Andhra Christian Theological College

Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC) is a seminary[3] in Telangana which was founded in 1964.[4] It is affiliated with India's first[5] university, the Senate of Serampore College (University) (a university under section 2(f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956),[6][7] and has degree-granting authority under a Danish charter ratified by the government of West Bengal.[8] ACTC is on the Hussain Sagar canal (north) in Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Secunderabad Junction railway station.[9]

This article is about UGC-recognised undergraduate courses (for the Clergy) and diploma, undergraduate and master's courses (for the Laity) offered by ACTC. For UGC-recognised master's courses (for the Clergy) specializing in Religion and Sacred Scripture, see Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture.

Andhra Christian Theological College
Motto
Ad Consummationem Sanctorum In Opus Ministerii
Motto in English
"Equipping saints for ministry"
TypeSeminary
Established1 July 1964 (1 July 1964)
AffiliationSenate of Serampore College (University)
DirectorR. R. D Sajeeva Raju, STBC[1] (Chair of the Board of Governors)
Principal[1]A. John Prabhakar, D.Th. (Serampore)
Academic staff
15+[2]
Location
Hyderabad
,
Telangana
,
India

17°25′36″N 78°27′10″E
Websitewww.actc.edu.in

The college was founded on the Lutheran Theological College campus in Rajahmundry and the founding societies included[10][11] the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Church of South India, the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars, the Methodist Church in India and the South Andhra Lutheran Church. The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches held its B.D. classes at ACTC in 1967, and in 1972 the B.D. programme of the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary was integrated into the college. When M. Victor Paul was principal (1991-1993), Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church joined the college.[12][13][11]

Christian missions in Andhra Pradesh[14] opened seminaries in Gooty (Union Theological Seminary),[15] Dornakal (Andhra Union Theological College,[16] for the Church of South India), Ramayapatnam (Baptist Theological Seminary, for the American Baptists), Luthergiri[17] (Lutheran Theological College), Kakinada (Baptist Theological Seminary, for Canadian Baptists) and Shamshabad (Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College, for the Anabaptists). Although professors were exchanged among the seminaries, Bachelor of Divinity students attended Serampore College in West Bengal.

Participating ecclesiastical societies
(in reverse alphabetical order)
Academic block face
ACTC Tower

Overview

Kretzmann Commission

ACTC constituted the Kretzmann Commission in 1969,[19] consisting of:

The commission's report, presented to the board of governors, suggested increasing the Bachelor of Divinity curriculum and abolishing the Licentiate in Theology programme.

Merger

In 1964, the college was founded in Luthergiri, Rajahmundry, East Godavari with the merger of three[20] theological colleges:[21] Andhra Union Theological College in Dornakal, Baptist Theological Seminary in Kakinada,[22] and Lutheran Theological College in Rajahmundry.[22]

With William D. Coleman as its first principal, the college was dedicated on 1 July[23] 1964 by R. M. Clark[23] of the BTESSC.[lower-alpha 1] The inaugural address was delivered by Senate of Serampore College registrar C. Devasahayam in Rajahmundry.[24]

The Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary was a separate part of the college in Rajahmundry until it merged in 1972.[13][23][12] By 1973, the college had moved from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad due to pollution from nearby paper mills.[25] The new buildings were dedicated by Church of South India bishop Pereji Solomon in the presence of Catholic archbishop Samineni Arulappa and seminarians from St. John's Regional Seminary.[26] During the 1990s, the college's postal address changed to Hyderabad (now in Telangana).

Administration and faculty

Board of governors
Succession of Old Testament and Hebrew faculty

The college is administered by a board of governors composed of representatives of participating Protestant ecclesiastical societies:

Motto

The college motto is derived from Ephesians 4:12, which reads in the Latin Vulgate: "Ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii..."[39] ("For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry..." in the King James Version).

Hall system
Succession of New Testament and Greek faculty

W. D. Coleman, the college's first principal, explained the hall system: "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".[52]

The churches commonly associated with Protestantism in southern India include the Anglicans, Congregationalists, Wesleyans, Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists. Each church has its own tradition. At ACTC, students learn their respective church doctrine in addition to general theology.[53]

Principals
ACTC Creche
Hostel

The principal serves a four-year term (2018-2022), with each participating church having an opportunity to provide a principal. The current principal is the Rev. A. John Prabhakar, D.Th. (Serampore).

TermYearsChurchDenominationPrincipals
1964–1972 8 AELC Lutheran W. D. Coleman, PhD (Hartford)
W. P. Peery, PhD (Duke)
1972–19808CSIWesleyanP. Victor Premasagar, PhD (St Andrews)
1980–19866CBCNCBaptistK. David, PhD (Edinburgh)
1986–19904STBCBaptistSuppogu Joseph, D.Th. (Serampore)
1990–1994 4 AELC Lutheran M. Victor Paul, D.Min. (Luther)
G. Sampurna Rao, D.Min. (McCormick)
1994–19984CSIWesleyanRegunta Yesurathnam, D.Th. (Serampore)
1998–2002 4 CBCNC Baptist K. D. G. Prakasa Rao, M.Th. (Serampore)
D. J. Jeremiah, M.Th. (Serampore)
2002–20064STBCBaptistB. J. Christie Kumar, M.Th. (Serampore)
2006–20104AELCLutheranN. V. Luther Paul, D.Th. (Serampore)
2010–20144CSIWesleyanCh. Vasantha Rao, Dr. Theol. (Hamburg)
2014–2018[1] 4 CBCNC Baptist T. Matthews Emmanuel, D.Th. (Serampore)
N. V. Vijaya Kumari, M.Th. (Serampore)
2018–20224STBCBaptistA. John Prabhakar, D.Th. (Serampore)

Serampore University affiliation
Metropolitan Aprem Mooken of the Assyrian Church of the East[54] visited the college during the Church History Association of India's 1988 triennial conference.[55]

The college has affiliated since its founding with the Senate of Serampore College (University).[56]

Degrees for pastors

ACTC and Serampore[57] offer two degrees for pastors: Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) and Master of Theology (M. Th.) under the aegis of Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture (ARRC).[56]

Distance education

Through distance education, ACTC has Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.) and Master of Christian Studies (M.C.S.) programmes for Christian students[58] and a Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.S.) programme for Christian and non-Christian students.[56]

Registrar visits

When the college was founded in 1964, university registrar Chetti Devasahayam (CBCNC) delivered its inaugural address;[24] registrar D. S. Satyaranjan visited the college annually. Current registrar S. K. Patro has visited ACTC to investigate the prospect of upgrading the college to a postgraduate institution.[59]

University convocations
1887 drawing of Senate of Serampore College (University)

Master of Divinity programme through ATA

The college has begun an initiative to admit Christian candidates to a M.Div. programme, for which it has been accredited by the Asia Theological Association.[67]

Academics
Present active faculty[68][2][1]
SubjectNameGenderDenominationDegreeAlma materUniversity
Christian ministryL. Anitha, MCIFMethodistM.Th.Gurukul, Chennai[69]Serampore
New TestamentCh. Helen Salomy, STBC[70]FBaptistM.Th.UTC, Bangalore[71]Serampore
ReligionsN. V. Vijaya Kumari, STBCFBaptistM.Th.HMI, Hyderabad/
UTC, Bangalore[72]		Serampore
History of ChristianityN. V. Grace, AELCFLutheranM.Th.UTC, Bangalore[73]Serampore
Christian ministryM. Rajeshwar Solomon, CSI[74]MWesleyanM. Th.UTC, Bangalore[75]Serampore
Christian MinistryY. J. Rajendra Prasad,[76] STBCMBaptistM.Th.UTC, BangaloreSerampore
New TestamentV. Manikya Rao, AELCMLutheranD.Th.SATHRI, Bangalore[77] Serampore
MissiologyCh. Joshi Ananda Prakash, AELCMLutheranM.Th.Gurukul, Chennai[78]Serampore
Christian theologyS. I. Nirmal Kumar, CBCNCMBaptistM.Th.NIIPGTS, Kolkata/
Serampore[78]		Serampore
Systematic TheologyD. Joseph Prabhakar, AELCMLutheranTh. D.GTU, Berkeley, CA (United States)[79]Graduate Theological Union
ReligionsT. Swami Raju, AELCMLutheranD.Th.SATHRI, Bangalore[80]Serampore
ReligionsP. Alexander, SALCMLutheranM.Th.Gurukul, Chennai[81]Serampore
Old Testament[70]K. Joseph Premavardhan,[82] CSI[83]MCongregationalM. Th.UTC, BangaloreSerampore
Old TestamentR. Jeeva Kumar,[84] STBCMBaptistM.Th.UTC, BangaloreSerampore
Old TestamentG. Vara Prasad, AELCMLutheranD.Th.UTC, Bangalore[85]Serampore
HomileticsA. John Prabhakar, STBCMBaptistD. Th.SATHRI, BangaloreSerampore
On study leave
SubjectNameGenderDenominationDegreeStudyingInstitutionLeave period
Social AnalysisM. Yonathan,[86] STBCMBaptistM.Th.D. Th. in
Social Analysis		2020-2023
Christian theologyB. J. Moses Shanthi Kumar,[87] CSI[74]MWesleyanM. Th.S. T. M.UTS, New York2019-2022
Christian ministryK. T. Vijayakumar,[88] CSI[89]MAnglicanM.Th.D. Th. in
Homilitics		SATHRI, Serampore2019-2022
Christian theologyB. N. Ratna Prakash,[90] AELCMLutheranM.Th.D. Th. in
Christian theology		UBS, Pune2018-2021

Library

ACTC's library has reading-room facilities, over 38,000[91] books and 35 periodicals. When the college was founded, it was known as the Dunkelberger Memorial Library.[23] The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America[92] had sponsored the library[92] in memory of Roy Martin Dunkelberger,[93] AELC, a Lutheran missionary in Rajahmundry.[94]

The library was renamed the Gipson Memorial Library in 2014 in honour of Baptist missionary T. G. Gipson, STBC, who had modernized the library during his second term as a visiting faculty member at the college.[95] The renaming ceremony was held during the tenure of T. Matthews Emmanuel (CBCNC) as principal, in the presence of board of governors chair K. Frederick Paradesi Babu (AELC) and board member V. Prasada Rao (CSI).

ACTC Dining Hall

Student life

ACTC has recreational facilities which include throwball, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a table tennis room and a playing field for football and cricket. Daily mass is said in the chapel for students and teachers, and Sunday mass is open to the public. College festivals include the Christian Home Festival, Carey Day, CSI Day, Reformation Day, and Independence Day.

Notable figures
ACTC Stage
Principal's house
Academic block side view
Family blocks
The Homiletics Scholar, The Rev. A. John Prabhakar, an Alumnus of this institution, the present Principal.

Notes
  1. Formerly known as the Board of Theological Education of the National Council of Churches in India.

References
  1. Principal's Annual Report 2016-2017 presented at the 53rd graduation service, ACTC, Hyderabad
  2. Principal's Annual Report 2015-2016 in the 52nd graduation service booklet of the Andhra Christian Theological College, 2016, pp.17-30.
  3. Roger E. Hedlund, World Christianity: South Asia, Missions Advanced Research and Communication Center, 1980, p.48.
  4. M. Ezra Sargunam (Edited), Mission Mandate: A compendium of the perspective of missions in India, Mission India, Madras, 1992, p.495.
  5. Sankar Ray, The Hindu (Business Line), 11 April 2008 "Almost a century later, the charter was endorsed officially under the Bengal Govt Act IV of 1918." Internet, accessed 30 November 2008.
  6. "UGC Act-1956" (PDF). mhrd.gov.in/. Secretary, University Grants Commission. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  7. 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 recoginsed 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. Archived 12 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  8. History of Council of Serampore College
  9. Google Maps
  10. Prospectus ACTC, Printed by A. Nageswara Rao at Saraswathi Power Press, Rajahmundry, 1969, p.4.
  11. Rajaiah David Paul, Ecumenism in action: a historical survey of the Church of South India, Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1972, p.146.
  12. Foundations: A Baptist Journal of History and Theology, Volumes 11-12, American Baptist Historical Society, 1968, pp.320-321.
  13. Year Book of the American Baptist Convention 1971, 1971, p.183
  14. Martin Senftleben Archived 9 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
  15. Edmund Davies draws attention to Prof. Wilfred Scopes, a Missionary of the London Missionary Society who taught in the seminaries in Gooty and Dornakal. Edmund Davis, The History of Theological Education in Jamaica: The United Theological College of the West Indies and its four antecedent colleges (1841-1966), 1998, page 167.
  16. Library file
  17. Winnipeg Free Press United Lutheran Church Advances - The Board sends new missionaries to each of six foreign mission fields. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
  18. Foundations, Volume 11, American Baptist Historical Society, 1968. p. 321.
  19. Martin Kretzmann (1906-2000) was a missionary to India and was also instrumental in affiliating the Concordia Theological Seminary, Nagercoil with the Senate of Serampore College (University). "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 May 2006. Retrieved 23 April 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Internet, accessed 23 April 2006.
  20. J. Herbert Kane, A Global View of Christian Missions from Pentecost to the Present, Baker Book House, 1971, p.120.
  21. Victor Premasagar "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Interpretive Diary of a Bishop, Chennai, 2001, p.88
  22. 1966 Yearbook of the Lutheran Church in America, United Lutheran publication house, 1965, p.11.
  23. Margaret Eunice Hawkinson née Coleman, That they may be one - The Story of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Published by the Mission Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, and printed at the Lenox Press, Madurai, 1966.
  24. The Lutheran, Volume 2, Lutheran Church in America, 1964, p.30
  25. Minutes of the Biennial Convention, Issue 7, Lutheran Church in America, 1974, p.553.
  26. "ACTC web site. Milestones". Archived from the original on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  27. Doctoral Dissertations in History, 1958, p.26
  28. Talathoti Punnaiah, My Memoir, Ministry and Message - 60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010, Self-published by the author, Kakinada, 2010, pp.11, 12, 18, 23, 33.
  29. The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's Who, Bennett and Coleman, Bombay, 1954, p.961.
  30. John C. England, et al. (Edited), Asian Christian Theologies, Volume 2, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2002, pp.275-276.
  31. G. Solomon, The Concept of Suffering in the Bible and in Hinduism, Eastern University (United States), Pennsylvania, 1957.
  32. Guide to Indian Periodical Literature, Volume 23, 1989, p.57
  33. Faith Lutheran Church, Volume 2, Issue 9, September 2015, p.3
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  35. Missionalia, Volume 35, 2007, p.148
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  37. Guide to Indian Periodical Literature, Volume 43, 2006, p.133
  38. Ravela Jeeva Kumar, Struggle for land rights in 1 Kings 21 : a dalit hermeneutic perspective, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2012.
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  40. Indian Journal of Theology, Volume 18, 2-3, April–September 1969, p.196.
  41. University of Edinburgh Journal, Volume 35, 1991, p.193
  42. Victor Paul has a postgraduate degree in New Testament from the Senate of Serampore College (University). In addition, he also has a doctoral degree in the field of Christian Ministry.
  43. K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory 1910-1997 of the United Theological College, Bangalore, 1997, p.111
  44. 70 years of God's Faithfulness: CSI (Medak Diocese) UK Telugu Christians Souvenir commemorating the 70th year of the formation of the Church of South India, 2016, p.15. Archived 27 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  45. The Bulletin of the Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies, Volume 12, 1993, p.2.
  46. Reconciliation as the mission of God, Reconciliation Network, 2005, p.23.
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  63. St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad.
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  83. Church of South India Synod, Rayalaseema Diocese Ministerial roll.
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  87. Trinity Union Fellows
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  91. Paul, Luther N.V.L., Principal's Annual Report 2007-2008, for private circulation, pp. 10-24
  92. Minutes of the twentieth biennial Convention of the United Lutheran Church in America, Board of Publication of the United Lutheran Church in America, 1956, p.991.
  93. Martin Luther Dolbeer, The Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church: A Brief History, Department of Religious Education of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1951, p.145.
  94. Margaret Eunice Hawkinson née Coleman, The Church is Planted - A Biographical Record of the Missionaries in India of the Lutheran Church in America 1842-1987, Florida, 1987.
  95. Tracy Gipson Memorial Library.
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Further reading
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