Samuel Amirtham

Samuel Amirtham (born 19 August 1932) is an Indian religious figure. He was the bishop of the South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India between 1990 and 1997. He also spent many years working with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, writing and lecturing on ecumenical issues.

Amirtham was born on 19 August 1932 as the eldest son of Rev. Job Amirtham and Annal Amirtham of Parassala, a village in Kerala, India.

After completing his bachelor's degree in Divinity, Samuel Amirtham was appointed as pastor in the London Mission Pastorate Church, Parassala, now named the Abbs Memorial Church, Parassala, after founder and LMS Missionary Rev. John Abbs. He was instrumental in the construction of the new Church building. He also secured a substantial amount as donation from the Hessan Churches in West Germany for this construction. Finally the Church Building was erected at a total cost of Rs 55,000. The Most Revd AH Legg, moderator of South India and Bishop in South Kerala Diocese dedicated the new Church Building on 4 November 1961. His efforts behind the installation of the electric bell, the electric cluster lights, and the lightning arrester are appreciable.

He was also a tutor in Physics at Scott Christian College Nagercoil, lecturer at the United Theological Seminary Bangalore, and visiting professor at the Garreut Theological Seminary. In 1969, Amirtham was appointed as the first principal of the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in Madurai. He introduced the gurukulam model of community living at the seminary, and is known for having established a living theology concept. The Rural Theological Institute was thus established, and he became its director. He established the Palmyrah Workers Development Society (PWDS) in 1977.

He was Director of the Programme on Theological Education and Director of the Ecumenical Institute, Bossey of the World Church Council (WCC) from 1980 to 1990. In 1986, Amirtham and C. H. S. introduced a new concept when they presented "The Teaching of Ecumenics" at the WCC. The next year, they co-edited a book by the same name. Amirtham was the bishop of the South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India from 1990 to 1997.

He resides in his home town in Parassala, South Kerala. As of 2009, Amirtham was president of Grace Kennet Hospital in Madurai.

The Serampore University conferred on him an honorary doctorate in 1987.

He is married to Lily Amirtham. She was a history lecturer at Lady Doak College until 1980, when she stopped teaching to accompany her husband to Geneva.