United Theological College, Bangalore
Protestant seminary in India renowned for [[Dalit Theology]]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
United Theological College (UTC) is an ecumenical Mainline Protestant 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 an ecumenical institution in Bangalore, recognized as the principal center for the development and practice of Dalit theology.
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| 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 |
| Affiliations | 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 , , 12°59′45″N 77°35′56″E |
| Website | http://www.utc.edu.in/ |
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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 |
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Full-time faculty
Visiting Faculty
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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
- 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
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
Further reading
- K. M. Hiwale (Compiled) (1998). "Directory of the United Theological College 1910–1997".
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