Andhra Christian Theological College

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Andhra Christian Theological College
Latin: COLLEGIUM THEOLOGICA ANDHRA CHRISTIANUS
Motto:	Latin: AD CONSUMMATIONEM SANCTORUM IN OPUS MINISTERII IN AEDIFICATIONEM CORPORIS CHRISTI. English: 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 Bishop V. E. Christopher
Principal:	Rev. Dr. N. V. Luther Paul
Location:	Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India ( 17°25′36″N, 78°27′10″E)
Campus:	Urban
Affiliations:	Senate of Serampore College (University), Serampore 712 201, Hooghly District, West Bengal, India
Website:	http://www.actc.in/
Data as of May 2008

Andhra Christian Theological College^[1] (ACTC) is an ecumenical enterprise of some of the Church societies in Andhra Pradesh in India which was established in the year 1964.

This college could perhaps be the only Seminary in Telangana region to offer university-recognised graduate-level courses in theology^[2].

It came into being as a result of the Kretzmann's Commission which suggested carving out a unified seminary out of existing century-old seminaries catering to the various Church societies in Andhra Pradesh. It was also as a result of ecumenism where a greater need for unity among the Protestant churches was felt worldwide^[3].

The college is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University).^[4][5][6]

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 3.1 The Kretzmann's Commission 3.2 Location 4 Courses offered & admissions 4.1 Internal 4.2 External 4.3 Admission of students 5 Campus Life 5.1 Library 5.2 The Hall System 6 Board of Governors 7 Principalship 7.1 Previous Principalships 8 Present Staff 8.1 Teaching staff 8.2 Visiting Faculty 8.3 Administrative staff 9 Past Teachers 9.1 Inland 9.2 Overseas 10 See also 11 References 12 Further reading

[edit] Motto

In the Novum Testamentum of the Latin Vulgate, it is said thus in Verse XII of Chapter IV of Epistula Ad Ephesios (The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians) ,^[7] AD CONSUMMATIONEM SANCTORUM IN OPUS MINISTERII IN AEDIFICATIONEM CORPORIS CHRISTI which translates into English (King James Version) as - For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"^[8]

[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.

.

In fact, Serampore was the first institution to be given the status of a university^[9] in India.^[10]

The following are the present Officers of the Senate^[11]:

• President - Rev. Dr. John S. Sadananda
• Convenor - Rev. Dr. Lalchungnunga
• Registrar - Rev. Dr. Y. Ravi Tiwari
• Treasurer - Dr. R. L. Hnuni

[edit] Background

Missionaries in Andhra Pradesh were involved in spreading^[12] 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 [47]) to cater to the Church of South India, Ramayapatnam (Baptist Theological Seminary) for the American Baptists, Luthergiri.^[13] (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

Part of a series on Protestant missions in India

William Carey

Background Christianity Thomas the Apostle Pantaenus Protestantism Indian history Missions timeline Christianity in India

People Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg Joshua Marshman William Ward Alexander Duff Anthony Norris Groves Henry Martyn Amy Carmichael E. Stanley Jones James Mills Thoburn The Scudders more missionaries

Works Serampore College Scottish Church College Wilson College Madras Christian College St. Stephen's College Gossner Theological College

Missionary agencies London Missionary Society Church Missionary Society Baptist Missionary Society Scottish General Assembly American Board

Pivotal events Indian Rebellion of 1857 Indian Republic Interactions with Ayyavazhi

Indian Protestants Bakht Singh Krishna Mohan Banerjee Michael Madhusudan Dutt Pandita Ramabai Sadhu Sundar Singh Jashwant Rao Chitambar Victor Premasagar K.V. Simon P. C. John This box: view • talk • edit Indian Christianity Portal

Some of the 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^[14][15] 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 many of the then existing Church societies. Some of the Church societies 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,^[16] viz.,

• Andhra Union Theological College, Dornakal,
• Baptist Theological Seminary, Kakinada,
• Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam,^[17] 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 & admissions

[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.)

Apart from the courses offered through the Senate, the College independently offers a three-year Master of Divinity (M.Div.) course through evening classes targeting the lay people.

[edit] Admission of students

Students are admitted on quota-basis linked to the representation factor of the participating Church societies 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] Campus Life

ACTC has a lot of playgrounds^[18] 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 morning, worship services are held in the Chapel on the top floor of the administrative building for the students and the faculty. On Sunday, the Chapel is also used for worship services for the general public too. 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] Library

The college has a well-equipped library including reading room facilities with more than 38,000^[19] books on its racks besides 35 subscribed periodicals. Rev. D. J. Jeremiah is the present Librarian who is ably assisted by Smt. B. Lucy.

[edit] The Hall System

The Church societies commonly associated with Protestantism in India include those from the Church of South India, Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists among others. Each Church has a tradition of its own. In ACTC, apart from teaching of theological subjects, students are also taught their respective Church doctrine. This is of course extra curricular and does not part form part of the syllabi prescribed by the University.

[edit] Board of Governors

The College is governed by representatives of participating Church societies: Founding mission / Indian succeeder / Headquarters

• American Baptist Mission
  • Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches^[20]
    • Nellore
• American Methodists
  • Methodist Church in India (Hyderabad Regional Conference)^[21]/
    • 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^[22]
    • Kakinada
• Evangelist S. Paul Raj^[23]
  • Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church
    • Bhadrachalam
• German Lutheran Hermannsburg Mission^[24][25]
  • South Andhra Lutheran Church
    • Tirupati
• United Lutheran Church in America
  • Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
    • Guntur

[edit] Principalship

Academic offices
Preceded by Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches	Principalship of ACTC Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church 2006–2010	Succeeded by Church of South India

Principalship is for a term of four years. Each participating Church society gets a chance on rotation. Currently, the four-year cycle of Principalship is with the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church. Rev. Dr. N. V. Luther Paul is the present Principal.

[edit] Previous Principalships

With the Cantabrigian Victor Premasagar's appointment, the Indian principalship began. The church societies which held principalship are^[26]:

• 2002-2006
  • Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
    • Rev. B. J. Christie Kumar

• 1998-2002
  • Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
    • Rev. D. J. Jeremiah (2001-2002), Rev. K. D. G. Prakasa Rao (1998-2001)

• 1994-1998
  • Church of South India
    • Rev. Dr. R. Yesuratnam

• 1990-1994
  • Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
    • Rev. Dr. G. Sampoorna Rao (1993-1994), Rev. Dr. M. Victor Paul (1990-1993)

• 1986-1990
  • Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
    • Rev. Dr. S. Joseph

• 1978-1986
  • Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
    • Rev. Dr. K. David

• 1972-1978
  • Church of South India
    • Rev. Dr. P. Victor Premasagar

• 1964-1972
  • Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
    • Rev. Dr. William D. Coleman

[edit] Present Staff

[edit] Teaching staff

The faculty at ACTC have substantial pastoral experience and theological grounding. The present faculty include:

Old Testament

• Rev. Dr. N.V. Luther Paul,^{[27][28][29][30][31][32]} also a past student.
• Rev. Dr. Ch. Vasantha Rao^{[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]}
• Rev. T. Matthews Emmanuel^[45], also a past student.

New Testament

• Rev. V. Manikya Rao (currently on study leave),^[46] also a past student.
• Rev. K. Suraj Kumar^[47]

Religion

• Rev. Dr. T. Swami Raju,^[48] also a past student.
• Rev. P. Alexander,^[49][50] also a past student.
• Rev. S. Vijaya Kumari Joseph,^[51]also a past student

Practical Theology

Social Analysis

• Rev. B.W. David Raju
• Rev. P. Praveen Prabhu Sudheer (currently on study leave)

Homiletics

• Rev. K. Reuben Mark^[52][53]
• Rev. A. John Prabhakar (currently on study leave),^{[54][55][56][57][58]} also a past student.

History of Christianity

• Rev. D.J. Jeremiah,^[59] also a past student.

Church History

• Rev. K.L. Richardson,^[60]also a past student.

Systematic Theology

• Rev. B.J. Christie Kumar^{[61][62][63][64]} also a past student.

Christian Ethics

• Rev. B. Sunil Vara Kumar^[65]

[edit] Visiting Faculty

• Rev. Dr. S. Joseph^[66], New Testament
• Rev. R. Joseph^[67], Theology and History of Christianity
• Rev. James Carl^[68], New Testament
• Rev. Dr. M. Victor Paul^[69], New Testament
• Bishop Rev. Dr. S. K. Parmar^[70], New Testament
• Rev. G. Babu Rao, Old Testament

[edit] Administrative staff

Accounting Staff Members

• Sri R. Chitti Raju
• Sri P. Joshua
• Rev. M. S. Vara Prasad

Secretarial Staff Members

• Smt. V. M. K. Mani
• Smt. T. Suneetha
• Smt. P. Shakeena
• Smt. M. . Prashanthi Kumari
• Smt. P. Vasantha Kumari

Maintenance Staff Members

• Sri D. Jacob
• Sri K. Manikya Rao
• Smt. Manikya Rao
• Sri A. Swamy
• Smt. Swamy
• Sri B. John
• Smt. John
• Sri G. Sundaraiah
• Sri P. Nageswara Rao
• Sri Narasimha
• Sri Arjun

Library Staff Members

• Smt. B. Lucy
• Smt. J. Usha
• Smt. G. Ruth Susheela
• Smt. Pochamma

Hostel Staff Members

• Sri M. Yellaiah
• Sri Prakash
• Smt. Prakash

[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,^[71] Rev. Dr. M. Victor Paul^[72]

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

Christian Ethics

History of Christianity Rev. R. Joseph^[73] Rev. R. Joseph's name was earlier deleted by unknown vandals Rev. C. Yesupadam,^[74] Rev. Dr. B. C. Paul^[75][76]

Systematic Theology Rev. Dr. R. Yesurathnam^{[77][78][79][80][81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88]}, Rev. G. Dyvasirvadam^{[89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112][113][114][115][116]}

Practical Theology

• Rev. P. Joseph
• Rev. Dr. G. Sampoorna Rao,^[117][118]

Christian Ministry

• Rev. C. Jeevaiah

Communication

• Rev. M. Reginald^[119][120]

Other subjects

• Rev. Ryder Devapriyam^[121]
• Rev. Dr. R.R. Sundara Rao^[122]

• Rev. G.T. Abraham^{[123][124][125][126][127]}

[edit] Overseas

• Rev. Dr. William D. Coleman^[128]
• Rev. Dr. Gordon Carder^[129]
• Rev. Dr. (Mrs.) Muriel Carder^[130]
• Rev. Dr. Waldo Penner^[131]
• Rev. Dr. Scott Harris^[132][133]
• Rev. Dr. Tracy Greer Gipson
• Rev. Dr. David Lindberg^[134]
• Rev. Dr. Louis Knoll^[135]
• Rev. Dr. Fung Maier
• Rev. Dr. Klaus Schäfer^[136]
• Rev. Dr. Ray Waldock ^[137]
• Mrs. Laverne Waldock^[138]

[edit] See also

The Serampore trio:

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

---

Old Testament Scholars:

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

---

Indigenous Scholars:

• Rev. Fr. Dr. D. S. Amalorpavadass
• Rev. Dr. B. V. Subbamma

---

Theological degrees:

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

---

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)

---

Past Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College (University)

• Rev. D. S. Satyaranjan

[edit] References

[edit] 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.