தென் கேரளா திருமண்டலம்
The Church of South India, South Kerala Diocese, Bishop Designate Rev. Dr. Prinstone Ben
Rev. Dr. Prinstone Ben was born on May 30, 1964, in Kottukal village, in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. He was born into a deeply rooted Christian family to Mr. J. Ben and Mrs. Glory Ben, who were actively involved in the life and ministry of the CSI Church, Venganoor. His father served the Church in various leadership roles, including church secretary, district council secretary, and convener of the Scrutiny Committee of the South Kerala Diocese. Growing up in a spiritually vibrant environment, Rev. Prinstone Ben was nurtured in faith and service from an early age. He is the seventh among seven siblings, with a family legacy of ministry, including his elder brother Rev. Dr. Ben Gladston.
His early education began at S.N. Upper Primary School, Kattachelkuzhi, followed by Boys High School, Venganoor. He pursued his pre-degree studies at Christian College, Kattakada, and later obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from University College, Thiruvananthapuram.
He joined the Church of South India ministry and was appointed as a Probationer in 1985. He pursued his Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) at Kerala United Theological Seminary (KUTS), Thiruvananthapuram, in 1989, he began his pastoral ministry at CSI Church, Palappoor, and was ordained as a presbyter in 1990 by Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel Amirtham.
His early ministry included service in parishes such as Perumandlaur (1985-86), Palappoor (1989-94), and Nakapurnam (1994-96). During this period, he developed a deep passion for mission. From 1996 to 1999, he served as a missionary among the Bhil tribal communities in Dahod district, Gujarat. Despite facing persecution and resistance, his ministry led to the establishment of worshipping communities in more than ten villages, the construction of church buildings, and the founding of an orphanage at Panchkela.
Following this significant missionary experience, he pursued higher theological education, completing his Master of Theology (M.Th.) in Missiology at UTC, Bangalore (1999-2001). In 2001, he was appointed as presbyter at CSI Thozhukkal and also served as District Chairman of Neyyattinkara, while simultaneously taking on the role of Coordinator of the Board for Mission, South Kerala Diocese (2001-2006).
In 2006, he moved to the United States for advanced studies. He completed his Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, followed by Th.M. and Ph.D. at the Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago. His doctoral research, titled “The Countercultural Mission and the Upper Cloth Revolt: A Womanist Theological Interpretation,” earned him recognition in the field of World Christianity and Global Mission. He was awarded the Williams J. and Elizabeth M. Danker Fellowship (2010). His research was later published in 2025 as “A Womanist Reading of Her Revolt.” During his time in the United States, he also served as pastor in Malayalam congregations in Florida and Chicago, gaining valuable insights into diaspora ministry.
Returning to India in 2012, Rev. Dr. Prinstone Ben was appointed as the Director of the Board for Mission, South Kerala Diocese (2012-2018). Under his leadership, mission work expanded across 24 states with over 650 missionaries, along with the establishment of churches, schools, and a missionary training institute in Nagpur. He also served as a part-time faculty at KUT Seminary and FFRRC, Kottayam.
In 2018, he joined Union Biblical Seminary (UBS), Pune, as a faculty member, later serving as Head of the Department of Missiology and Dean of Doctoral Studies (2018-2020). He also played a key role in organizing the seminary’s silver jubilee celebrations.
In May 2020, he was appointed as the Director of the Department of Pastoral Concerns, CSI Synod, where he introduced significant initiatives such as the Institute of Pastoral Management (IPM) across various regions of India. He also contributed to shaping the Mission Statement and Mission Priorities of CSI (2020-2030) despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2022, he returned to parish ministry in the South Kerala Diocese, serving in Amaravila Church, Mater Memorial CSI Cathedral, and Oruvancode Church. His leadership continued to be recognized, and in October 2025, he was elected as the Vice Chairman of the South Kerala Diocese, where he now serves for the spiritual growth and renewal of the Church.
Rev. Dr. Prinstone Ben is also a respected academic and author. His notable works include “God in Times of Pandemic” (2022) and “A Womanist Reading of Her Revolt” (2025).
He is blessed with a supportive family. His wife, Mrs. Beena Prinstone, is a dedicated educator and active church worker. They have two children, Er. Rejo Prinstone and Er. Reeba Ben, both engineers and married. The family is further blessed with three grandchildren.
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