Luther Abraham

• Church and EvangelismH. D. L. Abraham, Church and Evangelism in Joseph Houldsworth Oldham (Edited), International Review of Mission, Volume 45, 1956. Also cited in The Congregational Quarterly, Volume 34, Congregational Union of England and Wales, 1956. p.287. [https://books.google.com/books?id=sZg9AAAAYAAJ]
• The Teaching Ministry in My Diocese – Efforts and DeficienciesH.D.L.Abraham, The Teaching Ministry in My Diocese – Efforts and Deficiencies in South India Churchman, Chennai, September 1973. Cited in Bangalore Theological Forum, Volume 37, Bengaluru, 2005. p.53. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-nnYAAAAMAAJ]

K. M. George who authored Church of South India: Life in Union, 1947–1997:

{{blockquote|.....An able administrator, courageous and bold like Martin Luther and Abraham.}}

N. Sabhapathy, a former Presbyter in Bellary who wrote about the life of Abraham:N. Sabhapathy, A Short Sketch on the Life of Right Reverend H. D. L. Abraham in Lily of Sharon, Volume 1, Issue 4, July 2007, Bellary. pp.7–9. Lily of Sharon, a Registered Magazine in Karnataka (KARNEGO 3427/10/1/2006-TC), Published by G. H. David Sundaram on behalf of Christian Friends Association, Guru Colony, First Cross, Cantonment, Bellary 583 104 and printed by K. Bheema Reddy at Brindavan Offset Printers, Kalamma Street, Bellary.

{{blockquote|.....He seemed to have a good influence among Village Elders and Christians in many villages. A person of great talent blessed with good health and having a zeal for evangelism. He initiated jathara in accordance with the Indian culture in the Indian situation.}}

Abraham was born on 8 February 1908 in Vikarabad, Telangana to Evangelist J. Y. AbrahamPeter Penner, Russians, North Americans and Telegus: the Mennonite Brethren mission in India, 1885–1975, Issue 10 Perspectives on Mennonite life and thought, Volume 10 of Russians North Americans & Telagus, Kindred Productions, 1997. p.79. [https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZMo4V4Ll8wC&pg=PA106] and Smt. Paranjyothamma and studied at Wardlaw High School in Bellary from where he went to Anantapur and studied for a degree in ArtsNorman C. Sargant, From Missions to Church in Karnataka, 1920–1950, Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1987. [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ts0WAAAAIAAJ] (BA)The National Christian Council review, Volume 93, National Christian Council of India, Nagpur, 1973. p.273.[https://books.google.com/books?id=xfbYAAAAMAAJ] at the Ceded Districts (C.D.) College in Anantapur. He went to the United Theological College, Bengaluru between 1934 and 1937.K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), United Theological College, Directory 1910–1997, Bengaluru, 1997. p. 18. [https://books.google.com/books?id=yCvXPgAACAAJ]

In 1937, he was posted to Hacholli as Assistant Pastor and in 1940, he was ordained by C. B. Firth in Adoni. Abraham also established new congregations in Challakudlur, Ravihal, Lingaladinne and Chickbellary. He seemed to have a good influence among Village Elders and Christians in many villages. E. Herbert Lewis, then Missionary supervised Abraham in his work. In 1945, Abraham was transferred from Hacholli to Adoni to a Kannada-speaking congregation.

Two years later, the Church of South India was formed on 27 September 1947. After serving three years in Adoni, Abraham was transferred to Bellary where he served till 1962. In 1953, he proposed to start a Jathara at Chickbellary during holy Easter week for three days under the mangroves of the River Tungabhadra. It was in April 1954 that the Jathara was held.

In 1956, Abraham was sent to the Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham to lecture on Pastoria and Church Ethics for overseas missionaries. He was then assigned a teaching and administrative roles at the Union Kanarese Seminary in Tumkur before being transferred back to Bellary.

In 1962, Abraham was transferred to Cowlbazar, Bellary where he began serving until 1966.

Abraham was consecrated as Assistant Bishop - in - Mysore on 17 November 1966Rajaiah David Paul, Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India, Christian Literature Society, Chennai, 1972. p.146.[https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ] at the St. Mark's Cathedral,Gerhardus Cornelis Oosthuizen, Theological battleground in Asia and Africa: the issues facing the churches and the efforts to overcome Western divisions, C. Hurst, 1972. p.102.[https://books.google.com/books?id=PckRAQAAIAAJ] Bengaluru by Norman C. Sargant, Bishop - in - Mysore.

After more than two years' of shepherding in Karnataka, Abraham was transferred and installed as Bishop - in - Medak on 3.2.1969Rajaiah David Paul, Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India, Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1972, p.159.[https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ&q=bishop+luther+abraham+mysore] to set right some long-pending problems and to provide stable leadership. Abraham retired in 1975 on reaching superannuation and settled down in Bellary.Mar Aprem, Indian Christian who is who, Bombay Parish Church of the East, Mumbai, 1983. p. 50. [https://books.google.com/books?id=u2s5AAAAMAAJ]

Abraham also became the President of the College Council of Karnataka Theological College, Mangalore.Karl Ignaz Trübner in Richard Kukula (Edited), Minerva, Volume 35, Part 2, W. de Gruyter, 1969. p.1554. [https://books.google.com/books?id=tjI6AAAAMAAJ]

The Synod of the Church of South India again sought Abraham to set right disturbances at the Diocese of Krishna-Godavari as N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel, Bishop – in – Krishna Godavari had left the diocese in 1978 and sought refuge in Chennai, the Synodical Headquarters of the Church of South India. Abraham was again brought to Diocese of Northern Karnataka to act as Moderator's Commissary until the consecration of V. P. Dandin in 1981.

;Notes

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;Further reading

• {{cite journal

| author=Joseph Houldsworth Oldham

| title=International review of mission

| year=1956

| volume=45

| issue=

| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=PZ8TAAAAIAAJ

}}

• {{cite journal

| author=Rajaiah David Paul

| title=Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India

| year=1972

| volume=

| issue=

| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=5cpWAAAAMAAJ

}}

• {{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=

}}

{{S-start}}

{{s-rel}}

{{Succession box| before=Eber Priestley | title=Bishop - in - Medak,
Medak | after=B. G. Prasada Rao | years=1969–1975}}

{{Succession box| before=Position created| title=Assistant Bishop - in - Mysore,
Bangalore | after=Position discontinued | years=1966–1968}}

{{S-hon}}

{{Succession box| before=Eber Priestley| title=Member, Board of Governors,
Andhra Christian Theological College,
Rajahmundry/Secunderabad | after=B. G. Prasada Rao| years=1969-1975}}

{{S-aca}}

{{Succession box| before=| title=Seminary Teacher
Union Kanarese Seminary,
Tumkur | after=| years=1956-1962}}

{{S-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abraham, Luther}}

Category:Anglican bishops of Medak

Category:20th-century Anglican bishops in Asia

Category:Indian Christian theologians

Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni

Category:1908 births

Category:1987 deaths

Category:Church of South India clergy

Category:Indian Christians