United Theological College, Bangalore

United Theological College, Bangalore

Motto	SICUT FILIUS HOMINIS NON VENIT MINISTRARI SED MINISTRARE ET DARE ANIMAM SUAM REDEMPTIONEM PRO MULTIS
Motto in English	Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many.
Type	Seminary
Established	1910;115 years ago (1910)
Affiliation	Senate of Serampore College (University) Serampore – 712201 West Bengal
Director	The Right Reverend Dr. Royce Manoj Victor, CSI
Principal	The Rev. A. Israel David, CSI
Academic staff	10+
Location	63, Miller's Road, Benson Town, Bengaluru 560 006 , Karnataka , India 12°59′45″N77°35′56″E / 12.99583°N 77.59889°E / 12.99583; 77.59889
Website	http://www.utc.edu.in/

United Theological College (UTC) is an ecumenical mainline seminary founded in 1910. ^[1] It is situated in the southern city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in South India and is affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College (University). ^[2] It is a leading ecumenical institution in Bangalore, recognized as the principal center for the development and practice of Dalit theology.

The College

Since 1976, it has been granted the status of an autonomous ^[3] college under Senate of Serampore. The college has welcomed world leaders. Mahatma Gandhi visited it in 1927 and declared, To live the gospel is the most effective way…I can say that the life of service and uttermost simplicity is the best preaching. India Post released a centenary commemorative stamp in honor of the United Theological College (UTC) on 8 July 2011.

Motto

UTC's motto comes from Matthew 20:28 in the Vulgate: SICUT FILIUS HOMINIS NON VENIT MINISTRARI SED MINISTRARE ET DARE ANIMAM SUAM REDEMPTIONEM PRO MULTIS which translates as "Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many". ^[4] It is sometimes condensed to Not to be Served but to Serve. In the University emblem the motto is in Greek (not in Latin): οὐ... διακονηθῆναι ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι

Courses offered

The UTC was granted autonomy in the year 1976 by the Senate of Serampore College (University). The following are the courses offered by the College: ^[5]

• Diploma in Women's Studies
• Certificate Course in Christian Studies
• Diploma for Proficiency in Counselling
• Diploma in Young Men's Christian Association Professional Secretaryship
• Bachelor of Divinity, B.Div.
• Master of Theology, Th.M.
• Doctor of Theology, Th.D.

Succession of Old Testament Faculty at UTC, Bangalore

Full-time faculty 1931-1958/1963-1965, The Rev. ✝ M. H. Harrison, Th.M. (ANTS), [6] 1959–1993, The Rev. E. C. John, Dr.theol. (Heidelberg), 1963–1969, The Rev. Samuel Amirtham, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), 1972–1978, The Rev. G. M. Butterworth, Ph. D. (London), 1973–1978, The Rev. Gerhard Wehmeier, Dr.theol. (Basel), 1979–1994, The Rev. Theodore N. Swanson, Ph. D. (Vanderbilt), 1979-1985, The Rev. Rudolf Ficker, Dr. Theol. (Heidelberg), 1984–1987, The Rev. D. N. Premnath, Th. D. (GTU), The Rev. James Vijayakumar, D. Th. (Serampore), The Rev. D. Jones Muthunayagom, D. Th. (Serampore), 1993–2000, The Rev. Gnana Robinson, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), The Rev. Jules Francis Gomes, Ph. D. (Cantab.), The Rev. K. Jesurathnam, Ph. D. (Edinburgh), The Rev. J. R. John Samuel Raj, Dr.theol. (Hamburg) [7] 2016-The Rev. Laila L-Vijayan, [8] D.Th. (Serampore) 2017–The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, Dr.theol. (Hamburg) 2022-The Rev. R. Jeeva Kumar, D.Th. (Serampore) Visiting Faculty 1957, The Rev. Norman Henry Snaith, 1968, The Rev. Victor Premasagar, Ph.D. (St.Andrews), 1979, The Rev. Klaus Koch, Dr.theol. (Heidelberg), 1986, The Rev. John Emerton, M.A., (Oxon.), 1994, The Rev. Martin Krause, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), 1994, The Rev. Donata Doerfel, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), 1994–1996, The Rev. Henning Graf Reventlow, Dr.theol. (Göttingen), 1995–1996, The Rev. Ed Noort, Dr.theol. (Göttingen), 2007–2010, The Rev. Byron E. Shafer, Ph.D., (Harvard), 2007, The Rev. de:Friedemann W. Golka, Ph.D., (Oxon.),

Exchange programs

The UTC has exchange programs with the Theological Faculty of the University of Basel Switzerland ^[9] and the Divinity School of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. ^[10] It has a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Revd Dr O V Jathanna and Prof Kenneth Brown with the University of Edinburgh wherein a post-graduate student can study a semester in Bengaluru.

Publications

Bangalore Seminary (1843) From the 'Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle: Vol XXI' (p.193). The London Mission Seminary was established early 19th Century, located at the beginning of Mission Road. This has since been demolished and the land is part of the Mitralaya School Campus

United Theological College on a 2011 stamp of India

• Bangalore Theological Forum , an academic journal brought out twice a year. ^[11]
• Masihi Sevak, a pastoral magazine with three releases in a year. ^[11]
• Hymns of the Tamil Śaivite Saints an English Translation of the Tiruvacakam, by Francis Kingsbury and GE Phillips (edited by Fred Goodwill) ^[12]

Campus life

The college had been a recipient of prizes from the Mysore Horticultural Society, Bengaluru for well-maintained gardens and lawns. Good environment for study purpose.

Library

The college has a large theological library including 200-year-old palm leaf manuscripts. The United States Embassy awarded a grant for preservation of these rare palm leaf manuscripts in 2006. ^[13]

Present Faculty

Present Faculty at the United Theological College with subjects taught ^[14]

Faculty Name	Gen der	Domicile	Highest Degree	Alma mater	University
Discipline: Old Testament
The Rev. D. J. Muthunayagom, CSI	M	Tamil Nadu	D.Th.	Missions Academy, Hamburg (Germany)/ SATHRI, Bangalore	Serampore
The Rev. K. Jesurathnam, STBC	M	Andhra Pradesh	Ph.D.	New College, Edinburgh (Scotland)	Edinburgh
The Rev. J. R. John Samuel Raj, CSI	M	Kerala	Dr. Theol.	Missions Academy, Hamburg (Germany)	Hamburg
Discipline: New Testament
The Rev. J. G. Muthuraj, CSI	M	Tamil Nadu	Ph.D.	University of Durham, Durham (England)	Durham
The Rev. J. Jeyakumar, MCI	M	Tamil Nadu	M.Th.	UTC, Bangalore	Serampore
The Rev. Johnson Thomaskutty	M	Kerala	Ph.D.	Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Holland)	Nijmegen
The Rev. Dexter S. Maben, CSI	M	Karnataka	Dr. Theol.	Theological Seminary Bethel (Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel), Bielefeld (Germany)	Bethel
Discipline: Theology and Ethics
The Rev. R. Sahayadhas, IELC	M	Tamil Nadu	D.Th.	UTC, Bangalore	Serampore
The Rev. George Zachariah, MMTSC	M	Kerala	Ph. D	Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (United States)	LSTC
The Rev. Allan Samuel Palanna, CSI	M	Karnataka	Ph.D.	University of Kent, Canterbury (England)	Kent
The Rev. Mervin Shinoj Boas, CSI	M	Kerala	Ph. D	Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (United States)	LSTC
Discipline: History of Christianity
The Fr. M. O. John, MOSC	M	Kerala	D. D.	University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria) [15]	Vienna
Discipline: Mission and Ecumenicism
The Prof.Rev. Dr P.T. George, University of Birmingham	M	United Kingdom	Ph.D.	University of Birmingham, Heidelberg (Germany)	United Kingdom
The Sr. Rani Joseph Mary Sruthi, SND	F	Karnataka	Ph.D.	Pontifical Urban University, Rome (Italy)	Urban
The Rev. Gudrun Löwner, EKD	F	Germany	Ph.D.	Heidelberg University, Heidelberg (Germany)	Heidelberg
Discipline: Christian Ministry
Dr. Nalini Arles Laity	F	Karnataka	Ph.D.	New College, Edinburgh (Scotland)	Edinburgh
Dr. Joseph George Laity	M	Kerala	Th.D.	Candler School of Theology, Atlanta (United States)	Emory
The Rev. Santosh S. Kumar, CSI	M	Kerala	D.Th.	Melbourne College of Divinity, Melbourne (Australia)	Divinity
Discipline: Women's Studies
Dr. Lalrinawmi Ralte Laity	F	Mizoram	D.Min., D.Th.	Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge (United States)/ SATHRI, Bangalore	Serampore
Discipline: Communication
The Fr. Jerry Kurian, MJSOC	M	Kerala	M.Th.	UTC, Bangalore	Serampore
Discipline: English
Ms. Geetha Basappa Laity	F	Karnataka	M.A.

Succession of Administrators

Academic administrators who have led the seminary have been designated Principal. ^[16]

Tenure	No.	Names of Administrators at UTC, Bangalore	Earned academic credentials (highest degree)
1910–1911	I.	The Rev. ✝ James Mathers, LMS, [17] OBE, [18]	B. D. [19] [20]
1911–1924	II.	The Rev. ✝ L. P. Larsen, [20] DMS, [21]	M.A., [19] [22]
1924–1930	III.	The Rev. ✝ D. S. Herrick, ABCFM	M.A., [23]
1930–1931	IV.	The Rev. ✝ W. J. T. Small, WMMS	M.A. (Cantab.), [24]
1931–1936	V.	The Rev. ✝ W. H. Thorp, WMMS	B.A. (London), [25]
1936–1937	VI.	The Rev. ✝ George Parker, [26] LMS	B. D.
1937–1954	VII.	The Rev. ✝ M. H. Harrison, ABCFM	Th.M. (Andover), [6]
1954–1983	VIII.	The Rev. ✝ J. R. Chandran, CSI	S.T.M. (Union),
1983–1993	IX.	The Rev. ✝ E. C. John, CSI	Dr. Theol. (Heidelberg),
1993–2000	X.	The Rev. ✝ Gnana Robinson, CSI	Dr. Theol. (Hamburg),
2000–2008	XI.	The Rev. O. V. Jathanna, CSI	Dr. Theol. (Basel), [27] [28]
2008–2009	XII.	The Rev. S. I. Selvanayagam, CSI	D. Th. (Serampore), [29]
2009–2017	XIII.	The Rev. J. R. Samuel Raj, CSI	Dr. Theol. (Hamburg) [7]
2017–2025	XIV.	The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI [30]	Dr. Theol. (Hamburg) [7]
2025–	XV.	The Rev. A. Israel David, CSI	D. Th. (Serampore)

Notable people

Metropolitan Mar Aprem Mooken specialized in History of Christianity

Father V. C. Samuel a specialist in Christology

Pastor Lynn de Silva who struck parallels between Christianity and Buddhism and devised Lynn de Silva's theology

Notable alumni with course undertaken and years of study

Name	Course	Years	Congre- gation	Domicile
Hospet Sumitra	B.D.	1910–13	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
Premaka Gurushantha	B.D.	1912–16	CSI	Karnataka
Juhanon Mar Thoma	B.D.	1917–22	MMTSC	Kerala
Emani Sambayya	B.D.	1928–32	CNI	Andhra Pradesh
D. T. Niles	B.D.	1929–34	CMC	Sri Lanka
H. D. L. Abraham	B.D.	1934–37	CSI	Karnataka
P. Solomon	B.D.	1936–40	CSI	Telangana
A. E. Inbanathan	B.D.	1939–43	CSI	Tamil Nadu
C. Arangaden	B.D.	1940–44	CSI	Kerala
B. G. Prasada Rao	B.D.	1941–45	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th.	1953–56
S. J. Samartha	B.D.	1941–45	CSI	Karnataka
B. Prabhudass	B.D.	1941–45	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th.	1951–52
J. R. Chandran	B.D.	1941–44	CSI	Tamil Nadu
	M.Th.	1944–45
K. Devasahayam	M.Th.	1942–43	AELC	Andhra Pradesh
Philipose Mar Chrysostom	B.D.	1943–46	MMTSC	Kerala
Lynn de Silva	B.D.	1943–47	CMC	Sri Lanka
Solomon Doraiswamy	B.D.	1944–46	CSI	Tamil Nadu
Alexander Mar Thoma	B.D.	1945–48	MMTSC	Kerala
D. J. Ambalavanar	B.D.	1945–50	CSI	Sri Lanka
B. E. Devaraj	Special course	1946–47	CNI	Andhra Pradesh
Gaddala Solomon	B.D.	1949–52	STBC	Andhra Pradesh
	Refresher course in Hebrew language	1972–73
N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel	B.D.	1950–53	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
V. C. Samuel	B.D.	1950–53	MOSC	Kerala
Victor Premasagar	B.D.	1950–54	CSI	Telangana
E. C. John	B.D.	1951–54	CSI	Kerala
G. B. Devasahayam	B.D.	1952–56	CSI	Telangana
K. E. Swamidass	B.D.	1952–56	CSI	Telangana
C. D. Jathanna	B.D.	1952–55	CSI	Karnataka
Samuel Amirtham	B.D.	1953–56	CSI	Kerala
Joseph Mar Thoma	B.D.	1953–57	MMTSC	Kerala
John Philipose	B.D.	1955–58	CSI	Kerala
K. V. Mathew	M.Th. (OT)	1957–58	MMTSC	Kerala
Gnana Robinson	B.D.	1957–60	CSI	Tamil Nadu
	M.Th. (OT)	1961–63
D. P. Shettian	B.D.	1960–61	CSI	Karnataka
R. Yesurathnam	B.D.	1963–67	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th.	1969–72
	D.Th.	1978–82
G. T. Abraham	B.D.	1962–66	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
C. L. Furtado	B.D.	1962–64	CSI	Karnataka
Arvind P. Nirmal	B.D	1962- 65	CNI	Maharashtra
Kallarakkal Abraham George	M.Th. (OT)	1963–65	MOSC	Kerala
Wesley Ariarajah	B.D.	1963–66	MCSL	Sri Lanka
Mar Aprem Mooken	M.Th.	1964–66	ACE	Kerala
B. P. Sugandhar	B.D.	1964–68	CSI	Telangana
Philipose Mar Eusebius	B.D.	1964–66	MMTSC	Kerala
R. S. Sugirtharajah	B.D.	1965–69	MCSL	Sri Lanka
	M.Th. (NT)	1973–75
S. John Theodore	B.D.	1966–70	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th. (OT)	1972–74
H. S. Wilson	B.D.	1967–70	CSI	Karnataka
Basil Rebera	B.D.	1967–71	Laity	Sri Lanka
	M.Th. (OT)	1971–73
Elizabeth Paul	B.D.	1967–74	CSI	Tamil Nadu
Timotheas Hembrom	B.D.	1968–70	NELC	Jharkhand
	M.Th. (OT)	1971–73
D. I. Hans	B.D.	1968–71	CSI	Karnataka
	M.Th.	1977–79
P. J. Lawrence	B.D.	1968–71	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
J. Paul Rajashekar	B.D.	1968–71	IELC	Tamil Nadu
J. W. Gladstone	B.D.	1969–72	CSI	Kerala
	M.Th.	1972–74
D. W. Jesudoss	M.Th.	1970–71	TELC	Tamil Nadu
Sydney Salins	B.D.	1970–74	CSI	Karnataka
	M.Th. (NT)	1980–82
D. Dhanaraj	B.D.	1970–74	CSI	Tamil Nadu
	M.Th. (OT)	1976–78
D. S. Satyaranjan	M.Th. (NT)	1971–73	IPC	Andhra Pradesh
G. Babu Rao [31]	M.Th. (OT)	1971–73 [32]	CBCNC	Andhra Pradesh
	Doctoral studies	1980–82 [33]
Nitoy Achümi	M.Th. (OT)	1971–73	NBCC	Nagaland
Christopher Asir	B.D.	1971–75	CSI	Tamil Nadu
John Sadananda	B.D.	1972–74	CSI	Karnataka
P. Surya Prakash	B.D.	1972–76	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th. (NT)	1980–82
D. N. Premnath	B.D.	1973–77	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
M. Mani Chacko	B.D.	1975–79	CSI	Kerala
	M.Th. (OT)	1981–83
K. David Udayakumar	B.D.	1977–81	SALC	Andhra Pradesh
	M.Th. (NT)	1982–85
Ravela Joseph	M.Th.	1978–80	STBC	Andhra Pradesh
	Doctoral studies	1983–84
G. Devakadasham	M.Th.	1979–81	CSI	Tamil Nadu
N. Sam Yesudhas	M. Th.	1979-81	CSI	Tamil Nadu
G. D. V. Prasad	M.Th. (OT)	1979–81	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
Roger Gaikwad	M.Th.	1981	MCI PCI	Maharashtra
G. Dyvasirvadam	M.Th.	1982–84	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
	Doctoral studies	1992
Chuauthuama	B.D.	1983-1987	PCI	Mizoram
Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar	B.D.	1983–87	ALC	Tamil Nadu
	D.Th.	1992–97
K. Reuben Mark	B.D.	1984–88	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th.	1992–94
Paulson Pulikottil	M.Th. (OT)	1986-88	IPC	Kerala
Ch. Victor Moses	M.Th. (OT)	1986–88	AELC	Andhra Pradesh
Annie Watson	B.D.	1987–91	CSI	Karnataka
B. D. Prasada Rao	M.Th.	1987–89	CSI	Andhra Pradesh
H. R. Cabral	M.Th.	1988–90	CSI	Karnataka
	D.Th.	1992–97
Jonadob Nathaniel	M.Th. (NT)	1988–90	CSI	Tamil Nadu
Daniel Sadananda	M.Th. (NT)	1988–90	CSI	Karnataka
A. C. Solomon Raj	B.D.	1988–92	CSI	Telangana
	M.Th.	1998-01

Further reading

• K. M. Hiwale (Compiled) (1998). "Directory of the United Theological College 1910–1997".{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

References

1. Vijaya Kumar, Ecumenical Cooperation of the Missions in Karnataka (India), 1834–1989: A Historical Analysis of the Evangelistic Strategy of the Missions, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2005, pp.99–105.
2. The Senate of Serampore College (University) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under which a University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recognised by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal.
3. O. V. Jathanna, Principal's Report 2007-2008, Saplings, United Theological College, Benson Town, Bengaluru. p. 2
4. Latin Vulgate
5. College Handbook 2008–2009.
6. The Missionary Herald at Home and Abroad, Volume 133, Missionary herald, 1937, p.315.
7. 1 2 3 Johann Anselm Steiger (Edited), 500 Jahre Theologie in Hamburg: Hamburg als Zentrum christlicher Theologie und Kultur zwischen Tradition und Zukunft, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2005, pp.449, 470, 477.
8. Serampore College.
9. University of Basel signed by Revd Dr O V Jathanna UTC and Prof Kenneth Brown from New College Edinburgh. Internet, accessed 16 September 2008
10. Postgraduate Exchange with UTC, Bengaluru. Divinity School, University of Edinburgh. Internet, accessed 16 September 2008.
11. 1 2 Publications. utcbangalore.in
12. Kingsbury, F; Phillips, GE (1921). Hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints (1921) (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 132. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
13. Protecting Historic Treasures Accessed 16 September 2008.
14. UTC Faculty Directory. utc.edu.in
15. Malankara Association. yimg.com
16. To Serve Not to be Served 1910–1985, United Theological College, Bangalore, 1985, p.57. Cited in Merithung Tüngoe, Administrators, Missionaries and a World Turned Upside Down, ETC/ISPCK, Jorhat/New Delhi, 2000, p.78.
17. Brian Stanley, The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910, William B. Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids, 2009, p.215.
18. The Expository Times, Volume 32, 1920, p.189.
19. 1 2 George Oommen, The Radical Founding Vision, 1910–11 in Bangalore Theological Forum Centenary Issue: Journeying with Jesus: The continuing theological legacy of the United Theological College, 1910–2010, Volume XLII, Number 2, 8 July 2010, pp.11–12.
20. Vijaya Kumar, Ecumenical Cooperation of the Missions in Karnataka (India), 1834–1989: A Historical Analysis of the Evangelistic Strategy of the Missions, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2005, p.102.
21. Henriette Bugge, Mission and Tamil Society: Social and Religious Change in South India (1840–1900), Curzon Press, Richmond, 1994, p.69.
22. University of Calcutta Calendar 1926, p.483.
23. Angus Stewart Woodburne, Psychological Tests of Mental Abilities, Superintendent, Government Press, 1924, p.93.
24. Richmond College, Galle, W. J. T. Small
25. Minutes of Several Conversations – Yearly Conference of the People Called Methodists, Volume 152, 1895, p.538.
26. Annual Report – American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Volumes 126–132, 1936, p.13.
27. O. V. Jathanna, The decisiveness of the Christ-event and the universality of Christianity in a world of religious plurality: with special reference to Hendrik Kraemer and Alfred George Hogg as well as to William Ernest Hocking and Pandipeddi Chenchiah, Peter Lang, Frankfurt, 1981.
28. National Council of Churches Review, Volume 120, 2000, p. 873
29. Senate of Serampore College (University), List of the Recipient of the Degree of Doctor of Theology.
30. UTC Bangalore, Latest News
31. G. Babu Rao, Wisdom Tradition and the Indian Parallels with special reference to Telugu Literature in Reflections on Theology Today: Papers presented by the ACTC Faculty during the academic year 1988–1989 on Theology and Mission and Ministry of the Church, ACTC, Hyderabad, 1990.
32. K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory of the United Theological College 1910–1997, Bangalore, 1998.
33. G. Babu Rao, Content Analysis of Theological Syllabi – Old Testament in Religion and Society, Volume 32, 1985.