David Gnaniah Pothirajulu

David Gnaniah Pothirajulu, (19 September 1936 – 5 September 2020) was the third bishop in Madurai-Ramnad Diocese of the Church of South India, serving from 1978 to 1994 and was its deputy moderator from 1988 to 1990. Pothirajulu completed his studies with a doctorate at Boston University. He was a lecturer at the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary until his elevation to the episcopate.

The Right Reverend David Gnaniah Pothirajulu
Bishop of Madurai-Ramnad
Pothirajulu at the time of his consecration
Church	Church of South India
Diocese	Madurai–Ramnad
Installed	1978
Term ended	1994
Predecessor	George Devadass
Successor	Thavaraj David Eames
Other post(s)	Deputy Moderator, Church of South India (1988–1990)
Orders
Consecration	19 August 1978
Personal details
Born	(1936-09-19)19 September 1936 Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
Died	5 September 2020(2020-09-05) (aged 83) Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Buried	Madurai
Denomination	Christian
Parents	Doraisamy - Ponnuthai
Spouse	Emma Kohilam (Late), Kasthuri Pothirajulu
Children	James Pothirajulu, Joseph Pothirajulu,Mary Iwy Jebaselvi
Occupation	Bishop
Profession	Bishop

Early life and education

Pothirajulu completed B.A., in economics from The American College, Madurai. He was also the president of the Student Christian Movement of The American College, Madurai.

He did his Bachelor's of Divinity at United Theological College, Banglore. He completed his studies with a doctorate at Boston University.

Contribution towards Laity Formation

As an alumnus of the first batch of the Course for Leadership in Lay Training (CLLT) of the WCC in 1960s, Pothirajulu passionately promoted ecumenism and lay leadership throughout his whole career. Upon retiring he provided ecumenical formation training through the Community College and Lay Training Center (COLT) he established in Madurai

Contribution towards Missiology

Pothirajulu is a prominent figure in the field of mission and evangelism, having been deeply engaged in the 'Mission to Myanmar' project since 2006. His efforts have focused on facilitating the theological education of Myanmar refugee students in Bible Colleges located in India, with the goal of encouraging them to return to their own country as missionaries.

Pothirajulu's work has been characterized by a strong commitment to empowering refugees and promoting the principles of Christian evangelism in Myanmar. His efforts have helped to foster a new generation of leaders who are dedicated to spreading the gospel throughout the region, and have had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals.

Over the course of his career, Pothirajulu has gained widespread recognition for his contributions to the field of mission and evangelism. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, and has been widely praised for his dedication, leadership, and vision.

As an influential figure in his field, Pothirajulu's work has been extensively documented and studied. He has been the subject of numerous academic articles, and his contributions to the field of mission and evangelism have been analyzed and discussed by scholars and practitioners alike.

Overall, Pothirajulu's work on the 'Mission to Myanmar' project has had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals, and his contributions to the field of mission and evangelism have been widely recognized and celebrated.