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It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the passing away of Most Rev. Dr I. Jesudasan, former moderator of the Church of South India (CSI) and former bishop of the CSI.
Bishop I. Jesudasan was a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches from 1983 to 1991.
During his tenure as a diocesan bishop for about twenty years and the moderator of the CSI for three consecutive terms from 1982-1988, Bishop Jesudasan provided leadership in various ways in church and society. He was known for his contributions to nurturing grassroots ecumenism, spiritual values, mission and evangelism, and inter-religious dialogue.
He provided leadership in various ecclesiastical, mission and ecumenical bodies such as Anglican Consultative Council, the Council for World Mission and the Theological Literature Committee.
As a theological educator and principal of the Kerala United Theological Seminary he was actively involved in Indian theological education for many years. His contributions to developing Christian self-understanding on Hindu religion greatly helped in moulding Christian-Hindu religious dialogue in predominantly Hindu majority surroundings where most members of his Diocese have been living. He was a proponent of the religious harmony, peace and reconciliation.
As we mourn his passing away, we thank God for Bishop I. Jesudasan’s life and witness and the WCC recognizes his valuable contributions to the ecumenical movement.
On behalf of the WCC, I express sincere condolences to the bereaved family and members of the CSI.
May his memory be eternal.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit
WCC general secretary