>BD2412: Fixing incoming links to Christian to sort out bad links., replaced: Christian → Christian (2)

2018-12-27T15:09:04Z

Fixing incoming links to Christian to sort out bad links., replaced: Christian → Christian (2)

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{{More citations needed|article|date=January 2008}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
'''Prabhakar Christopher Benjamin Balaram''' (10 July 1906 – 17 January 1968) was an Indian [[Bishop]] of [[The Methodist Church (USA)]], elected in 1965.

==Early life==
Benjamin (as he was known) was born 10 July 1906 in [[Hyderabad, India]]. His [[ancestors]] had been of a [[Brahmin|priestly caste]]. However, he had a remarkably dedicated [[Christians|Christian]] mother. On one occasion, at a special service held soon after his birth, his mother (then only sixteen) made an offering. She put into an envelope all the money she had, writing on the outside: ''"I offer to the Lord these three rupees '''and''' my son." ''

Balaram was an apt student. He studied [[engineering]] at the [[University of Edinburgh]], with additional study in Denmark. He was chosen by the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]] as a Crusade Scholar, going onto further higher education in the United States. Completing his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] degree, [[Phi Beta Kappa]], he went on to complete his [[Master's degree]] at the [[University of Pittsburgh]].

==Ministry==
Upon the completion of these educational pursuits, Balaram returned to [[India]]. He was enlisted by Bishop Pickett for development work, both urban and village [[Christians|Christian]] work. Over the course of his career, Rev. Balaram served in a variety of positions, becoming a widely acknowledged [[religious leader]], especially in education and [[social work]].

Rev. Balaram was elected to the [[episcopacy]] by the Central Conference of [[Southern Asia]] at the Central Conference meeting in January 1965. He was assigned to the [[Lucknow]] [[Episcopal area (United Methodist Church)|episcopal area]].

Bishop Balaram was known as a highly creative person, full of ideas. Very articulate and winsome, he won many friends for India wherever he went. For instance, he was an intimate friend of Bishop Mathews for over thirty years.

Balaram also personally knew many of the political leaders of the newly independent India. He was able to help offset any damaging effect of the image of that day that the Indian Christian Church and community were in someway "foreign."

==Death and burial==
Balaram died from a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on 17 January 1968. He was buried in Lucknow.

==See also==
*[[List of Bishops of the United Methodist Church]]

==References==
* Short, Roy Hunter, Bp., '''History of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church 1939-1979,''' Nashville, Abingdon, 1980.
* The Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=5855]
* '''InfoServ,''' the official information service of The United Methodist Church. [http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=1&mid=1244]

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balaram, Prabhakar Christopher Benjamin}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Bishops of The Methodist Church (USA)]]
[[Category:Scholars from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Indian United Methodist bishops]]
[[Category:Indian male social workers]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Andhra Pradesh]]

Prabhakar Christopher Benjamin Balaram - Revision history

>BD2412: Fixing incoming links to Christian to sort out bad links., replaced: Christian → Christian (2)