“A Strong Advocate for Equality Among Women and Men”
GENEVA, 16 March 2006 (LWI) – A former vice-president of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Rev. Dr Prasanna Kumari died today at the Apollo Hospital in Chennai, India, after suffering massive cardiac arrest. She was 56 years old.
Kumari, LWF Vice-President for the Asia region, 1997–2003, was at the time of her death vice-president of the National Council of Churches in India, and head of the department for Women’s Studies at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute.
Prior to her election as an LWF Vice-President, Kumari had served on the LWF Council as chairperson of the Program Committee for Theology and Studies, 1990–1997. She was a member of that committee from 1997 until 2000, when she was appointed chairperson of the then newly created LWF Standing Committee for World Service.
She was regional coordinator of the then LWF Committee on Women in Church and Society (WICAS) from 1984 until 1989, and a member of the Lutheran-Orthodox Dialogue group from 1986 until 1992. She co-edited From Federation to Communion – The History of the Lutheran World Federation, published in 1997 to mark the 50th anniversary of the LWF.
In his tribute to Kumari’s tremendous contribution to the life of the church globally and nationally, LWF General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ishmael Noko, said in a statement today that she will be remembered “in the Lutheran communion as a strong advocate for equality among women and men.” He recalled her fearless struggle for justice, her compassion toward the poor and vulnerable, and her devotion to helping women find their equal place in church and society.
The general secretary cited Kumari’s conviction that “working for and with the poor” was one of the effective ways to witness for Christ in India. This was evident through her active participation in several projects aimed at assisting women living in slum areas to claim their rights to livelihood and progress.
The former LWF Vice-President served as executive secretary of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) for two three-year terms from 1992, and as the organization’s secretary for women from 1982 until 1992. With other responsibilities in the region, she was chairperson of the Advisory Committee for Theological Education in Asia (ACTEAS).
Kumari received a Bachelor of Theology degree from the Hindustan Bible Institute and College, Chennai, and Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from the United Theological College in Bangalore. She holds a Doctorate of Divinity from the Academy of Ecumenical Indian Theology and Church Administration in Chennai. She has taught New Testament and Women’s Studies at the Gurukul theological college since 1985.
Rev. Dr Prasanna Kumari is survived by her husband, Rev. Dr Samuel W. Meschack, a dean of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute, their two daughters, and one grandchild. (478 words)
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