Vinoth Ramachandra Retires from IFES
Vinoth was born and lives in Sri Lanka and has served IFES from there in various roles for over four decades. This summer he is officially retiring from IFES, though not from his many connections and interests as an Anglican lay-theologian, writer, teacher and human rights advocate. But maybe there will be a little more time to indulge his love of reading, crime novels and movies, as well as cricket, rugby and birdwatching.
Vinoth says, "Although I shall cease to be an employee of IFES, I am still passionate about university ministry and am also grateful for the many friends I have made through IFES around the world. I will continue to be open to helping (and traveling at my own expense to) any region or national movement which would like to use me as a speaker, teacher or mentor."
We will have an opportunity to acknowledge Vinoth’s contribution to IFES at World Assembly in Indonesia. You can also contribute any messages for Vinoth on this board: Vinoth Ramachandra's Kudoboard | Kudoboard
“I first got to know Vinoth in 1998 when he was invited to give the London Lectures in Contemporary Christianity. Like so much of Vinoth’s work, these lectures, which formed the basis for his book Faiths in Conflict? Christian Integrity In A Multicultural World, were remarkably prescient, and challenged me to think about mission in a different way. In the years since then we have become colleagues and friends, and I continue to appreciate his readiness to point to uncomfortable realities in order to provoke deeper thinking, which helps develop deeper faith.
"On behalf of thousands in IFES I would like to thank Vinoth for his 44 years of serving with us in university ministry. His contribution to pioneering student ministry in Sri Lanka and South Asia is immense and continues to bear fruit. He has gone on to help national movements around the world think in fresh and new ways about their witness in the university context. In his travels he, along with Karin, always took time to come alongside younger leaders and were ready to listen, share and pray with them. Through his books, speaking, and involvement with other Christian organisations he has a significant impact in helping the global church reflect on its mission and practice."
Tim Adams, IFES General Secretary
Many of you will have met Vinoth – either in person or online – through his wide-ranging ministry in IFES. For those of you who don’t know him, here’s a brief introduction.
Vinoth holds both bachelors and doctoral degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of London. Instead of pursuing an academic career, he returned to Sri Lanka in 1980 and helped to develop a Christian university ministry in that country. In 1987 he was invited to serve as the South Asia Regional Secretary, a post he held until 2001 when he started serving in his current role as Secretary for Dialogue and Social Engagement.
He has spoken in many secular universities around the world on topics as diverse as human rights, global warming, emerging technologies, and religious pluralism. Among Christian students and professors, he encourages holistic, dialogical engagement with the world of the university. Vinoth's Danish wife Karin who was a counsellor and Bible teacher herself, shared in his global ministry until her death in 2018.
Vinoth’s writings address some of the social, cultural, and political challenges faced by Christians in various national contexts. He blogs occasionally at vinothramachandra.wordpress.com and is the author of several essays, articles and books, including The Message of Mission (2003), Subverting Global Myths: Theology and the Public Issues that Shape Our World (2008), Church and Mission in the New Asia (2009) and Sarah's Laughter: Doubt, Tears, and Christian Hope (2020).