Rev. Dr. Chilikuri Vasantha Rao elected principal of the UTC

The Rev. Dr. Chilikuri Vasantha Rao was elected the principal of the United Theological College by the UTC Council in the Annual General Meeting held yesterday, August 11, 2016. Dr. Vasantha Rao was the former principal of the ACTC, Hyderabad and has held various posts. He belongs to the CSI Medak diocese. He will take charge on October 1, 2017.

Annual General Meeting held in UTC

The Annual General Meeting of the UTC was held on August 8 and 9, 2013 in the ERC. Representatives of the churches on the UTC council attended the meeting which was held from morning to evening on both days. The Annual General Meeting is the General Body of the UTC which looks into all administrative, academic and spiritual matters of the college.

From left to right: Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj, Most Rev. Dr. Devakadasham and Rev. Jeyakumar

The president of the UTC and the moderator of the Church of South India Most Rev. Dr. G. Devakadasham, the principal Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj, the secretary of the council Rev. Jeyakumar, bishops, pastors and lay persons from various dioceses of the CSI and various denominations, faculty representatives of the UTC, alumni representatives and student representatives of the college attended the meeting.

Rev. Selina

The agenda included the principal's report, appointments to the college, confirmation of service, promotions, retirement, sabbatical and resignations over the past year. The audited statement of accounts for 2012-13 were read and elections to finance and development and building and property committees were also conducted.

On the left: Bishop B.D. Prasad Rao, the bishop of the CSI Rayalseema diocese and Bishop Thomas K. Oommen, the bishop of the CSI Central Kerala diocese

The principal's report included the progress of the college in the past year, accomplishments of various departments and faculty members, and the hostel building project. All AGM members and members of the faculty spoke about the direction the college has to take in the coming years. There was a united voice to work towards bringing out good candidates for ministry in the church from UTC. The bishop of the Methodist Church Bishop Taranath S. Sagar, the bishop of the CSI Rayalseema diocese Bishop B.D. Prasad Rao, the bishop of the CSI Vellore diocese Bishop A. Rajavelu, the bishop of the CSI Central Kerala diocese Bishop Thomas K. Oommen and the bishop of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church Bishop Mathews Mor Aphrem attended the AGM.

Checking the progress of the hostel building project

The hall way under construction

UTC pre council seminar

The UTC AGM pre council seminar lecture was delivered today in the UTC ERC seminar hall by the Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College (University) Rev. Dr. Santanu Patro. The title of his paper was "Brahminism in the Subaltern: Predicament in Theorising Feminism for India." The bishop of the CSI Central Kerala diocese Rt. Rev. Thomas K. Oommen presided over the presentation.

The paper dealt with the questions Is Brahminism reappearing as an alternative paradigm within the field of subaltern studies to theorise Indian Dalit, Adivasi and Women studies? Is it enough to accept Brahminism because it has countered effectively ‘Westernism’ and contextualised through indigenous movements, cultural rootedness and pluralistic religious foundations? Is there a possibility of doing Indian Feminism without Brahminism while maintaining equidistance from the Western influences such as Feminist Theology?

He ended by suggesting by suggesting a few tools of analysis to help construct an adequate methodology for Indian Feminist Theology.

1. Critical shift is needed from Narisakti to Narimukti

2. Emphasis on Prakrti over and above Purusa.

3. Little story and oral history constitute Herstory.

4. Critiquing tradition as an a priori engagement.

5. Analysing power.

6. Experience.

7. Accompanying in the struggles with the Dalits and Adivasis.

Rev. Dr. Santanu Patro to speak in the pre council meeting of the Annual General Meeting

The Rev. Dr. Santanu K. Patro, the Registrar of the Senate of Serampore College (University) will be speaking for the pre council seminar of the UTC Annual General Meeting tomorrow at 10:00 A.M. His paper will be on the WCC theme "God of life, lead us to justice and peace."

The Rev. Dr. Patro was professor in the department of Religions in the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Chennai prior to his appointment as registrar. He is an alumnus of the United Theological College, Bangalore.

The Executive body of the UTC is meeting today and tomorrow's pre council seminar will be followed by the Annual General Meeting of the UTC Council.

UTC Pre Council Seminar and Annual General Meeting

The UTC pre council seminar and Annual General Meeting was held on August 9 and 10, 2012. Members of the UTC council from all over India took part in the two day deliberations and election of the new executive commitee, which is the highest decision making body of the United Theological College. The UTC is governed by a council comprising members belonging to several churches in India.

From Left to Right: Rev. Dr. Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar, Rev. Dr. Dayam Joseph Prabhakar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Surya Prakash, Rev. Dr. Jones Muthunayagom and Rev. Dr. Joseph Muthuraj.

Rev. Jeyakumar, Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj and Rt. Rev. Dr. Surya Prakash.

The proceedings started with worship on the first day and was followed by the pre council seminar with the theme "God of Life: Lead us to Justice and Peace". The meeting was chaired by the president of the UTC Council, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Surya Prakash, bishop of the Karimnagar CSI diocese. This year's seminar had four presentations. Rev. Dr. Dayam Joseph Prabhakar (Theology and Ethics), Rev. Dr. Jones Muthunayagom (Old Testament), Rev. Dr. Evangeline Anderson Rajkumar (Women's Studies) and Rev. Dr. Joseph Muthuraj (New Testament) made presentations on topics which reflected the theme.

Dr. Joseph George

The seminar was followed by the business meeting which looked at various aspects of college life. The curriculum revision report was presented by Dr. Joseph George. The second day had continued discussions on business to be transacted and the new president along with a new executive was elected. The new UTC council president is Most Rev. G. Devakadasham, the moderator of the Church of South India and bishop of the Kanyakumari CSI diocese.The principal and secretary thanked the members who attended.