A. E. Inbanathan

A. E. Inbanathan was the sixth General Secretary of the Bible Society of India Central Office in Bangalore who held the office during 1960[11]-1981,[12] the longest ever held by a clergyman.

The Reverend

A. E. Inbanathan, CSI

PhD (Hartford)
Born
Athisayanathan Emmanuel Inbanathan[1]
NationalityIndian
EducationB. D. (Serampore),
M. A. (Union),
PhD (Hartford)
Alma materUnited Theological College, Bangalore, (Karnataka),[2]
Union Theological Seminary, New York (United States),[3][4]
Hartford Seminary,[5] Hartford, Connecticut (United States)
OccupationPastor
ParentThiru Athisayanathan[6]
ReligionChristianity
ChurchChurch of South India[3]
Writings1949, The Mysticism of Sadhu Sundar Singh,[4]
1951, Karmasamsara: A study in history of doctrine of Hindu theology,[7]
1958, The Christian Message in the Indian Setting,[8]
1960, Man in Christian Thought[9]
Congregations served
Tindivanam, Vellore
Offices held
Pastor, Church of South India ()
Chaplain,[10] Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore (-1960)
TitleThe Reverend Doctor

Inbanathan was a Pastor who served in a rural setting in Tindivanam from where he moved on to medical ministry serving as Chaplain. During his stint at the Bible Society of India, many translations of the Bible and revisions of the existing versions in the languages of India were undertaken. In 1964,[13] the Ao Naga language Bible was released in the presence of Inbanathan in Impur. Revision of the Telugu language Bible began during the tenure of Inbanathan who along with his colleague, Chrysostom Arangaden, involved Old Testament Scholars Victor Premasagar and G. Babu Rao.[14]

Studies

Inbanathan studied at the High School in Tindivanam[11] and the Voorhees College, Vellore after which he discerned his avocation towards priesthood and underwent ministerial formation during 1939-1943 at the United Theological College, Bangalore, affiliated to the nation's first[15] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University), under the Principalship of Max Hunter Harrison after which the University awarded Inbanathan a graduate degree in B.D. by then Registrar C. E. Abraham.

In 1949,[4] Inbanathan moved to the Union Theological Seminary (New York City)[3] affiliated to the Columbia University[4] where he pursued a postgraduate course. Inbanathan also pursued research[11] studies in comparative religion at the Hartford Seminary[7] which he completed in 1951.[7] Many interesting facets about A. E. Inbanathan during his time in America have been recorded in journals. The Quarterly Review of the Union Theological Seminary (New York City) wrote, He was young, intelligent and with an attractive personality.. The General Synod of the Reformed Church of America noted, Rev. A. E. Inbanathan, pastor of one of the churches in South India has completed his studies in America and is enroute to his home.[16] He has been an inspiration to all who have met him.[17]

Ecclesiastical ministry

As Rural Pastor

Inbanathan was a Pastor[18] of the South India United Church which later unionized itself into the Church of South India and served in Tindivanam, the town in which the Theologian D. S. Amalorpavadass schooled. As a rural Pastor in Tindivanam, Inbanathan was able to understand the ethos of India enabling him to interact with people and gain pastoral experience at the ground level.

As Medical Chaplain

As Chaplain of the Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Inbanathan played an active role both in chaplaincy as well and in administration of the Association and Council of the College as Secretary.[19]

As Administrator

In 1960,[11] Inbanathan moved to the Bible Society of India, Bangalore and took up the position of General Secretary[11] of the Society that was involved in Translations, Resource Mobilisation, Production and Distribution of the Sacred Scriptures with focus on India. When Inbanathan took up the office of the General Secretary of the Bible Society of India, there were ten[20] Auxiliaries including one in Ceylon. Inbanathan's rural pastoral experience enabled him to manage the country-level auxiliaries at a better level with his successive colleagues at the Auxiliary level consisting of E. Prakasam, A. B. Masilamani, B. G. Prasada Rao and others.

With a record service of nearly 21 years, Inbanathan was a name to reckon with in India. Inbanathan ensured that the Bible Society of India worked together with the Senate of Serampore College (University) and the National Council of Churches in India and the other ecclesiastical institutions.

In matters of administration at the Bible Society of India, Inbanathan worked closely with J. S. S. Malelu[21] then President of the Bible Society of India as well as the other successors.

Inbanathan also played a role at the United Bible Societies. In 1969, Inbanathan was elected as the Chairperson of the General Committee of the United Bible Societies.[22] In subsequent meetings of the United Bible Societies, Inbanathan was also elected as the Chairperson of the Council of the United Bible Societies.[23]

Inbanathan retired from the Bible Society of India in 1981 during the Presidency of Alexander Mar Thoma.[24]

Other

During the World Council of Churches conclave held from 19 November through 5 December 1961, Inbanathan participated in the Assembly as a fraternal delegate[25] of the United Bible Societies and also spoke[26] on 1 December on the topic The Bible and Evangelism in the presence of the Archbishop of York, The Most Reverend Donald Coggan.

Inbanathan was also a participant at one of the Synods of the Church of South India Synod.[27]

References
Notes
  1. Neu Delhi Dokumente: Berichte und Reden auf der Weltkirchenkonferenz in Neu Delhi 1961, World Council of Churches. Assembly, Luther-Verlag, 1962, pp.461, 502.
  2. K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997, Bangalore, 1997. Past students of the college diploma course, p.54; Postgraduate course, p.20.
  3. Union Seminary Quarterly Review, Volumes 5-8, 1949, p.36
  4. A. E. Inbanathan, The Mysticism of Sadhu Sundar Singh, Columbia University, Columbia, 1949.
  5. Hartford Seminary Alumnae Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  6. High Court of Karnataka. RFA 526/1995
  7. A. E. Inbanathan, Karmasamsara: A study in history of doctrine of Hindu theology, Hardford Seminary Foundation, Hartford, 1951. Cited in Donald Bean Gilchrist, Edward Atwood Henry Doctoral Dissertations Accepted by American Universities, Issue 18, H.W. Wilson Company, 1951, pp.7 and 251.
  8. A. E. Inbanathan, The Christian Message in the Indian Setting in Blaise Levai (Edited), Revolution in missions: a study guide to the role of missions in present day India, YMCA Publishing House, New Delhi, 1958, p.36.
  9. A. E. Inbanathan, Man in Christian Thought, RS, VIII:3-4, 1960. Cited by Siga Arles in Theological education for the mission of the church in India, 1947-1987: theological education in relation to the identification of the task of mission and the development of ministries in India, 1947-1987, with special reference to the Church of South India, P. Lang, 1990, p.524.
  10. Western Theological Seminary, W88-0095. Piet, John H. (1914-1992). Papers, 1940-1992. 12.50 linear ft. (2013). Collection Registers and Abstracts. Paper 647.
  11. Bible Society Record, American Bible Society, 1960, p.70
  12. G. D. V. Prasad, Chiranjivi J. Nirmal, Imaging the Word: A Twenty-First Century Perspective, The Bible Society of India 1811-2011, Bible Society of India, Bangalore, 2000, (revised edition 2011), p.115.
  13. The Morung Express, Dimapur, 20 February 2014, p.2, ABAM Commemorate 'Golden Jubilee' of Ao Bible translation.
  14. H. S. Wilson (Edited), The Church on the Move, Essays in honour of Victor Premasagar, Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1988, p.vi.
  15. UNESCO Structures of University Education in India, 1952
  16. 119th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions (1951). Annual Reports. Book 96.
  17. The Acts & Proceedings of the Reformed Church in America, Regular Session of the General Synod, Reformed Church in America, Volume 39, General Synod Board of publication and Bible-school work, 1951, p.17.
  18. "118th Annual Report of the Board of World Missions" (1950). Annual Reports. Book 95.
  19. Bulletin of the Christian Medical College, Vellore, Volumes 17-28, The Association, Vellore, 1955, p.18.
  20. Third Jubilee Souvenir 1811-1961, Published on the Occasion of the Third Jubilee of the Bible Society of India and Ceylon, Bangalore, 1961
  21. The National Christian Council Review, Volume 84, Wesley Press and Publishing House, 1964, p.474.
  22. Edwin H. Robertson, Taking the Word to the world: 50 years of the United Bible Societies, T. Nelson Publishers, 1996, pp.79, 96, 120.
  23. Annual Report of the American Bible Society, Volume 162, American Bible Society, 1977, p.85.
  24. The National Christian Council Review, Volume 102, Wesley Press, 1982, p.59.
  25. The New Delhi Report, The Third Assembly of the World Council of Churches 1961.
  26. James William Kennedy, No darkness at all, Bethany Press, 1962, p.43.
  27. 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, p.89.
Further reading
  • Edwin H. Robertson (1996). Taking the Word to the world: 50 years of the United Bible Societies. T. Nelson Publishers. ISBN 9780785272328.
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