G. D. Melanchthon

Studies After completing schooling from Ramachandrapuram, Melanchthon proceeded to AELC-Andhra Christian College, Guntur, for pre-university and undergraduate studies leading to B.A. This was during the tenure of Rao Saheb T. S. Paulus, as principal. Continuing his academics, Melanchthon proceeded to Waltair and enrolled for a postgraduate programme leading to M.A. at Andhra University. Incidentally, the geologist, Bunyan Edmund Vijayam, was also studying at the university during the same time, and the two were contemporaries. The university was headed by Vice-chancellor V. S. Krishna during that period. Initially, after his postgraduate studies, Melanchthon worked in the Andhra Pradesh Government serving in a Mandal Office. Around this time, he found his calling towards full-time priesthood. Much like Saint Ambrose of Milan, the Early Church Father, Melanchthon resigned from government service and proceeded to the office of the president of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society headquartered in Guntur, which was headed by G. Devasahayam, AELC and conveyed his interest in the vocation of priesthood.

Basic spiritual studies By 1958, Melanchthon enrolled at Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai, an affiliated seminary of the Senate of Serampore College, India's first University founded by the Baptist Missions led by Joshua Marshman, William Carey, and William Ward. He pursued a graduate programme in B. D. studying under notable faculty consisting of Sigfrid Estborn, who was teaching History of Christianity and Ecumenism, P. David teaching religions, R. A. Martin who was teaching biblical studies and Jacob Kumaresan teaching systematic theology. His companions were Kambar Manickam, TELC, K. James Carl, SALC, G. Emmanuel, AELC and also M. Victor Paul, AELC, :de:Johnson Gnanabaranam, TELC, T. B. D. Prakasa Rao, CSI, among others, who were studying at the seminary at varying periods of study. By the end of the three-year course in 1961, where he worked out a thesis entitled A study of the idea and meaning of God with special reference to the 11th chapter of Bhagavad Gita in the context of Renascent Hinduism The institute was headed by M. M. Thomas, then director and Herbert Jai Singh, then assistant director. specializing in religions. He was a recipient of a study scholarship in 1972 from the World Council of Churches (Theological Education Fund), However, by the turn of the academic year 1975–1976, Melanchthon had to return to Bangalore to resume his teaching duties as his request for extension of leave was not granted, a move which brought an end to his doctoral programme.

Career as pastor and teacher After Melanchthon stepped out of the portals of his seminary in 1961, he was ordained as a pastor of Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society by K. Krupadanam, AELC, then president. Melanchthon then began to minister in Konaseema region at Kothapeta, East Godavari district in the 1960s, by the Lutheran missions in the late 19th century led by a German missionary, Rudolph F. A. Arps. Parishioners were Agricultural labourers and access to Kothapeta, in Konaseema area used to be through a ferry on the opposite bank. After serving as a pastor, Melanchthon returned to his alma mater in 1965 to take up a postgraduate course. Rajula Annie-Watson and others. Among his notable students who specialized in religions, the name of D. I. Hans stands out.

Other co-faculty teaching religions at UTC, Bangalore at different points of time were V. C. Samuel, MOSC, William Powlas Peery, AELC, Herbert Jai Singh, MCI, and Eric J. Lott, CSI, David C. Scott, MCI. In addition to his teaching, Melanchthon also used to render ministerial duties at local congregations around Bangalore at CSI-St. Peter's Telugu Church and other churches.

Paralytic stroke and death During 1987-1988, while Melanchthon went on an assignment to Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, he also happened to visit Pachmarhi, a hill station, where he suffered a paralytic stroke. By the time he was brought back to Jabalpur for administering treatment, precious moments were lost due to a lack of immediate medical access, resulting in severe brain damage. Melanchthon was then taken by rail to Bangalore and treated at the Baptist Hospital, Hebbal. By then, E. C. John, CSI, who had already taken up the principalship, ensured that Melanchthon was kept away from teaching assignments until his recovery. Melanchthon gradually began to recover, but remained confined to his quarters in the campus. However, even after nearly six years of sustained treatment, Melanchthon could not recover fully and died on 22 September 1994. In Melanchthon's case, apprehensions were cast on his health issue and usability to the institution, resulting in moves to dislodge him from his quarters due to non-performance of teaching tasks, but it was met with resistance from certain sections of alumni, notable among whom include a New Testament scholar, best known for his administration of the Senate of Serampore College (University) during the 1970s as well as an Old Testament scholar, better known in theological circles for his scholarship of the Old Testament having associated with the Serampore College and Andhra Christian Theological College as faculty member from the 1970s. As such, the principal, E. C. John, chose to tread the ground of humaneness by ensuring social security to a fellow theologian who suffered from a paralytic stroke during the course of his employment with the institution.