S. W. Schmitthenner

Samuel William Schmitthenner
The Reverend
Church Lutheran
Diocese Synods of East Godavari, West Godavari, East Guntur, West Guntur, Central Guntur
See Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)
In office 1969–1981
Predecessor K. Devasahayam
Successor K. Nathaniel
Orders
Ordination May 23, 1951[1]
by Central Pennsylvania Synod, United Lutheran Church in America[1]
Personal details
Born February 23, 1928[2]
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
Died May 17, 2015[2]
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States
Previous post Pastor, Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society

Samuel William Schmitthenner (February 23, 1928 – May 17, 2015) was a Lutheran who served as the President of the Protestant Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society in Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, India for the longest period from 1969-1981.

S. W. Schmitthenner initially served as a Missionary to India from 1952 onwards.[3]

Studies

S. W. Schmitthenner studied at the Kodaikanal International School in Tamil Nadu and in 1944[1] moved on to Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where he earned a graduate degree in 1948.[1] He continued his studies and earned a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) degree from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 1951.[1]

While serving as a Pastor of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society in Andhra Pradesh, India from 1952[1] onwards, Schmitthenner returned twice to America to upgrade his academics. In 1958-1959[1] he attended the Kennedy School of Missions at Hartford, Connecticut and again in 1966[1] he joined the University of Pennsylvania for studying Indian Sociology.

Contribution

Religious titles
Preceded by
K. Devasahayam[4]
1965–1969
President
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church

1969–1981[4]
Succeeded by
K. Nathaniel
1981–1989[4]
Honorary titles
Preceded by
M. Elia Peter, MCI,
1975-1977
Chairperson,
Board of Governors,
Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad

1977-1979
Succeeded by
B. Victor Emmanuel, STBC,
1980-1982

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Report of the Secretary, Lower Susquehanna Synod, 2015, p.22. [www.lss-elca.org/Redesign/wp.../Complete-Report-of-the-Secretary.pdf]
  2. 1 2 Gettysburg Times, Samuel William Schmitthenner, May 22, 2015
  3. Amanda Caligiuri, Hidden in Plain Sight: Plaque in the Chapel, Gettysburg, 2006, p.5.
  4. 1 2 3 Kolluri Luther Richardson, Towards Self-Reliance : A historical survey of the programmes and efforts of Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1927 to 1969, Published by Christopher and Kanakaiah, Vijayawada, 2003, p.78.

Further reading

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