Thursday 31 March 2016

Former Bishop of Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore Rt.Rev .Dr. Theodore R Doraisamy, M.A, D.Th,. Part Final

 Bishop Dr.Theodore R Doraisamy's Trajectory of episcopal career:  Bishop Theodore R Doraisamy  was having a distinctive working career and tract. He was working as a  Full Time Teacher, in the Education Department as a Civil Servant  in Singapore  and also he was working as Self Supporting Part Time Methodist Pastor. While he was serving as Pastor in the Pasir Pajang Tamil Wesley and Tamil Methodist Church[Short St , Singapore] he earned his prestigious Master Degree in Theology from the famous Boston University School of Theology for his thought provoking Thesis 'A Philosophy for the Mission of the Church in Malaysia '

TRD Worked as Secretary For Methodist Youth fellowship:
In  August 1946, TRD  had the rare privilege to work as Secretary for Methodist Youth Fellowship and Young People's work.  In this capacity he efficaciously worked till 1963 and was instrumental for development and growth of MYF[Methodist Youth Fellowship].  In 1947 TRD had the privilege to serve as Secretary of Christian Education [ Methodist Church ] and also supervised Sunday Schools , Methodist Youth fellowship .In 1960 TRD  got the privilege to work as District Superintendent [Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia ] .. His unique and milestone accomplishment was .his ability to convince the Methodist General Conference, USA to agree for the formation of  an Autonomous Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore
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TRD was consecrated as Bishop :  Minister Theodore Royapan Doraisamy was having a long and prolific record  as a  Minister of the Methodist Church .In December 1973, Rev. Theodore Rayapan Doraisamy was elected as Bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore, at the  3 day special session of the General Conference at Trinity Theological College, Singapore.  . The election was the toughest in the history of the local Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore.  The newly elected Bishop of Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore Rt. Rev.Dr.Theodore Royapan Doraisamy was consecrated at the Wesley Methodist Church, Singapore  by Bishop Rt Rev Kim Hao  With great dedication and sincere commitment TRD discharged his official duties as Bishop for three years, from December 1973 till he stepped down in 1976.


                                                Wesley Methodist Church
                                        Wesley Methodist Church in Singapore 

Bishop Dr. Theodore R Doraisamy was a prolific Writer : Dr. Theodore Doraisamy was a born creative and prolific writer of great standard and caliber.. He had written and  edited many magazines , books and official publications. He had penned his autobiography, in an elegant style in English, under the title , MY CUP RUNNETH OVER" His autobiography not only deals with his personal history but also it deals with the contemporary social, educational ,political and religious history of Malaysia and Singapore. Bishop Theodore R Doraisamy had authored many thought provoking books on History,Education, Sociology, Theology,etc, in English. To cite a few:

[2]   Forever Beginning II-One Hundred Years Of Methodism in Singapore, Methodist Church In           Singapore .    [   1985,  144 pp ]

[3]   Forever Beginning,One hundred years of Methodism in Singapore, Methodist Church in                 Singapore ,          [   1985, 265 pp ]

[4]    Patterns of ministry in Singapore and Malaysia, Methodist History ,[ 21, Jan,1983, 123 pp?]

[5]   What  hath God Wrought -Motive  of Mission in Methodism from Wesley to Thoburn. [ 1983,          pages.132 ].

[6]    150  Years of education in Singapore [  pages.150 ].

[7]    The March Of Methodism in Singapore and Malaysia ,1885-1980.. [1982,  110 pages.]

[8]    Michael Robert Doraisamy Called of Christ .[ 1989, pages .122 ].

[9]    Oldham-Called Of God: Profile of a Pioneer , Bishop William Fitzjames Oldham .[Methodist              Book  Room, 1979, 103  pages].

[10]   Heralds Of the Lord : Personalities in Methodism in Singapore and Malaysia .[methodist                  Book  Room,1988, 112 pages ].

[11]   Candles of the Lord: Memorial Addresses .[ Methodist Book Room, 88 pages].

[12]   Sophia Blackmore in Singapore : educational and missionary pioneers,1887-1927. Methodist          Church of Singapore, [ 1987, 78 pages].
   
         And  TRD had written some other books  also. .

Bishop Theodore R Doraisamy was appointed as Bishop Emeritus : Bishop Rt. Rev.Dr Theodore R. Doraisamy was serving and discharging his episcopal responsibilities with rare distinction and dedication with intellectual  and social vision but due to some inevitable  political and and administrative reasons, Bishop Rt Rev Dr. Theodre R Doraisamy stepped down from his Bishop post. in 1976.  But in the same year [1976 ] Rev. Dr. Theodore R Doraisamy was conferred  and made as   honorary  Bishop Emeritus of Methodist Church, in Singapore, in recognition of his laudable and outstanding service to Methodist Church in Singapore.

Bishop Emeritus Rev Dr, Theodore R Doraisamy was dead : Till his death,  Bishop Emeritus Dr Theodre R Doraisamy's fingers were writing thoughtful and meaningful lines in mesmerizing English for the welfare of human-beings and glory of God. . But unfortunately our beloved and respected Bishop Emeritus Dr Theodore  Doraisamy  passed away from this world due to heart attack, in the famous National University Hospital, Singapore , in  June 1992.


Conclusion: Bishop Emeritus Dr Theodore Royapan Doraisamy was an outstanding Theologian, Church Historian, Thinker, Writer and staunch Methodist. . He was a versatile and vibrant personality , he was a force, a man of vision and a man of letters. He was a prolific writer ,creative thinker, humanist, educationist and administrator. . He was one of the pillars of the Methodist Church in Singapore and Malaysia. He was one of the intellectual authorities on Methodism and books penned by him are used as reference books for the study of Methodism in Theological colleges throughout the world . His educational, intellectual,writing  and ecumenical contributions had installed him as an important milestone in the educational, religious and intellectual history of Malaysia and Singapore. and Asia. He considered Education and Evangelism as his two eyes. Bishop Dr.Theodore R Doraisamy was awarded Gold Medal for Public Adminstration by the Government of Singapore in recognition of  his outstanding and enviable contribution to  the cause Education. He is no more but he lives in the innumerable books written by him .Definitely TRD was a true Christian, and a good human-being .

By. P. BABU MANOHARAN. M.A, [Rights reserved. This Article will be enlarged with additional information and corrected later, if needed . Readers'valuable comments are welcome . }









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