Bishop G. S. Luke was the fourth Bishop in Dornakal Diocese of the Church of South India occupying the Cathedra in the CSI-Epiphany Cathedral in Dornakal from 1980 to 1986.
Early life and education After early schooling at the mission schools in Jagtial, Medak and Secunderabad, Luke went to Madras in 1940 and studied at the Madras Christian College, Tambaram. After discerning his avocation towards priesthood, G.S Luke moved to the United Theological College, Bangalore where he studied from 1945 to 1948K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory of the United Theological College 1910-1997, Bangalore, 1997. p.22 for the graduate course leading to Bachelor of Divinity awarded by the Senate of Serampore College (University), India's firstSankar 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. {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}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 recognised 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. with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.
Career After his ordination in 1950 by Bishop A. B. Elliott, Luke ministeredSir Stanley Reed, The Times of India Directory & Yearbook, Including Who's who, Times of India, Bombay, 1955, p.812. in the parishes of Diocese of Dornakal. In 1962, he went on a sabbatical to Episcopal Diocese of Olympia and on his return continued to pastor in the Diocese of Dornakal. In 1979, Bishop P. Solomon retired on attaining superannuation and the bishopric remained sede vacante. The Church of South India Synod appointed G. S. Luke whose consecration took place at the CSI-Epiphany Cathedral, Dornakal by N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel and Solomon Doraiswamy.
Luke was the brother of the educationist, G. S. Prakasha Rao.Report of the Secondary Education Commission, Issue 410; Issue 697, Ministry of Education, New Delhi, 1965, p.221. In 1983, Luke attended a national colloquium in Madras on Christian perspectives on contemporary Indian issuesRam Singh, Christian perspectives on contemporary Indian issues: a national colloquium, Institute for Development Education, Madras, 1983, p.249. in which K. M. Mammen Mappillai also happened to take part. On his bishopric, Luke became a member of the Board of Governors of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad in which the Diocese of Dornakal also has a stake.
In 1985, G. S. Luke retired on attaining superannuation resulting in sede vacante. Church of South India Synod filled it in 1986 with the appointment of D. N. Samuel.
M. Edwin Rao who compiled a centennial edition of the CSI-Diocese of Dornakal writes that G. S. Luke was a writer who used to contribute articles to the Telugu language magazine Kapari edited by the Baptist Pastor, A. B. Masilamani of the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars.
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