Peyyala Issac Vara Prasad
Bishop P. I. Vara Prasad is a silver jubilee Priest and current bishop of Rayalaseema Diocese of the Church of South India. Ever since his ordination as deacon/Presbyter in 1993 by then Bishop L. V. Azariah, he began his career as a Priest in Churches within ecclesiastical jurisdiction of CSI-Diocese of Rayalaseema that comprise parts of civil states of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu-speaking parts of Tamil Nadu. Vara Prasad is well versed in conducting mass, following Presbyterian, Congregational and Anglican rites.
Ministerial formation
Vara Prasad undertook spiritual studies as a fully-resident seminarian at Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad, affiliated to nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University), where he studied Bachelor of Theology during the academic years 1989–1992. He studied at the seminary at a time when cycle of principalship was rolling over from Suppogu Joseph, STBC to M. Victor Paul, AELC, both of whom were New Testament Scholars. Co-faculty comprised Systematic Theologians, Regunta Yesurathnam, CSI, B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC, G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI, as well as P. Joseph, STBC and G. T. Abraham, CSI, who taught Christian Ministry.With availability of international Scholars from Germany, Canada and United States, Vara Prasad was exposed to faculty, that composed of alumni from Universities of Hamburg, Montreal and Yale, Klaus Schäfer, EMS, Raymond Waldock, CBM and Tracy Greer Gipson, ABM. Communicative English and library accession system were enhanced with presence of LaVerne Louise-Waldock and Marjorie May Lynch-Gipson.
Much like any University Grants Commission-recognised institution, Vara Prasad learnt the nuances of academic learning in a semester system. He also learnt Biblical Greek and Biblical Hebrew from perhaps the best available Scholars in India in Serampore University system. During his three-year ministerial formation at Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad, Vara Prasad also came under the tutelage of Old Testament Scholar, G. Babu Rao, CBCNC,. Prasad was awarded a graduate degree during 1993 convocation of Senate of Serampore College (University), then under Registrarship of New Testament Scholar, D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC, held at Serampore College, Serampore.
Career
Parish work
Vara Prasad's began serving in parishes under the Diocese after his ordination in 1993, that comprised Churches established by Reformed Church in America, London Missionary Society and Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He was in Kamalapuram, Yerraguntla, Kadapa, Adoni, Anantapur, Guntakal, Pulivendula, among other parishes. Vara Prasad went about his priestly duties as Pastor in ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Rayalaseema under the care of able Servants, comprising L. V. Azariah, C. B. M. Frederick, K. B. Yesu Vara Prasad and B. D. Prasada Rao.Vara Prasad was involved in both spiritual and healing ministries of the Church. Gradually, he began exhibiting leadership skills for the larger cause of the Church, which included conducting retreats and also representing the Diocese at Church of South India Synod.