Andhra Christian Theological College | |
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ఆంధ్ర క్రైస్తవ వేదాంత (దివ్యజ్ఞాన) కళాశాల | |
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 | Bishop P. Surya Prakash (Chairperson) |
Principal | Rev. Dr. Ch. Vasantha Rao |
Location | Lower Tank Bund Road, Gandhinagar Post, Hyderabad 500 080, Andhra Pradesh. Telephone: 91 040 2761 3892, India |
Campus | Urban |
Affiliations | Senate of Serampore College (University), Serampore 712 201, Hooghly District, West Bengal, India |
Data as of May 2008 |
Andhra Christian Theological College {Telugu: ఆంధ్ర క్రైస్తవ వేదాంత (దివ్యజ్ఞాన) కళాశాల} is a special purpose entity - an ecumenical enterprise of some of the Church societies in Andhra Pradesh in India founded in the year 1964 and affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College, Serampore, West Bengal.
Andhra Christian Theological College came into being as a result of the Kretzmann's Commission[1] 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.
ACTC is situated on the banks of Hussain Sagar excess water canal (north) in Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
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The College motto is derived from Ephesians 4:12, which in the Latin Vulgate reads "Ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii in aedification corporis Christi."[2] This is "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" in the King James Version.
Missionaries in Andhra Pradesh were involved in spreading[3] 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 Gooty (Union Theological Seminary),[4] Dornakal (Andhra Union Theological College [5]) to cater to the Church of South India, Ramayapatnam (Baptist Theological Seminary) for the American Baptists, Luthergiri.[6] (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.
Some of the Church societies 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[7] of M.L.Kretzmann[8] 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.
Participating Church Societies |
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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,[9] viz.,
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.
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.
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).
ACTC has several recreational facilities, 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.
Every morning, worship services are held in the Chapel on the top floor of the administrative building for the students and the faculty. On Sundays, 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, including Christian Home Festival, Carey Day, CSI Day, Reformation Day, Independence Day.
The college has a well-equipped library including reading room facilities with more than 38,000[11] books on its racks besides 35 subscribed periodicals. </gallery>
W. D. Coleman, the first Principal of the College explains the Hall System as:[12]
Each of the participating denominations has its own 'hall'. There are two hours of instruction each week about the liturgy, history, and policy of each denomination.
The Church societies commonly associated with Protestantism in southern 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.[13] This is of course extra curricular and does not part form part of the syllabi prescribed by the University.
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 Church of South India. Ch. Vasantha Rao is the present Principal.
List of Principalships
(Church society, Years, Principal) |
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The faculty at ACTC have substantial pastoral experience and theological grounding. The present faculty include:
Social Analysis