G. D. Melanchthon[1] (1934–1994)[7] was a Silver Jubilee Priest hailing from Protestant Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church Society who taught[5] Religions,[11] at United Theological College, Bangalore from 1968[7] until the latter half of the 1980s, with his career being brought to an abrupt end in 1988[7] when he was stricken with paralysis.

Melanchthon used to be quite active among the academic community along with Chrysostom Arangaden, Arvind P. Nirmal and others in not only delivering scholarly talks,[12] but also in contributing research articles[3] and reviewing new titles.

Masilamani's ability to make use of Homiletics made a definitive impact on the faith journey of early Telugu Christians, a fact recollected by the Old Testament scholar, G. Babu Rao,[22] CBCNC.

[23] After completing schooling from Ramachandrapuram, Melanchthon proceeded to AELC-Andhra Christian College, Guntur, for pre-university and undergraduate studies leading to B.A.

[35] 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[36] to his doctoral programme.

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.

[7] Many of his graduate students have contributed to the full spectrum of the ministries of the Church in India, who include, R. S. Sugirtharajah, J. W. Gladstone, P. J. Lawrence, S. J. Theodore, Timotheas Hembrom, Dharmakkan Dhanaraj, Paul Rajashekar, H. S. Wilson, Elizabeth Paul, Basil Rebera, Christopher Asir, John Sadananda, Sydney Salins, P. Surya Prakash, D. N. Premnath, M. Mani Chacko, K. David Udayakumar, Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar, K. Reuben Mark, Ch.

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 lack of immediate medical access, resulting in severe brain damage.

A few of the notable theologians who met untimely deaths while still in service include, Mutyala Theophilus (1895-1946), D. S. Amalorpavadass (1932-1990), George Soares-Prabhu (1929-1995), and others with the recent one being Siga Arles (1950-2015).

The Cantabrigian and Old Testament Scholar, Victor Premasagar (1927-2005), then on a teaching assignment with Bethel Bible College, Guntur had been at the receiving end due to medical negligence of an ophthalmologist and had issues with visibility and later met his death in the institution, while being its principal.

As such, then 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.