United Theological College

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United Theological College (UTC) is a theological seminary situated in the southern city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in South India. It is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)[1]

[2][3].

Contents

[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 passing of The Serampore College Act, 1918 by the Legislature of Bengal. It was the first institution to be given the status of a university[4] in India[5].

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Bangalore, an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission 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 [6].

[edit] History

The College was inaugurated in July 1910 under the name “The United Theological College of South India and Ceylon” as “a Christian College where students may obtain a sound theological education”. It was established through the co-operation of the London Missionary Society, the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, The United Free Church of Scotland, the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church in America and the Trustees of the Jaffna College Funds and the S.P.C.K. in Scotland also gave their support.Interest in this ecumenical institution grew, and churches, missionary societies and other organisations from various regions of India and from abroad joined with the founders in support of the College. In 1951 the Church Missionary Society and the society for the Propagation of the Gospel became supporting bodies. The College had received help at various times from the Danish Lutheran Church and the friends of Dr.L.P.Larsen, the first Principal of the College, and in 1959 the Danish Missionary Society became a supporting body. In 1960 the Basel Evangelical Mission (now a member of the Association of Churches and Mission in S.W. Germany) and the Kolhapur Church Council joined the ranks, to be followed the next year by the church of South India, and in 1963 by the Mar Thoma Church. The Council of Y.M.C.A’s in India joined as a supporting body in 1967 and the Church of India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon (now merged in the Church of North India) in 1969. Also in 1969 the Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church became one of the contributing bodies.

Following the merger of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute with the United Theological College for B.D., M.Th.and other degree programmers in June 1971, several Lutheran Church and Missions (Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, South Andhra Lutheran Church, Church of Sweden Mission, the Lutheran Church of America, the American Lutheran Church-both presently merged in the Evangelical Church of America, India Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Leipzig Evangelical Lutheran Mission ) became supporting bodies of the College. The Malankar Jacobite Syrian Church became a contributing body in 1979.

The first home of the College was a building on Mission Road, Bangalore city, formerly used for the seminary, which had been founded and maintained by the London Missionary Society from 1841 under the name ‘Bangalore Theological Seminary’. The permanent site of the College at 17 (new number 63) Miller’s road, Bangalore, was acquired in 1912, and the building was first occupied in 1914. In 1919, a year after Serampore College was granted permission by the Act of the Government of Bengal to grant degrees in Theology, the College was affiliated to the Serampore College for the B. D. Degree.

In 1949, the Y.M.C.A Training School was re-opened, and in September 1950, eight new rooms were added to the Hostel by the Council of Y.M.C.A’s to provide accommodation for their students. In 1976,the Senate of Serampore College granted autonomy to the College for the B.D., B.R.E., and D.R.K.Courses. Under the autonomy the College has the freedom to set its own curriculum, evaluate the candidates and recommend them to the Senate for the award of the degree or diploma. The M.Th . and D.Th. courses continue under the regulations of the Serampore Senate.

The platinum Jubilee of the College was celebrated in 1985.

[edit] A Residential Community

UTC has four residential campuses, which provide an ecumenical setting with close interaction between the mentors and learners. Teachers and students live in these campuses. Separate hostels for men and women and quarters for married students are provided with all amenities to ensure comfortable stay. Some of the additional facilities available are Nursery School and a Creche, Hostel Mess for students and Hostel Annexe for guests and visitors. The women’s Hostel Annex at 43, Miller’s road, provides facilities for women and secular students.

The students and Faculty of the College come from different parts of India and Abroad. Such a multi-cultural and international community offers unique cross-cultural experience and opportunities for growth in ecumenical awareness.

[edit] UTC - A Center of Ecumenical Activities

The College, in view of its library and the resource persons available, has become a center of many ecumenical conferences and meetings - both big and small. The Charles Ranson Hall at its main entrance provides accommodation for about 400 people. There are also small conference halls. During vacations, boarding and lodging arrangements for conferences of around three hundred people are possible.

The College has one the finest Theological Libraries in South Asia, and an excellent archive section containing a large collection of very valuable historical records, rare manuscripts and microfilm and microfiche collections. The co-operation with the Roman Catholic Seminaries, especially with the Dharmaram Vidyakshetram and with several other Research Institutes, provides additional opportunity for interaction with a wider community of scholars.

[edit] Ecumenical study Programme

Students from Asia, Europe, Africa and South and North America coming and spending a period of study at UTC are encouraged. Guidelines for such an Ecumenical Study Programme are available for those interested from the Principal.

[edit] Spirituality

Life in U.T.C revolves around the chapel which is at the center of the main campus. Morning devotions are held at 8.30 a.m. from Monday to Friday. Corporate Worship for the community is held at 6.30.p.m.every Sunday. Twice in a year special retreats are held for the spiritual nurture of the Community.

[edit] UTC - The Pace Setter

We live in an age of rapid revolutionary changes in all areas of life. Developments in education, industry, transportation and information technology make tremendous impact on people’s thinking and expectations. Cross cultural influences comforts and challenge people. Changes in global politics with the disappearance of the so called “second world” and the subsequent process of globalization geared up by one Super Power - and the consequent widening of the gap between the rich and the poor - all pose challenges to theological education. UTC, being sensitive to these changes, tries to respond to these challenges meaningfully by revising its curriculum and methods of teaching from time to time. It aims at offering a holistic theological education and ministerial formation and training, which combines in itself academic excellence, practical relevance and spiritual commitment.

The United Theological College is thus a Pace Setter in the area of theological education and ecumenical College, reinforcing a life-centered spirituality which promotes justice, peace and human solidarity in India and abroad.

[edit] Location

Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka State, is known as the ‘Garden City’ of India. With the rapid growth of Industries and commerce, innumerable educational and other institutions, Bangalore has become a highly cosmopolitan city. The vast variety and contrasts of the Indian scene in the socioeconomic, religio-cultural, linguistic and political spheres are all present in this fast-growing city. The spacious parks, the blossoming trees and the salubrious climate are welcoming features of Bangalore, Which is linked to all the major Indian cities through good travel facilities by air, rail and road.

The main campus of the college at 63 Miller’s Road, lies in close proximity to Bangalore Cantonment Railway Station, and is one of the landmarks in the city. The three smaller campuses nearby provide additional housing for staff and married students. There are about 140 rooms for single students and 35 apartments for married students. (added by Rev Dr Joshva Raja for UTC)

The self-pronouncing words of Jesus Christ as found in the King James Version of the Holy Bible, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many". - is the motto of this institution. In the Vulgate it is said thus, sicut Filius hominis non venit ministrari sed ministrare et dare animam suam redemptionem pro multis.

The language of teaching is English. Hence, students from all over the country as well as from overseas can be seen studying theology here.

[edit] Courses offered

[edit] Present Staff

Readers may visit the official site [1] for detailed information.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

  • Official site of United Theological College [2]
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