Andhra Christian Theological College

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Andhra Christian Theological College 'Andhra Chraistava Vedanta Kalashala'
Latin: AD CONSUMMATIONEM SANCTORUM IN OPUS MINISTERII IN AEDIFICATIONEM CORPORIS CHRISTI
Motto	For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ
Established	1964
Type	Seminary
Chancellor	Chairperson Rev. C.L. Johnson
Principal	Rev. Dr. N.V. Luther Paul
Location	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Campus	Urban
Affiliations	Senate of Serampore College (University)
Website	http://www.actcindia.com
Data as of 2006

Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC)^[1] is an ecumenical enterprise of the mainline Churches in Andhra Pradesh in India.

It was established in the year 1964 and is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)^{[2] [3][4]}.

ACTC is situated on the banks of Hussain Sagar excess water canal (north) in Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Contents 1 Motto 2 Affiliation 3 Background 4 The Kretzmann's Commission 5 Location 6 Courses offered 6.1 Internal 6.2 External 6.3 Campus Life 7 Board of Governors 8 Students 9 Present staff 9.1 Teaching staff 9.2 Administrative staff 10 Library 11 Past Teachers 11.1 Inland 11.2 Overseas 12 See also 13 References

[edit] Motto

Verse XII of Chapter IV of Ephesians found in the Holy Bible - King James Version - "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" ^[5]: is the force behind this ecumenical enterprise.

In the Latin Vulgate, it is said thus^[6], ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii in aedificationem corporis christi.

[edit] Affiliation

The College is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University) which was established in the year 1818 by a Danish Charter and later ratified by the Legislature of Bengal when Serampore was handed over to the British from the Danes by passing of The Serampore College Act, 1918 .

It was the first institution to be given the status of a university^[7] in India^[8].

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC) in its visit to Serampore in 2004 also makes mention of the University status of the Senate of Serampore College (University) and its power in conferring degrees ^[9].

[edit] Background

Missionaries in Andhra Pradesh were involved in spreading^[10] the Word of God. With a sizeable converts at hand the need for ministering them was possible only with Priests. With this, they started to open seminaries.

The missionaries were careful not to encroach into others territories while ministering - they created comities for this purpose. Seminaries were established in Dornakal (Andhra Union Theological College [118]) to cater to the Church of South India, Ramapatnam (Baptist Theological Seminary) for the American Baptists, Luthergiri^[11]. (Lutheran Theological College) for the Lutherans, in Kakinada (Baptist Theological Seminary) for the Canadian Baptists, and Shamshabad (Mennonite Brethren Bible College) for the Mennonite Brethren.

There was exchange of Professors between the Seminaries. However, for higher education (Bachelor of Divinity), they had to send their students to West Bengal where Serampore College is located.

[edit] The Kretzmann's Commission

The mainline Churches in Andhra Pradesh felt the need for having a unified seminary where higher theological education could be taught. Together, they appointed a Commission under the Chairmanship of M.L.Kretzmann^{[12] [13]} to explore the possibilities of forming such a unified Seminary. After a lot of talks, the Commission came out with a report that was tabled before the mainline Churches. All the mainline Churches except the Mennonite Brethren^[14] agreed for the setting up of a unified Seminary. They zeroed-in onto Luthergiri. With this, all higher-educated Theologians taught in the newly set-up College.

[edit] Location

In the year 1964, the College was set up in Luthergiri in the river town of Rajahmundry in East Godavari District with the coming together of the following theological colleges^[15], viz.,

• Andhra Union Theological College, Dornakal,
• Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada,
• Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramapatnam^[16], and
• Lutheran Theological College, Rajahmundry.

Later, due to pollution from nearby Paper Mills, they felt the need to relocate. After many deliberations, they chose Secunderabad. By 1973 the college in its entirety was moved from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad. By virtue of postal re-classification in the 1990s, its location fell under Hyderabad.

[edit] Courses offered

[edit] Internal

• Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.)
• Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.)

[edit] External

• Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip.C.S.)
• Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.)
• Master of Ministry (M.Min.)

[edit] Campus Life

ACTC has a lot of playgrounds ^[17]including a throwball court, a tennis court, a basketball court, a volleyball court, a table tennis room and a large ground that is used for playing football and cricket.

By evening, students could be seen in these courts. Sometimes, the members of the faculty also take part in the games.

Children of the students and the faculty could be seen together playing. Every Sunday, worship services are held in the Chapel on the top floor of the administrative building. Sunday School classes are held separately for children according to their ages.

Many festivals also take place here exclusive to the ACTC community. Christian Home Festival, Carey Day, CSI Day, Reformation Day, Independence Day are some of the festivals celebrated here.

Graduation Day is when graduating students prepare to leave ACTC for Church ministry.

[edit] Board of Governors

The College is governed by representatives of the mainline Churches: Founding mission / Indian succeeder / Headquarters

• American Baptist Mission / Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches^[18] / Nellore
• American Methodists / Methodist Church in India (Hyderabad Regional Conference) ^[19]/ Hyderabad
• Church Missionary Society, Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, The Church of England, Wesleyan Methodist Society / Church of South India - Dioceses of Medak, Karimnagar, Dornakal, Krishna-Godavari, Nandyal, and Rayalaseema / Medak, Karimnagar, Dornakal, Bandar, Nandyal, and Gooty
• Canadian Baptist Mission / Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars^[20] / Kakinada
• Evangelist S.Paul Raj^[21] / Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church / Bhadrachalam
• German Lutheran Hermannsburg Mission ^[22][23]/ South Andhra Lutheran Church / Tirupati
• United Lutheran Church in America / Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church / Guntur

[edit] Students

Students are admitted on quota-basis linked to the representation factor of the mainline Churches and taught varied subjects of religion. An entrance test is conducted before admission. Church sponsorship is a must before joining. Bachelor of Theology (four years) and Bachelor of Divinity (five years) are awarded by the Senate of Serampore College (University).

[edit] Present staff

[edit] Teaching staff

A good number of faculty teach varied subjects of theology.

Principalship is for a term of four years. Each mainline Church gets a chance on rotation. Presently, the four-year cycle of Principalship is with the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Rev. Dr. N.V. Luther Paul is the present Principal.

Preceded by Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches - Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar - 2002 to 2006

Principal of ACTC - Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church - Rev. Dr. N. V. Luther Paul 2006 to 2010

Succeeded by Church of South India Incumbent - 2010 to 2014

The present faculty include:

Old Testament

• Rev. Dr. N.V. Luther Paul ^{[24][25] [26][27][28][29]}, also a past student.
• Rev. Dr. Ch. Vasantha Rao ^{[30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41]}
• Rev. T. Matthews Emmanuel, also a past student.

New Testament

• Rev. V. Manikya Rao (presently on study leave)^[42], also a past student.
• Rev. K. Suraj Kumar ^[43]

Religion

• Rev. Dr. T. Swami Raju ^[44], also a past student.
• Rev. P. Alexander,^[45], ^[46] also a past student.
• Rev. S. Vijaya Kumari Joseph, ^[47]also a past student

Practical Theology

• Rev. Dr. G. Sampoorna Rao ^[48][49], also a past student.

Social Analysis

• Rev. B.W. David Raju
• Rev. P. Praveen Prabhu Sudheer

Homiletics

• Rev. K. Reuben Mark^[50][51]
• Rev. A. John Prabhakar (presently on study leave),^{[52][53][54][55] [56]} also a past student.

History of Christianity

• Rev. D.J. Jeremiah ^[57], also a past student.
• Rev. K.L. Richardson, ^[58]also a past student.

Systematic Theology

• Rev. Dr. B.J. Christie Kumar ^{[59][60][61][62]} also a past student.

Christian Ministry

• Rev. C. Jeevaiah

[edit] Administrative staff

Accounting

• Sri Chitti Raju

Secretarial

• Smt. Mani
• Smt. Sunitha
• Smt. Vasantha

Maintenance Staff Members

• Sri Manikya Rao
• Sri John
• Sri Swamy
• Sri Yellaiah
• Smt. Saroja

[edit] Library

The college has a well-equipped library including reading room facilities. It has more than 29,000 books on its racks. The present librarian is Rev. M.S. Vara Prasad, a past student.

[edit] Past Teachers

[edit] Inland

Old Testament Rev. Dr. P. Victor Premasagar, Rev. G. Solomon, Rev. Saroja Moses Sangha, Rev. G. Babu Rao

New Testament Rev. Dr. K. David, Rev. Dr. S. Joseph^[63], Rev. Dr. M. Victor Paul^[64]

Religions Rev. M.N. Paul, Rev. K.D.G. Prakasa Rao

Christian Ethics

History of Christianity Rev. R. Joseph^[65] Rev. R. Joseph's name was also deleted by unknown vandals Rev. C. Yesupadam^[66], Rev. Dr.B.C. Paul^[67][68]

Systematic Theology Rev. Dr. R. Yesurathnam ^{[69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80]}

Practical Theology Rev. P. Joseph

Other subjects

• Rev. Ryder Devapriyam^[81]
• Rev. Dr. R.R. Sundara Rao^[82]
• Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam^{[83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110]}
• Rev. G.T. Abraham ^{[111][112][113][114][115]}

[edit] Overseas

• Rev. Dr. W.D. Coleman ^[116]
• Rev. Dr. Gordon Carder ^[117]
• Rev. Dr. Waldo Penner ^[118]
• Rev. Dr. Scott Harris ^[119][120]
• Rev. Dr. Tracy Gipson
• Rev. Dr. David Lindberg ^[121]
• Rev. Dr. Louis Knoll ^[122]
• Rev. Dr. Klaus Schäfer ^[123]
• Rev. Ray Waldock & Laverne ^[124]

[edit] See also

The Serampore trio:

• Rev. Dr. William Carey, Rev. Dr. Joshua Marshman, Rev. Dr. William Ward

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Old Testament Scholars:

• Gerhard von Rad, Klaus Koch, Victor Premasagar, Claus Westermann, Walter Brueggemann

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Theological degrees:

• Doctor of Theology, Master of Theology, Bachelor of Divinity, Bachelor of Theology

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Arms of the Senate of Serampore College (University)

• Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC)
• South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI)

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Past Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College (University)

• Rev. D. S. Satyaranjan

[edit] References

Notes

Further reading

• Senftleben, Martin (1992). "Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati" I. 
• _______________, (1992). "Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati" II.