Rev. A.P. Jacob: A Priest Who Lived Dangerously for Justice and Peace

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Shibi Peter

For nearly a decade until the early 1990s, I had believed that Rev. A.P. Jacob was a presbyter of the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocese. This assumption was shaped by his frequent presence in most of the parishes where my father ministered. However, it was his vibrant participation in the People’s Faith Liberation Movement and the CSI Madhya Kerala Diocesan Youth Movement that truly confirmed this impression.

At a time when priests who fearlessly stood on the side of justice were rare, Rev. A.P. Jacob distinguished himself for precisely that reason. His unwavering faith in the Kingdom of God and the fellowship nurtured through grassroots collectives gave him the courage to take such a stand. The unique affinity he shared with the people and various movements of the Madhya Kerala Diocese played a formative role in shaping his mission and theological outlook.

Rev. A.P. Jacob served as the General Secretary of the Kerala Christian Council (KCC) during the presidency of Rt. Rev. T.S. Joseph Thirumeni. Under Thirumeni's initiative, he also served as the Project Officer of the BPDC, a program launched for the development of underprivileged communities. This role, undertaken at the recommendation of Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Thoma, significantly deepened his understanding of the socio-cultural realities of the diocese.

The practical beginnings of what would later be defined within the framework of Liberation Theology can be traced to the Dynamic Commune for Liberation, a movement based in Kayamkulam and Puthuppally. Rev. A.P. Jacob was a leading figure in organizing these efforts, alongside young leaders such as Dr. M.P. Joseph, Philip George, and P.J. Johnson. During the Emergency (1975–77), he collaborated with Rev. M.J. Joseph under the guidance of Dr. M.M. Thomas, engaging in bold and risky interventions that have since become a noteworthy part of Kerala’s socio-political history. At a time when many Christian churches in India either supported or remained silent about the Emergency, Rev. Jacob helped form the Clergy Fellowship for Human Rights, offering legal and moral support to imprisoned workers. These efforts critically shaped the progressive current within the ecumenical movement in India.

It would be a distortion of history to portray Rev. A.P. Jacob as a mere representative of the conservative wing of the Mar Thoma Church. Even before embracing liberation theology or Marxist thought, he developed a distinct pastoral theology rooted in the everyday struggles of the people. In an era when positions of power could be easily attained, he chose instead to live dangerously, bearing witness to Christ through a life of risk and solidarity. Rare are such priests, whose life testimony illuminated the values of justice, democracy, and secular vision within the Christian church and its ecumenical expressions.

It was this commitment that led him to Liberation Theology and to active participation in people’s movements. He believed that Christian witness is not a religious ritual, but a solidarity forged by sharing in the suffering and struggles of the people. His was a priesthood defined not by ecclesiastical ritual but by its prophetic embodiment.

Rev. A.P. Jacob and Rev. M.J. Joseph were known for appearing at public events without clerical robes. Yet, in deeply charged and widely attended gatherings, they would deliberately wear the cassock, symbolically declaring their commitment to prophetic ministry beyond church walls — in streets and in the midst of people’s struggles. Rev. A.P. Jacob's passing resounds as the end of an era — a chapter of ecclesial and social history marked by radical commitment. He was a comrade and companion to so many movements and leaders — including my own generation, whose paths were illuminated by his courage.

We are made of soil, Lord Christ,
A stream of tears this earth remains —
Yet we stretch our arms to the One
Who is Lord of Earth and Heaven —
That He may wipe every tear.

A tearful tribute to a beloved priest who lived dangerously for justice and peace.

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