Andhra Christian Theological College
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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 Hussainsagar excess water canal (north) in Gandhinagar, Hyderabad.
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[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] Background
Missionaries in Andhra Pradesh were involved in spreading[7] 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 [114]) both to cater to the Church of South India, Ramapatnam (Baptist Theological Seminary) for the American Baptists, Luthergiri[8]. (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[9] [10] 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[11] 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 Andhra Union Theological College, Dornakal, the Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada, the Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramapatnam and the Lutheran Theological College, Rajahmundry[12].
With pollution from the Andhra Pradesh 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
- Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.)
- Master of Ministry (M.Min.)
[edit] Campus Life
ACTC has a lot of playgrounds [13]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[14] / Nellore
- American Methodists / Methodist Church in India (Hyderabad Regional Conference) [15]/ 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[16] / Kakinada
- Evangelist S.Paul Raj[17] / Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church / Bhadrachalam
- German Lutheran Hermannsburg Mission [18][19]/ 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.
[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.
Rev. Dr. N.V. Luther Paul is the present Principal.
The present faculty include:
- Rev.Dr.N.V.Luther Paul [20][21] [22][23][24][25], also a past student.
- Rev.Dr.Ch. Vasantha Rao [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]
- Rev.T. Matthews Emmanuel, also a past student.
- Rev.V.Manikya Rao (presently on study leave)[38], also a past student. An unknown intruder deleted Rev.Manikya Rao earlier.
- Rev.K.Suraj Kumar [39]
- Rev.Dr.T.Swami Raju [40], also a past student.
- Rev.P.Alexander,[41], [42] also a past student.
- Rev.S.Vijaya Kumari Joseph, [43]also a past student ?
Practical Theology
Social Analysis
- Rev.B.W.David Raju
- Rev.P.Praveen Prabhu Sudheer
- Rev. K. Reuben Mark[46][47]
- Rev.A.John Prabhakar (presently on study leave),[48][49][50][51] [52] also a past student. Rev.Prabhakar's name was also deleted by unkonwn intruders.
Church History
- Rev.D.J.Jeremiah [53], also a past student. Reference to the internet presence of Rev.Jeremiah was also deleted by unknown intruders.
- Rev.K.L.Richardson, [54]also a past student.
Christian Ministry
- Rev.C.Jeevaiah
[edit] Administrative staff
This section was also deleted by unidentified intruders
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[59], Rev. Dr. M. Victor Paul[60]
Religions Rev. M.N. Paul Rev. K.D.G. Prakasa Rao
Christian Ethics
Church History Rev. C. Yesupadam[61], Rev. Dr.B.C. Paul[62][63]
Systematic Theology Rev. Dr. R. Yesurathnam [64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75]
Pastoral Counselling Rev. P. Joseph Rev.P.Joseph's name was also deleted by unknown intruders.
Other subjects Rev. Ryder Devapriyam, Rev. R. Joseph[76] Rev. R. Joseph's name was also deleted by unknown vandals, Rev. Dr. R.R. Sundara Rao unknown vandals deleted Rev.Sundara Rao's name too, Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam[77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104] Rev. G.T. Abraham [105][106][107][108][109]
[edit] Overseas
- Rev.Dr.W.D.Coleman [110]
- Rev.Dr.Gordon Carder [111]
- Rev.Dr.Scott Harris [112][113]
- Rev.Dr.Tracy Gipson
- Rev.Dr.David Lindberg [114]
- Rev.Dr.Louis Knoll [115]
- Rev.Dr.Klaus Schäfer [116]
- Rev.Ray Waldock & Laverne [117]
[edit] See also
- Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, Talk:Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia
- Gerhard von Rad, Klaus Koch, Victor Premasagar
- Senate of Serampore College (University)
- Rev.Dr.William Carey, Rev.Dr.Joshua Marshman, Rev.Dr.William Ward
- Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
- Super cop Noel Swaranjit sen, Director-General of Police, Andhra Pradesh
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Reformed Online[1] Addresses. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Education [2] Other Universities. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ William Carey College[3] Nepal Serampore College. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Indiaedunews.net [4] Nepal Christians to renew ties with Bengal college. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Scripturetext.com[5] Ephesians 4:12. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ The Latin Vulgate [6] The Epistle of St.Paul to the Ephesians: Chapter 4. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Martin Senftleben [7] Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Winnipeg Free Press[8] United Lutheran Church Advances - The Board sends new missionaries to each of six foreign mission fields. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Grace Lutheran Church[9] India Evangelical Lutehran Church. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ crossings.org[10] The LCMS Mission Affirmations of 1965 - Then and Now. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ M.B.Herald[11] MBs have history of involvement in India. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Victor Premasagar [12] Interpretive Diary of a Bishop, Chennai, 2001, p.88
- ^ Nathan Productions[13] India Ministries. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Baptist World Alliance - Heritage and Identity Commission [14] Who are the Baptists ?. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ General Board of Global Ministries - The United Methodist Church [15] Religious Demographics. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Baptist World Alliance - Heritage and Identity Commission [16] Who are the Baptists ?. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ ELM Department of Mission & Ecumenism ((Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Lower Saxony) [17] India - Our Connection. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [18] India - Our Connection. Retrieved April 23, 2006.
- ^ Church Lexicon [19] History of SALC
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- 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.
