "Unity of the Body of Christ" (Document). Hyderabad: Fellowship of Telugu Churches.[15]
  • ——— (2017). Fr. Martin Luther, OSA – The Church Reformer (in Telugu). Hyderabad: GS Media. ISBN 978-9385194979.
  • ——— (2020). Towards the Reform of Telugu Churches: Some Propositions and Proposals. Hyderabad: Fellowship of Telugu Churches.

Reminiscences

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  • Rev. Talathoti Punnaiah, STBC who underwent a 1-year spirituality course in 1969 at the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary at Ramayapatnam as an Aspirant to discern his avocation towards religious life writes that,

Ravela Joseph was the youngest among the Teachers at the Ramayapatnam Seminary and was teaching Church history. He used to love playing football. Later he did his S.T.M. in the United States of America and then M. Th. He later became the President of the Seminary and Professor at the Andhra Christian Theological College. Joseph is a good writer, singer and composer.[16]

the scholarship and writings of Ravela Joseph is not limited to theology alone. His research in Church History has yielded many fruits in the form of books on the history of the Early Church, Telugu Baptist Church, Martin Luther's Reformation, etc. He is also a well-known poet, essayist and playwright in Telugu.

[17]

Ravela Joseph, a philosopher, poet and Professor Emeritus at Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, assisted me in the collection of the data in relation to which my PhD thesis was written and remain close friend.

[18]

Studies and academics

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General studies

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During the 1950s Joseph pursued a Pre-university course at AELC-Andhra Christian College, Guntur. He then underwent a Teacher-training course and became a Teacher at a government-run school. Following his call towards spirituality, he discerned his vocation and took to theology, enrolling at a major seminary in Ramayapatnam. In 1985, Joseph enrolled at the State-run Osmania University from where he studied Master of Arts.[1]

Propadeutic studies

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The American Baptist Mission/Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches was one of the Protestant missions that began its Christian mission in the early nineteenth century in India whose south India ministries were headquartered in Ramayapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. R. Joseph evinced interest in pursuing Priesthood as a full-time vocation and underwent Spiritual formation at the historic Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam studying under the Principalship of The Rev. Maurice Blanchard[19] and other faculty comprising The Rev. G. Solomon.[19] The seminary was directly affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University) and Joseph was awarded an L. Th.. He later upgraded his studies to earn a B.D. in 1967,[1] awarded by Seminary President, Louis F. Knoll.[19]

Research studies

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United States: Newton

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In 1972,[1] The Council of the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam and the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches sent R. Joseph to the Andover Newton Theological School, Newton for postgraduate studies where he earned a Master of Sacred Theology[1] (S.T.M.) degree and on his return continued to teach at the Seminary which by then had integrated its B. D. section into the Andhra Christian Theological College and R. Joseph was reassigned[1] to teach there by the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches.

India: Bangalore

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In 1978,[20] the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches had accorded study leave to R. Joseph who went to the United Theological College, Bangalore to upgrade his S. T. M. obtained from the United States to Master of Theology (M. Th.) degree and researched on the writings of Puroshottam Choudhary[14] under the supervision of Joshua Russell Chandran and Eric J. Lott,[14] his Professors. Joseph's companions at the college included G. Devakadasham,[20] G. D. V. Prasad[20] and others.[20] By 1980, R. Joseph rejoined Andhra Christian Theological College and resumed his teaching responsibilities.

Again in 1983,[1] he returned to the United Theological College, Bangalore to undertake doctoral studies but had to leave it midway as he was recalled to teach at his alma mater the Baptist Theological Seminary,[21] Ramayapatnam[1] from where he again joined the Andhra Christian Theological College.

Teaching

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Andhra Pradesh

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Soon after R. Joseph completed his licentiate, he began teaching at his Alma mater. He also upgraded his studies to earn a B. D. in 1967[1] at the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam. By this time, efforts among the Protestants to form a unified seminary gained credence leading to the formation of the Andhra Christian Theological College in 1964 Rajahmundry by,

However, compared to the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary which was entitled to admit students for the Bachelor of Divinity degree courses – that too with English as the medium of instruction, the new unified Protestant seminary offered only Licentiate in Theology level courses in Telugu medium. The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches was way ahead of its times both in terms of the academic credentials of its faculty as well as its affiliation to the Senate of Serampore College (University). Though the Baptists of the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches were in favour of joining the new unified Protestant initiative in Rajahmundry, the integration did not seem ripe at that stage. R. Joseph had just finished his graduate studies at Ramayapatnam in 1967[1] and just at that time his Principal, The Rev. Maurice Blanchard and his successor The Rev. Louis F. Knoll decided to experiment[19] and moved their B.D. section from Ramayapatnam[19] to Rajahmundry[19] and functioned as a separate entity within the premises[19] of the Andhra Christian Theological College in Rajahmundry. R. Joseph's teaching companions, K. Wilson,[19] K. S. Prasada Rao,[19] Tracy G. Gipson,[19] Alice M. Findlay,[19] B. R. Moses[19] and Louis F. Knoll moved to Rajahmundry while G. Solomon, S. Joseph, P. Joseph[19] and D. Daniel[19] joined later.

In his second phase at Ramayapatnam, R. Joseph rejoined the seminary in 1984[1] taking up teaching. This institution was training Catechetists to take up rural evangelism and R. Joseph took responsibility to build up the seminary and stayed in Ramayapatnam until 1997 when he finally moved again to Hyderabad.[1]

Telangana

[edit]

By 1972, the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches fully integrated its B.D. section into the Andhra Christian Theological College which by then was relocated to Hyderabad. R. Joseph was sent on study leave to the United States to upgrade his studies to enable him to take up teaching at the unified Protestant Theologiate in Hyderabad and returned in 1973[1] to take up teaching of Theology. On his return, R. Joseph joined the Andhra Christian Theological College which was by then led by the Old Testament Scholar Victor Premasagar while his other companions from Ramayapatnam continued to teach there who included S. Joseph,[19] G. Solomon,[19] K. S. Prasada Rao,[19] and Tracy G. Gipson.[19]

While this was so, K. Wilson had by that time left the Office of the Priesthood moving to the State-run Osmania University to take up teaching of the Philosophy as a civilian. After teaching for nearly six years at the Andhra Christian Theological College, R. Joseph had to revisit his academics to tune up his postgraduate degree earned in the United States to suit the requirements of the Senate of Serampore College (University) and left for Bangalore in 1978,[20] rejoining the college in 1980 and taught for nearly three more years till 1983 when he went on study leave to his alma mater at Bangalore.

After a gap of more than a decade, R. Joseph rejoined the Andhra Christian Theological College in 1997[1] which by then was led by Rev. R. Yesurathnam, the Principal and R. Joseph continued to teach Theology for the aspirants until he retired on attaining superannuation in 2003.[1]

R. Joseph's students at the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam and the Andhra Christian Theological College have substantially contributed to the growth of Christianity in India and include,

Further reading

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q R. Joseph, Christian Theology, Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Funeral Service of Rev. Dr. Joseph Ravela on YouTube
  3. ^ Directory of Teaching Staff, Senate of Serampore College (University)
  4. ^ 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. [1]
  5. ^ 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 recoginsed 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.
  6. ^ K.N.R. (1987). "Christian Literature (Telugu)". In Datta, Amaresh (ed.). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Vol. 1. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 743–744. ISBN 9788126018031.
  7. ^ a b c R. Joseph, B. Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India in Telugu, published by the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bangalore, 1993. [2]
  8. ^ "Asian Christian Theologies". Asian Christian Theologies: Asia region, 7th–20th centuries; South Asia; Australasia. New Delhi: ISPCK. 2002. ISBN 978-1-57075-481-4. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  9. ^ Taneti, J.E. (2011). History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography. ATLA Bibliography Series. Scarecrow Press. pp. 9, 11, 15, 64, 91. ISBN 978-0-8108-7509-8.
  10. ^ "Telugu Churches Federation Meet – Telugu Churches set a Sterling Example". 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 23 February 2016.
  11. ^ Thumma, Anthoniraj (October–December 2017). "Ecumenical Events Marking the 500th Anniversary of Reformation in the Telugu Region". Third Millennium: Indian Journal of Evangelization. XX (4): 87–91.
  12. ^ Joseph, R. (1973). The American Baptist Mission Among the Telugus. Newton, Massachusetts: Andover Newton Theological School.
  13. ^ R. Joseph, A History of the Telugu Baptist Churches (American Baptist Mission), Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad, 2003. Cited by James Elisha Taneti in History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography, Scarecrow, Plymouth, 2011, p.91.[3]
  14. ^ a b c R. Joseph, Bhakti Theology of Puroshottam Choudhary, CLS, Madras, 2004. [4]
  15. ^ R. Joseph, Unity of the Body of Christ in Illuminare Omnes (Monthly bulletin of the Catholic Diocese of Eluru), Volume 39, Number 3, March 2016, p.14.[5]
  16. ^ Talathoti Punnaiah, My Memoir, Ministry and Message: (60 years Life Experiences 1950–2010), Kakinada, 2010, pp.12–13.
  17. ^ Joseph, Ravela (2020). Towards the Reform of Telugu Churches: Some Propositions and Proposals. Hyderabad: Fellowship of Telugu Churches.
  18. ^ Paul D. Wiebe, Heirs and Joint Heirs: Mission to Church Among the Mennonite Brethren of Andhra Pradesh, Published simultaneously by Kindred Productions, Winnipeg, Manitoba and Kindred Productions, Goessel, Kansas, 2010.[6]
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r B. R. Moses, Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary Centenary Report 1874-1974, in K. J. W. Jayakumar (Compiled), The Lights That Never Quench – Baptist Missionaries, Self published by the author, Nellore, 2008, pp.107–114.
  20. ^ a b c d e K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory 1910–1997 of the United Theological College, Bangalore, 1997, p.115
  21. ^ Print Asia
Academic offices
Preceded by Professor – in – Systematic Theology,
Andhra Christian Theological College,
Secunderabad (Telangana)
1974–1984; 1997–2003 		Succeeded by
B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC
Other offices
Preceded by
Danam Israel, STBC
 President,
ABM-Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological College,
Ramayapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
1993–1997 		Succeeded by
J. M. Franklin, STBC
Notes and references
1. Taneti, J.E. (2011). History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography. ATLA Bibliography Series. Scarecrow Press. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-8108-7509-8.


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