Thursday 28 November, 2013

UTC faculty and students participate in Society of Biblical Literature seminar via video conference


The UTC faculty and students participated in a seminar on 'Reinventing Biblical Studies' through video conference on Monday, November 25th at 7:30 P.M. IST (2:00 P.M. GMT). The seminar was conducted by the Society Of Biblical Literature. The idea of the participation in the seminar via the internet was forwarded to the communication department by the biblical studies department through Dr. David Joy. The video conference via webex was co-ordinated by the communications co-ordinator of SBL, Mr. Christopher Hooker and the Communication Department of the UTC.


The faculty, researchers and students in UTC found this as a unique experience and are hoping that many more such meetings will be made possible via the internet. Multiple logins were done for the meeting from various parts of the world and the presenters were asked questions through this platform.

 


Photo's- Paul Karunakar, BD III

JK

Monday 25 November, 2013

Interaction with Dalit Christian Colony




The BD students doing a course on Dalit Theology had a meaningful exposure to a dalit colony known as ‘Christian Colony’ in Kalinayakahalli, about 60 kms from Bangalore, Karnataka on 24th November, 2013. This was arranged as a part of the Dalit Theology course on behalf of the Department of Theology and Ethics of the United Theological College by Dr. George Zachariah and Rev. Raj Bharath Patta, the course instructors. The students from the Student Christian Movement in India also joined the exposure. The intention of this visit was to give a wider exposure to the life and spirituality of rural Dalit Christians so as to understand the dalit realities which would help the students in their discourses of doing Dalit Theology from the perspective of the Dalits and Dalit Christians.


The session began by participating in the communion worship service in the village church followed by group discussions about various aspects and issues of the local Dalit Christians in general and dalits in general. Rev. Raj Bharath Patta, lead the students through a profound exposure to the Christian dalit issues and thus helped in understanding the importance of Dalit Christian realities in doing Dalit Theology. Rev. Rueben Manohar, a UTC alumnus and pastor in this congregation in Kalinayakahalli was instrumental in explaining the life-style, Christian faith and spirituality and issues pertaining to the Dalit Christian realities. Later the students visited the dalit colony and interacted with the people to know better about the dalit life and spirituality. The students discussed the issues that caught their attention and sought clarifications and insights from Rev. Raj Bharath Patta and Rev. Rueben Manohar. The visit was very helpful for the students in forming and articulating theology from the dalit perspective and thus addressing the issues of oppression, alienation, marginalization and humiliation. 



The students felt that this exposure gave a better understanding about the life realities and situations of rural dalit Christians and expressed sincere gratitude to the course instructors, Dr. George Zachariah and Rev. Raj Bharath Patta and to the SCMI for organizing such a meaningful exposure. It was also suggested that more such exposures could help in doing theology in dalit and subaltern perspectives in a better way.


Photos and report- Paul Karunakar, BD III



JK

Sunday 24 November, 2013

Biblical Studies Inter Faculty Seminar


The annual inter-faculty seminar of the department of Biblical studies was held at the United Theological College Bangalore, yesterday. The theme for this year was “Biblical Response to Ecological Challenges”.  The participants were from the St.Peter’s Pontifical Institute, Dharmaram Vidyakshetram and the United Theological College.

Inaugural Session
The inter faculty seminar was held under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Dexter Maben, the acting chairperson of the Biblical Studies Department at the UTC. The postgraduate and doctoral students of UTC (Biblical Studies) helped in the conduct of the programme. Rev. Rengbi Rangthang  (D.Th III, NewTestament) was the coordinator for this seminar. The seminar began with praise and worship led by Mayang and team. Rev.Dr. Dexter Maben gave the introduction after which Rev.Dr. C.I.David Joy  welcomed the participants. The inaugural worship began with the lighting of the lamp by the heads of the institutions and the worship led by the doctoral students under the coordination of Ms. Sushana Pramanik. Rev.Dr. John Samuel Raj, the principal of UTC, gave the inaugural address based on Psalm.104:24-31. He challenged the participants to come out of the narrow anthropocentric approach to a wider hermeneutics, reading the Bible afresh in the light of the earth crisis. Since the Bible begins with the creation, it should be given paramount place in our theological and hermeneutical endeavours, he said.



Papers Presented
Six papers, three from Old Testament and three from New Testament, were presented in the seminar. Fr. Jomon Thomas (St. Peter’s) presented the first paper titled “Ecological Concerns in the Law Codes of Pentateuch”. The presenter pointed out the need to go back to the scripture to understand how ecological concerns were central to the Law codes in Pentateuch and to see the progression of thought with regard to the ecological concerns in these law codes, namely, covenant codes, deuteronomic codes and holiness code. Three constituent parts of the created world is emphasised in all these codes, such as land, vegetative world and animal world. Rev.Dr.John Samuel Raj, the principal of UTC, moderated this session and the response was given by Sr.Rekha Rose. The participants suggested the need for taking into consideration the Ancient West Asian context and the practical applicability of these things in the present scenario. There is a need to address the issue of power, theology of justice and re-reading of cross-breeding.



The second paper was on “Paul and Ecology” presented by Sr. Hazel Alexander (DVK). Fr. Dr. Alfred Joseph of St.Peter’s moderated this session. This was responded by Fr. Suresh Mathew. The paper anchored on two main passages in the Pauline letters, Rom. 8:19-23; Colo. 1:15-20. This was explained in the light of other passages dealing with issues like understanding of creation in Pauline writings, the state of creation, new creation and restoration. The transformation is possible only in and through Jesus Christ. The paper saw Paul as an ecological prophet. The paper also gave the implications in the present context and urged the participants to acknowledge the ecological crisis as a spiritual crisis, to develop a new lifestyle with simplicity and coherent with the order of nature and to reconsider the meaning of well-being in relation to the wider context of society and holistic harmony with the cosmos.  The discussions from the floor suggested to see Paul and Greco-Roman context on ecology and to delineate the role of the church, if ecological crisis is a spiritual issue, in the present scenario. There is a need to bring the implications of new creation to present ecological crisis, though further clarity is required as to how to do it.



Ms.Lahtaw Nang Dim Pri (UTC) presented the paper titled “Wisdom Literature and its Response to Ecological Crisis”. This session was moderated by Fr.Dr.Joseph Titus (St.Peter’s). The response was given by Fr. Walter D’Souza. This paper dealt with issues like the roots of ecological crisis, the major ecological crisis' and the understanding of creation in wisdom literature. The paper suggested certain theological implications, especially from a tribal perspective. The questions from the floor were basically regarding the practical applicability and logical application of this in the light of the present scenario of development and the need to consider Qoheleth (for example, in chapter three equality of animal and human is mentioned) in making a response from the wisdom literature.



The fourth paper titled “Prophetic concern on Ecology” was presented by Fr.S.Nicholas (DVK). This was moderated by Rev. Dr. Daniel Jones Muthunayagom (UTC). Mr.Liiduo Lanah B (UTC) gave the response. The paper considered prophetic concern in general and Hosea.2:18-23 in particular. The important points of discussion from the floor were covenant between God and earth, the logic of God punishing nature whenever humans commit sins, the eschatology and ecological crises, the animal killing (sacrifice) and ecology.



Fr. Bijeesh Chacko(St.Peter’s) presented the fifth paper titled “Biblical Response to Ecological Crisis: Synoptic View Point”. Rev. Dr. C.I.David Joy (UTC) moderated this session and Rev.Saju Mathew(UTC) responded to the paper. The punch line of the paper was the urge for a change from anthropocentric to life-centred hermeneutics. The paper has argued that Bible is eco-friendly and the use of the term ‘ochlos’ in the synoptic gospels can be read as nature from the perspective of marginalisation. The discussion from the floor suggested that it is not only anthropocentric to bio-centric, but now the shift is to read it from a cosmo centric frame work. Jesus was responding to the Greco-Roman colonisation on the land of Palestine and its people. Therefore impact of globalisation needs to be addressed. The birth, death and resurrection of Jesus and its connection with ecology needs further consideration.



The sixth paper titled “In Him We Live and Move and Have Our Being (Acts.17:28): A Biblical Response to Ecological Crisis” was presented by Rev.I Limatemsu Ao (UTC). This session was moderated by Fr.Dr.Sebastian Mullooparambil (DVK). Sr.Hazel Alexander responded to the paper. The paper was finding out the ecological concerns in the Acts, especially in the early Christian Kerygma. Discussions regarding the paper were mainly on the title and its link with ecology.



Concluding session

The concluding session was moderated by Rev.Dr.Daniel Jones Muthunayagom. The main agenda was regarding the theme for the next meeting at St.Peter’s Pontifical Institute, which will be held on 22nd November, 2014. Out of the several suggestions, “Economics and Ethics from Inter-Scriptural Perspective” was proposed as the theme for the next meeting. This was followed by remarks from representing institutions. Fr. Dr. Joseph Titus (St.Peter’s) informed the participants regarding the publication of these paper of the Inter faculty series. Fr. Dr. Sebastian Mullooparambil (DVK) challenged the participants to become ambassadors of the message (discussions on ecology) and Rev. Dr. C.I. David Joy (UTC) pointed out the need for more interaction between seminaries.  The commitment song by Jeviholi Swu and Mayang added colour to the closing ceremony and during this time representatives from participating institutions poured water on plants as a symbol of commitment to ecological concerns.  Rev.Dr. Dexter Maben proposed the vote of thanks. There were also announcements regarding the “BIBLE DARSHAN” the international seminar which is going to be held at the UTC, on January 30-February 1, 2014. The meeting was concluded with prayer and benediction by Rev. Dr. Daniel Jones Muthunayagom. 
Reported by Rev. Biju C.




JK

Monday 18 November, 2013

Inter Sunday School Competition held


The Inter-Sunday school competition of the UTC was held on November 16, 2013. The St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Cathedral, Queen's Road, Bangalore won the over all championship. East Parade Malayalam CSI church was runner up. The Inter-Sunday school competition is held every year and many churches in Bangalore participate. This year 28 churches participated. Children, Sunday school teachers and parents came together for an entire day in UTC.


UTC was full of children in the morning itself and the programme was inaugurated by the student co-ordinator Mr. Manoj M, the Carey society secretary Mr. Manda Prashanth Babu and the faculty advisor Fr. Jerry Kurian. This was followed by a string of competitions in the main hall, Tagore Hall and the JR Chandran Academic block. The competitions were so close as the children reminded everyone that they were very talented. Group song and choreography was  keenly watched as were other competitions.



The closing function was held at 6:00 P.M. and the co-ordinator thanked the churches who accepted UTC's invitation and participated. The students worked the entire night to have the hall ready and many BD and MTh students helped in the logistics and arrangements on the competition day.





Photo credits- Calvin Sushith Ambler, BD III
                       Joe Jacob


JK

Monday 4 November, 2013

New website for UTC


The new website of the UTC was inaugurated and dedicated to the glory of God yesterday in the Tagore Hall after the Sunday evening worship. The preacher Rev. Dr. Jones Muthunayagom offered a prayer, the principal Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj clicked for viewing the website and Dr. Rini Ralte clicked on the UTC Bangalore facebook page.

The website is now available on the domain name www.utc.edu.in  The new webite is being managed and maintained by the Communication Department in the UTC. Traffic to utcbangalore.org will be redirected to the new college website.