Mar Theodosius: An Innovator in the Mission of the Church
Rev. K. E. Geevarghese, UTC, Bangalore
It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to write about Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Thirumeni to felicitate him in connection with his Diamond Jubilee in 2009. I have had a long and intimate association with him as his secretary for 7 years, first in Thiruvananthapuram, while Thirumeni was the Diocesan Episcopa of Thiruvananthapuram – Quilon Diocese and then in Chennai. As it was the formative period of my ministry, Thirumeni has immensely influenced my ministerial outlook and creative vision. This felicitation article is a very humble attempt to think through Thirumeni’s life principles and manifold ministerial initiatives as a Bishop of our church. This will reveal some of the contributions he has rendered to the Church and to society with the hope that it would inspire others to excel in their field and contribute largely to the inhabited earth as a whole. Since my association with Thirumeni starts from Thiruvananthapuram – Quilon Diocese I have tried to incorporate some of his ministerial involvements in that region too. Here I should admit with all humility that words and thoughts about Thirumeni are beyond what I can spell out.
The year 2009 is a memorable and significant year for Theodosius Thirumeni due to various reasons. Thirumeni will reach a significant milestone in his life when he turns 60 years in February 2009. He also completes 20 years of Episcopal ministry in the Mar Thoma Church in December 2009. After ministering as the Diocesan Bishop in Chennai - Bangalore area for a second term he is going to the North America - Europe Diocese to take the responsibilities to guide the Mar Thoma Church in that part of the world from 1st January 2009. A person is known by the life he lives and by the contributions he makes to the society. We have lots of things to learn from Mar Theodosius as a leader in the Church and Society. In the 60 years of his life thus far, he has served the church and society for 20 years as a Bishop and 35 years as an ordained minister. Also, through his life and ministry he has made history.
Theodosius Tirumeni was born to Kizhakkechakkalayil Dr. K. J. Chacko and Mrs. Simoni Chacko on 19th February 1949 in Ashtamudi, Kollam. He studied at Baselious College, Kottayam and Mar Thoma College Thiruvalla. After graduating in Science he joined Jabalpur Leonard Theological College and received BD Degree in 1972 along with Rev. Dr. K. S. Mathew (Sabha Secretary) and Rev. Dr. T. J. Thomas. His ordination as ‘Deacon’ was on 24th June 1972 and as ‘Kasseesa’ was on 24th February 1973. In 1980 he studied for Comparative Religions in Visva Bharathi University and took Doctorate from Mc Master University, Hamilton, Canada in 1986. He was consecrated as Episcopa on December 9, 1989 along with Mar Athanasius and Mar Coorilos. From 1973 onwards he ministered in several parishes including Mumbai, Calcutta, Toronto and Nanthancode and he served as first Director of Thomas Mar Athanasius Orientation Centre, Manganam. Tirumeni is a good scholar and his books on Reform Movements in Kerala and their Impact on Socio-Economic and Religious Life of the People have made a mark in academic circles.
Mar Theodosius is a man of discipline. A dynamic person, young at heart, Thirumeni begins his day at 5 a.m. and ends it any time after 11 p.m., depending on when the desired work is done. It is not his habit to postpone anything for the next day. Worship and prayer is an everyday feature of Thirumeni’s life. Thirumeni is particular about participation of all the inmates of the aramana for the morning and evening chapel services. He is a well disciplined person in all aspects and considers it a mark of Christian discipleship. His approach to day to day programmes, office and administrative matters, involvements in church activities and decision makings, pastoral care, maintenance of office, and Aramna, dietary patterns, dealings with staff, his involvement in public and community matters etc reveal his systematic and disciplined attitude to life and ministry.
He is a simple and transparent person and maintains accountability to God, to the Church and to the community around. He is very particular in documentation of assets (movable and immovable), accounting of money transaction, recording of events and activities and prior planning and preparation for anything and everything of which he is a part. This keen interest in planning and preparation is evident in his approach to programmes, whether they are big or small, liturgical or non-liturgical, ecclesiastical or non – ecclesiastical. Even before attending a small committee, he will study the concerned file for prior preparation. Proper minuting of events and keeping of records receive high priority in Thirumeni’s methodology. He prefers written communication to oral, particularly in administrative matters. Therefore he insists that members of the clergy and laity put important matters in writing.
Thirumeni is a keenly observant person and he reflects on all that he observes and gives suggestions or corrections whenever and wherever they are necessary. Many a time, his use of words is minimal, but his silence on some issues never means that he is not aware of them. Through his moderate speech he conveys mesmerizing thoughts. He travels a lot and works tirelessly for long hours. Even in the midst of his busy schedule he finds time to study and reflect on the Word of God. His sermons and public speeches are very relevant and always have a social dimension. He always tries to address and intervene in various situations of human life through his talk and walk. He never believes in spirituality without human concerns. Thirumeni’s memory is exemplary. He never flatters anyone and does not expect praise from others. He is not afraid of any kind of unhealthy criticism and at the same time is ready to accept positive suggestions about his life and ministry.
Thirumeni is a lover of nature in general and of animals in particular. His hobbies include reading, writing, traveling, photography and gardening. His care and concern for nature reveals his relation to God’s creation. People of his neighbourhood and passersby are often surprised to see Thirumeni watering and tending to plants, feeding the pets and toiling with soil. During his term at Thiruvananthapuram he had a very good kitchen terrace garden. It attracted so many people and the Kerala Government’s horticulture society accepted it as a model terrace garden. It was also featured on a Malayalam T V channel, Asianet, in 2004. He encouraged his staff by working along with them. On many occasions, Thirumeni, with tools in his hands, accompanied the Aramana staff for campus cleaning and garden maintaining. He also tried to teach the community about the values of nature and the need for our participation in nurturing and keeping it. His sermons reveal his ecological concerns and passion for God’s created order.
Mar Theodosius regularly updates himself on recent technologies and developments. In the 1990s he got his office computerized and began using emails and internet very enthusiastically. He has his own website (www.martheodosius.com) through which he can communicate on a wider range with the global community around. Thirumeni always tries to see the church as a whole. Though he spends time with the Diocese and its activities, his views are always in line with the growth of the entire church. He always challenges the clergy and laity to transcend traditional confines and step into the wider context of church and community. According to him disproportionate growth within the body of the church won’t help it to perform its duties and responsibilities in a holistic way.
He is highly motivated and motivates others, especially the youth, in community related activities. His concern for the poor is highly commendable. He sees through their eyes their problems and concerns and develops strategies for their upliftment. Here I would like to mention an incident which happened a few years back. On a visit to Thevancodu Mar Thoma Church (in Kanyakumari District) he noticed a few Marthomites dwelling in temporary shelters made of plastic mat on the wayside. He himself found time to visit some of their dwellings to understand their pathetic situation. He talked to them and listened to their cries. Their pathetic story described with tears touched his heart and he felt the need to rehabilitate them. He was able to mobilize funds to purchase land and to construct 20 houses for their rehabilitation. This was the beginning of the “Land for Landless Project” of the Thiruvananthapuram – Quilon Diocese at Anducodu and Vazhichal. Now this project has grown to a self sustained community with all necessary infrastructures. This is just one example of his vision and mission of this kind. In the Chennai – Bangalore Diocese too, one such programme is coming up at Kuruvakalam near Pollachy in Tamilnadu under his vision and guidance. This includes 14 houses for landless people, a rehabilitation centre for HIV / AIDS patients and a Navathy Hall. He always takes up the challenge to respond to the needs and cries of the community around. The rehabilitation of mental patients, dependents of prisoners, AIDS patients, Tsunami victims, estate workers, cashew labourers, orphans and single parent children spearheaded by Thirumeni are truly commendable. He was able to motivate people to mobilize resources for the rehabilitation and further uplift of these victims at various places.
Thirumeni has a special interest in the education of poor children from village background. He always believes that by giving education to the younger generation we can change their social conditions. The “Education Care Project” of the Thiruvananthapuram Diocese and of Balawadies and hostels in the mission fields of Chennai–Bangalore Diocese definitely witness this kind of mission. Thirumeni reminds himself and others that life is God’s gift. There is no meaning in it, he believes; if our life is spend for others. His concern for the clergy and evangelists is worth praising. He relates easily to their needs and is concerned for their welfare and for the health of their families. He never compromises on any work entrusted to them and expects some positive outcome from the proposed task. He considers the ministry as being an important part of the responsibility of stewardship. Tirumeni challenges youths for the ministry of the Church. He finds time to interact with Theological students and enjoys fellowship with them, whenever he gets opportunities. As the president of Vaideeka Selection Board he has special concerns for their ministerial formation. He arranged special meetings to interact with the students of Gurukal (Chennai) and UTC (Bangalore).
He is a person with missionary zeal and attaches much significance to the activities of the mission fields. The thrust is always on imparting to the un-reached the great love of God revealed in Jesus Christ. He believes in a holistic approach to Mission. A detailed survey is conducted in most of the Mission Fields to find out the socio–political and economic position of that particular community in order to chalk out various programmes fit for their needs. The significant areas for the mission activities are (i) preaching the Gospel through missionaries and evangelists (ii) the community life (iii) social welfare activities (iv) festivals and celebrations (v) development activities and projects (vi) programmes for the education of children. He constantly encourages people, the parishes and parish organizations to participate in the mission activities through personal involvement and/or through sponsorship. He receives and spends funds for the programmes. A thorough follow-up, regular evaluation, appropriate decision making and proper communication with the sponsors indeed make him a unique missionary. He always tries to take decisions through a local administrative body to ensure people’s participation in programmes and decision making. To ensure continued support from sponsors he updates them with frequent reports from the fields and receives suggestions from their end. In his methodology, along with evangelistic work, he promotes social welfare activities like Housing Scheme, Toilet Scheme, Roofing of the Roofless houses, Marriage Aid, Education Aid, Health Insurance, Education Kit Distribution, Help to Differently Abled People, AIDS patients Treatment & Rehabilitation, medical camps and community Clinics. He also promotes Awareness Programmes like Alcoholic De-addiction Programmes, AIDS awareness Programmes, Rain Water Harvesting, group farming and kitchen gardening. He is convinced that community get-together and celebration like national and religious festivals and anniversaries give a common platform for mutual interaction and community building. To make a community self-sufficient, he encourages programmes like Mahila Samajam, Vikasana Samiti, Balavadies and Child development centre in the mission centres.
As the Director of the CARD and Development Department of the Mar Thoma Church and President of Krishi Vinjana Kendram (KVK), his initiatives were worth praising. In the words of Tirumeni, “Development is to build up a just, participatory and sustainable society. The transformation of the society is possible only through the process of empowering the weak and the poor by nurturing dignity and self-reliance in individuals. Economic empowerment is equally important as measures for mental, moral and spiritual growth”. As the President of the Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam, he has done commendable work to co-ordinate the youth activities both inside and outside Kerala. He has a special concern for the youth of the mission fields and started the publication of the Sakhyam calendar in Kannada, and also publication of Bible notes in Kannada for daily devotion. Thanks to his efforts, all Youth Week materials are now being made available in English and Kannada. His tenure also saw the formation of a Centre for the mission field’s youth, and the establishment of an office in Bangalore for the work of the Sakhyam outside Kerala.
During the three and a half years of his ministry as the Diocesan Episcopa of the Chennai – Bangalore Diocese, Mar Theodosius has made visible and remarkable changes in the overall growth of the Diocese. Through his meticulous planning and personal supervision, he has made a great impact on all areas of ministry especially Parish ministry, Students ministry and Mission Field ministry. He travels to every nook of the Diocese, irrespective of whether it is city or village, parish or mission field. In a multi-lingual and multi-cultural setting of this Missionary Diocese, Mar Theodosius has been a great missionary in all circumstances and in all aspects. He was available to the people of this diocese, stood with them and guided them as a great shepherd. He really experienced the pain and the pathos of the village flocks and expressed his solidarity with them in times of their agony. He made new strides in the mission of the Church through his direct involvements and initiatives. Really he is an innovator is the Mission of the Church. A Bishop with Vision!
At this juncture what is our responsibility? As a response to his initiatives and leadership we have to take up the challenge to give momentum for its further growth and development. What we need is people participation at local level. Let the clergy community and Laity together take up that challenge for the glory of God and extension of His Kingdom.
The life and Mission of Theodosius Tirumeni reveals that he is a Shepherd. He is a shepherd who thinks and cares for the flock all the time. As he is getting ready to take up new responsibilities and stepping into another phase of life and ministry, it is my prayer to the Lord Almighty to continue to guide and bless Mar Theodosius Thirumeni. May the Lord strengthen him to shoulder all the responsibilities which God entrusts him from time to time to bring glory to God, blessings to people and witness to the Kingdom of God. I, on behalf of the Diocese, wish Thirumeni a long period of Episcopal Ministry in God’s vineyard.