Rev. William Premkumar Ebenezer Joseph
Biography Narrative
Minister, Methodist Church of Sri Lanka
Rev. William P. Ebenezer Joseph is a minister of the Methodist Church of Sri Lanka and the Co-Secretary of the Congress of Religions and the Secretary General of the Inter-faith Coalition for Peace. Having pioneered many innovative peace-related programmes, including interfaith initiatives, he passionately promotes interfaith activities addressing issues of religious freedom as well.
Rev. William was the General Secretary of the National Christian Council of Sri Lanka for 14 years, promoting ecumenical relations among various Christian denominations and promoting inter- and intra-faith dialogue.
He served as the head of the Methodist church in Sri Lanka from 2005 to 2010, addressing many sensitive issues related to the tsunami of 2004 and the final phase of the thirty-year-old war in the country. He facilitated innovative ways of addressing issues related to relief, rehabilitation, justice and reconciliation, partnering with the Maha Bodhi society (Buddhist), Muslim Aid (Muslim), United Methodist Committee on Relief (Christian), among others.
Having specialized in theology and social analysis and lectures in many theological institutions, he is a sought-after speaker in many peace-related and religious forums. He currently serves as the Minister of the Methodist Church Kollupitiya, Colombo, and as the consultant on interfaith relationship for the Christian Conference of Asia.
He was conferred the title of “Samayanthara Darshana Sevitha Shasana Sobitha” in recognition of his contribution for National Unity and Religious Co-existence in Sri Lanka by the Anti-war Front in 2006.
Interreligious Activities and Initiatives
A study of the Origin, nature and function of the Inter-faith forum in Mutur amidst war and violence from 1990 – 2010 and applying lessons learnt