Saturday 25 February, 2012

Ecumenical Resource Centre (ERC): Guest accomodation in UTC


Ecumenical Resource Centre


The Ecumenical resource Centre, inaugurated on the 25th of September 1999 is a residential facility for guests of the UTC. It also houses a conference hall and two seminar rooms which are used for local, national and international conferences.


ERC entrance


The ERC is located in the heart of the UTC campus, which is at a walkable distance from the Cantonment railway station in Bangalore. The building was specially designed to meet the growing needs of churches and non-governmental organisations, looking for reasonable, well-equipped and comfortable facilities for their meetings and conferences.

Reception area


The location of the facility amidst rich greenery gives a solemn feeling of being close to nature and offers a meditative and restful atmosphere for guests.

Double room

Conference hall

The ERC and the adjacent Charles Ranson Centre (CRC)has a total of 34 double rooms, 6 triple rooms and a suite. They are all  bath attached, offering hot and cold water, telephone facility, food and Wi-Fi. It also has 20 dormitory beds, and student/guest accomodation in the BB block.


Dining area


The dining hall which offers a variety of cuisine seats up to 100 people at a time. Two halls can seat 125 and 70 people each and are ideal for small meetings and seminars. White boards with markers, LCD projector and screen are available for presentations.

Tagore Hall


Parking facility is available and airport taxis can be called in from the front office of the ERC. Volvo buses from the airport stop in Miller's road which is the road in front of the UTC gate.

For further enquiries please contact:

Bursar/Treasurer,
United Theological College,
PO Box 4613
63, Millers Road
Benson Town
Bangalore 560 046.
Telephone :0091-80-23333438/23330502
Fax: 0091-80-23330015
E-mail:
ercmanager@gmail.com
bursar@utcbangalore.org
ercmanager@utcbangalore.org

Wednesday 22 February, 2012

Rev. Dr. Samson Prabhakar: A teacher, pastor and a gentleman

The UTC community was put into deep grief by the death of Rev. Dr. Samson Prabhakar who served the United Theological College for a very long time. He breathed his last in the early hours of Sunday, February 19. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Rosebel Prabhakar and son Oscar. His association with the UTC, Karnataka Central Diocese (KCD) of the CSI and South Asia Theological Research Institute (SATHRI) will be cherished and remembered by many students, laity, colleagues, pastors and researchers.

Rev. Dr. Jayakiran Sebastian says

"In the passing of Dr Samson Prabhakar, we have lost someone who was deeply concerned not only about theological education in India in the broadest sense, but also about theological education within the congregation, at the local level. This concern was manifest right through his teaching career, where he constantly reminded us of the need and necessity of teaching in the local context. As someone who belonged to his very first batch of students at the United Theological College in 1982 - 83, I tried to translate some of his insights into practice, especially during Confirmation classes. He wrote about this at various levels, including his doctoral dissertation at the University of Berne, Switzerland, where his underlying concern was working toward the revitalization of the church through education, especially through a contextually sensitive, biblically rooted confirmation curriculum. This concern also manifested itself through his work on contextual liturgies, where he firmly stated that "to be ecumenical, any Christian liturgy has to be authentically Christian and culturally relevant. Moreover, if our unity is to be visible, this is ultimately possible in and through fellowship at the Lord''s Table." (Samson Prabhakar, "The Church of South India Liturgy of the Eucharist: Authenticity and Relevance," in Thomas F. Best and Dagmar Heller, So We Believe, So We Pray: Towards Koinonia in Worship (Geneva: WCC Publications, 1995), p. 74.) In the broader sense, Dr Prabhakar worked hard at strengthening the doctoral programme of the Senate of Serampore College. Though one may quibble about details, one cannot doubt his sincerity in working towards making this broad-based and accessible to all those who wanted to pursue higher theological studies. I, personally, will miss a colleague in theological education, fellow pastor, and above all a sincere and committed teacher, who sowed the seeds of the "perfection of knowledge" (in St Basil's words) and took pleasure in seeing them grow in God's good garden."

Dr. Samson  Prabhakar was many things to many people. His mannerisms and approach to students is indeed worth emulating. Some of his students bear witness to that. Rev. Rohan says that "I am saddened by news of Prabhakar ayya's death. He was a friendly teacher and a good musician." Dr. Anderson sums it up by saying "He was a good pastor, teacher and a friend." 

The funeral held on Sunday evening brought together his family, friends, colleagues, church members and students. Everyone talked about how encouraging a person he was to his students and that theological education in India benefitted from him. Prof. Dr. Iris Devadason, a colleague of Dr. Prabhakar remembers how he was involved with music and acting in the UTC. His involvement extended to several spheres.

Bishop Coorilos, an alumnus and former faculty member of the UTC said that
" It was with great sense of shock and sadness that I received the news about the demise of Dr. Samson Prabhakar. Dr. Prabhakar was my teacher at the United Theological College, Bangalore when I was a B.D. Student in the 1980's. He taught me pastoral ministry and Christian Education. Dr. Prabhakar was an excellent communicator. He had a special God-given talent in organizing very meaningful inter-cultural worship resources. A gifted musician himself, his lectures too sounded musical. Years later,I have had the privilege of having worked together as colleagues on the faculty of UTC. When Dr. Prabhakar took up the the Directorship of SATHRI, I had several opportunities to work closely with him on several ventures. I still cherish the good memories that I have of jointly editing a book on HIV and AIDS: Theological Reflections. Although he has been ailing for quite some time, I never imagined that he would return to mother earth so soon. UTC and all his students and colleagues all over the world will miss him for a long long time. His legacy will remain for ever. As a  UTCian myself, I offer my prayerful condolences. May the comforting presence of God be with the bereaved family, especially his wife and children. Dr. Samson Prabhakar, Rest in Peace."  

The principal, faculty, staff and students of the UTC offer their condolences to the family of Rev. Dr. Samson Prabhakar. May his soul rest in peace. 

(Rev. Dr. Samson Prabhakar acting in one of the UTC drama productions. Picture courtesy Dr. Iris Devadason.)

Monday 6 February, 2012

Candidates selected for the year 2012-13

THE UNITED THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE, BANGALORE.

N O T I C E

The following candidates are selected for admission for the academic year 2012-2013 (conditions indicated against their names):

DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY (D.TH.)
Branch I: Old Testament
1.                  Mr. Joel Joseph, Christian Evangelistic Assemblies, Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
Branch II: New Testament
  1. Mr. Biju C., Christian Evangelistic Assemblies, Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
  2. Mr. Saju Thomas, Christian Evangelistic Assemblies, Uttarakhand, Dehradun.
  3. Mr. John Sunder Matoori, CSI, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
Branch VII: Christian Ministry (Counselling)
1.                  Ms. Vibeituonou Mere, Kohima Ao Baptist Church, Nagaland.

MASTER OF THEOLOGY (M.TH.)
Branch I: Old Testament:
1.                  Mr. George Seb, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
2.                  Mr. Boqhito K. Chishi, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
3.                  Mr. Liiduo Lanah B., Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE
4.                  Ms. Lahtaw Nang Dim Pri, Baptist Church, Assam, SPEE.
5.                  Mr. K. Joseph Premavardhan, CSI, Andhra Pradesh, SPEE.
6.                  Rev. Ch. Shadrack, Baptist Church, Andhra Pradesh, SPEE
Branch III: Christian Theology:
1.                  Mr. Rochhuahthanga Jongte, Baptist Church, Tripura.
2.                  Mr. Roby Varghese, St. Thomas Evangelical Church, Kerala.
3.                  Rev. Angolkar Dinesh Deelip Shashikala, Methodist Church, Maharashtra.
4.                  Mr. V. Inbaraj Jeyakumar, CSI, Madurai.
5.                  Mr. Laldingluaia, Presbyterian Church, Mizoram.
6.                  Ms. S. Angela Veronica, AELC, Andhra Pradesh.
7.                  Ms. Esther Parajuli, Baptist Church, Nepal, RRE
Branch VI: Christian Ethics:
1.                  Rev. C. Vanlalhruaia, Baptist Church, Mizoram.
2.                  Ms. Arensenla Jamir, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
3.                  Mr. Asan, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
4.                  Ms. N. Vivi Achumi, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
5.                  Rev. Lingala Samuel, CSI, Andhra Pradesh, SPEE.
Branch VII: Christian Ministry (Counselling)
1.                  Mr. Nadar Jeramiah Swamidason Victor, Methodist Church, Mumbai.
2.                  Mr. P.C. Zosangliana, Baptist Church, Mizoram.
3.                  Mr. Boto Hosheto Achumi, Baptist Church, Nagaland
4.                  Mr. Khamsianmuan, Presbyterian Church, Manipur.
5.                  Mrs. Julie Lavanya K., L.M. Shalom Church, Tamilnadu, RRE.
6.                  Ms. Imtimenla Aier, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
WAITING LIST
1.                  Mr. Shinoj John, Assemblies of God, Kerala. RRE.
2.                  Ms. Sinimol P.J., Assemblies of God, Kerala.
Branch VIII: MISSIOLOGY
1.                  Rev. Shyam M.S., CSI, South Kerala, Kerala.
2.                  Rev. Feno M. Thomas, Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Kerala.
3.                  Ms. Thejano Kithan, Baptist Church, Nagaland.
4.                  Mr. Biju Eapen, Church of God, Kerala, RRE.
Branch XI: WOMEN’S STUDIES
1.                  Ms. M. Temjenaro, Baptist Church, Nagaland, RRE.
2.                  Ms. Wabangtola, Baptist Church, Nagaland.
3.                  Ms. I. Temsutola Imchen, Baptist Church, Nagaland, SPEE.

BACHELOR OF DIVINITY (B.D.)
1.                  Shophet Peter Benedsingh, CSI, Tirunelveli, TN, RRE.
2.                  Aby K. Thomas, CSI, Madhya Kerala, Kerala.
3.                  Irene Preetha P., IELC, Bangalore.
4.                  John Mathew, Mar Thoma, Kerala, RRE.
5.                  Joish Pappachan, Mar Thoma, Kerala.
6.                  Pumsuanlal Tombing, Evangelical Baptist Convention, Delhi.
7.                  Solan Chelliah D., CSI, Madurai, TN.
8.                  Manoj M., CSI, Madras, TN, RRE.
9.                  Laltlingzova, Salvation Army, Mizoram.
10.              Edwinraja J., CSI, Tirunelveli, TN, SPRE.
11.              Jasrin K., CSI, Kanyakumari, TN, SPRE.
12.              Anil Kumar J., CSI, South Kerala, Kerala, SPRE.
13.              Arun Kumar R, CSI, Kanyakumari, TN, SPRE.
14.              David Reegan D., CSI, Madras, TN, SPRE.
15.              K.S. Dinakar, CSI, Dornakal, Andhra Pradesh, SPRE.
16.              George Issac, Jacobite Syrian, Kerala, SPRE.
17.              Ngayungwon Tollin Thumra, Baptist Church, Nagaland. SPGK
18.              Libin George, Jacobite Syrian Church, Kerala, RRE & SPCF.
19.              Steephen Jose S, CSI South Kerala, Kerala, RRE & SPGK.
20.              Mebanjop Wann, Presbyterian, Meghalaya. SPGK

RRE:   REQUIRED REMEDIAL ENGLISH
SPEE:  SUBJECT TO PASSING ENGLISH EXAMINATION
SPRE: SUBJECT TO PASSING REMEDIAL ENGLISH
SPGK: SUBJECT TO PASSING GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
SPCF:  SUBJECT TO PASSING CHRISTIAN FAITH       


                                                                                                REGISTRAR
February 04, 2012.

Wednesday 1 February, 2012

Session on web designing


A session on web designing was held in UTC on January 28,2012. The resource person Mr. Vineeth John Abraham introduced the students to the internet, blogging and HTML. The session lasted over two hours and was well attended by the BD III and IVth year students. Mr. Vineeth made an overview of the beginnings of the internet, networking, blogs, free sites, website building, HTML basics and dreamweaver.