J. W. Gladstone
Encyclopedia
John Wilson Gladstone (born 25 December 1945) was the Moderator of the Church of South India
as well as Bishop of South Kerala.
of the CSI
He had an inclination towards priesthood and after his schooling pursued bachelor and master degrees in economics
in Thiruvananthapuram
.
- the only autonomous college under the Senate of Serampore College (University)
] where he received a Bachelor of Divinity
degree.
After finishing his studies in divinity in 1972 he again enrolled at UTC where, in 1975, he obtained a Master of Theology
degree in the discipline of church history.
on 20 July 1975.
The diocese designated him as Youth Pastor and thereafter, Gladstone was assigned a teaching task at the Kerala United Theological Seminary
, [KUTS - affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)
] Thiruvananthapuram
.
in Germany for research studies in church history.
In 1983, the University of Hamburg awarded him a Doctorate of Theology degree magna cum laude. His doctoral thesis was entitled Protestant Christianity and People's Movements in Kerala, 1850-1936 which was later published by the KUTS, Thiruvananthapuram
in 1984.
to resume his teaching responsibilities. In 1991 he became Principal of the KUTS, Thiruvananthapuram
.
(CHAI), a body of church historians and has published more than 100 articles.
, India's first university, from 2000 to 2005
(Bishop-in-Medak).
in honour of Gladstone entitled Shepherd of a Pilgrim People: Essays in Honour of Bishop J. W. Gladstone'
In 2008 Canterbury Christ Church University
, (established in 1962 by the Church of England
with degree granting authority), admitted Rev. Dr. Gladstone to its honorary fellowship at Canterbury Cathedral on 1 February.
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
as well as Bishop of South Kerala.
Early years
Rev. Dr. Gladstone was born on 25 December 1945 in Kerala. into a pastoral family. His father, Rev. J. Wilson, was a PastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the CSI
Church of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
He had an inclination towards priesthood and after his schooling pursued bachelor and master degrees in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
.
Divinity and higher studies
In 1969, Rev. Dr. Gladstone joined the United Theological College [UTC, BangaloreBangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
- the only autonomous college under the Senate of Serampore College (University)
Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....
] where he received a Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
degree.
After finishing his studies in divinity in 1972 he again enrolled at UTC where, in 1975, he obtained a Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
degree in the discipline of church history.
Ordination and lecturership
After returning from Bangalore, Rev. Dr. Gladstone was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of South Kerala of the Church of South IndiaChurch of South India
The Church of South India is the successor of the Church of England in India. It came into being in 1947 as a union of Anglican and Protestant churches in South India. With a membership of over 3.8 million, it is India's second largest Christian church after the Roman Catholic Church in India...
on 20 July 1975.
The diocese designated him as Youth Pastor and thereafter, Gladstone was assigned a teaching task at the Kerala United Theological Seminary
Kerala United Theological Seminary
Kerala United Theological Seminary is run by the Church of South India with an ecumenical outlook. It was founded in 1943, and is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College , West Bengal. KUTS is located in Kannammoola in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.-Courses offered:KUTS offers the degrees of...
, [KUTS - affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)
Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....
] Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
.
Research studies
Later in the year 1978, Rev. Dr. Gladstone took study leave from KUTS and proceeded to the University of HamburgUniversity of Hamburg
The University of Hamburg is a university in Hamburg, Germany. It was founded on 28 March 1919 by Wilhelm Stern and others. It grew out of the previous Allgemeines Vorlesungswesen and the Kolonialinstitut as well as the Akademisches Gymnasium. There are around 38,000 students as of the start of...
in Germany for research studies in church history.
In 1983, the University of Hamburg awarded him a Doctorate of Theology degree magna cum laude. His doctoral thesis was entitled Protestant Christianity and People's Movements in Kerala, 1850-1936 which was later published by the KUTS, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
in 1984.
Return to KUTS
Subsequently, Rev. Dr. Gladstone returned to ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
to resume his teaching responsibilities. In 1991 he became Principal of the KUTS, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
.
Church historian
Rev. Dr. Gladstone is a member of the Church History Association of IndiaChurch History Association of India
Church History Association of India is an ecumenical body of Church historians in India. Its journal is The Indian Church History Review .-Present Council:* President - O. L...
(CHAI), a body of church historians and has published more than 100 articles.
Senate responsibilities
Rev. Dr. Gladstone served as the President of the Senate of Serampore College (University)Senate of Serampore College (University)
The Senate of Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university....
, India's first university, from 2000 to 2005
Bishopric
On 16 September 1997, Rev. Dr. Gladstone was consecrated as the Bishop in South Kerala.Moderatorship
During the XXXI session of the synod of the CSI held in Visakhapatnam from 11–14 January 2008, Rev. Dr. Gladstone was elected as the Moderator of the CSI for a biennium. He succeeded the Most Reverend B. P. SugandharB. P. Sugandhar
Badda Peter Sugandhar was the fifth successor of Frank Whittaker as Bishop in Medak in the Church of South India . He was consecrated by Vasant P...
(Bishop-in-Medak).
Honours
In 2005, Rev. Vinod Victor and Rev. Gideon Sobhanam brought out a festschriftFestschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
in honour of Gladstone entitled Shepherd of a Pilgrim People: Essays in Honour of Bishop J. W. Gladstone'
In 2008 Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University
Canterbury Christ Church University is a university in Canterbury, Kent, England. Founded as a Church of England college for teaching training it has grown to full university status and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2012. The focus of its work is in the education of people going into...
, (established in 1962 by the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
with degree granting authority), admitted Rev. Dr. Gladstone to its honorary fellowship at Canterbury Cathedral on 1 February.