College Play "Discovering Magdalene"

The College play "Discovering Magdalene" will be held tomorrow at 6 P.M. in the Charles Ranson Hall in the UTC. The play is written and directed by Mr. Iswara Prasad Santiago and will feature the students of the college. The College play is being held as part of the College Day celebrations. The Faculty adviser Dr. Nalini Arles and the student convener Mr. Daniel Vivek are coordinating the play.

College day in UTC

The 104 th college day of the UTC was held in the Ranson Hall of the UTC yesterday at 4:00 P.M. The chief guest of the programme Advocate Rajendra Sail, the founder general secretary of the Raipur Churches Development and Relief Committee (RCDRC) and president of the Chattisgarh Unit of the People's Union for Civil Liberties gave a thought provoking and hard hitting talk on how theological education should be changed to become relevant today.

India needs a cow-dung theology where theology should emerge from the organic engagement of the church with the experiences of the rural masses in India, he said. Recollecting his forty years of association with the United Theological College, which started during his tenure at the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society under the mentorship of M M Thomas, he observed that the purpose of theological education has been reduced to the manufacturing of pastors who preach, chant and stay away from trouble.

Instead, he proposed the need for a radical envisioning so that the church will become an ally of social movements in India by participating actively in their struggles to create a new world. Drawing from his five decades long vocation as a social activist in Chattisgarh, Advocate Sail gave a contextual analysis of Indian society and challenged the community to pitch their tents in the lives of the rural communities to witness how God is making all things new through the agency of the dalits, women and other oppressed communities. To this end, he called upon the community to consider closing down UTC for one year, and invited the students and faculty to share in the lives of the rural communities for a year, and then come back to the college to engage with the bible and other sources. He also proposed a radical involvement with the social movements such as POSCO and Narmada as a component in theological education. He concluded his speech with the poem, “If you believe in heaven, make it a reality in the here and now.”

  

The Principal, Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj presented a detailed report of the activities of the College during the academic year 2013-14. Dr. Nalini Arles, the faculty adviser of the College Day Celebrations welcomed and introduced the chief guest, and Mr. Gandham Daniel Vivek, the convener of the College Day Celebrations proposed the vote of thanks. Students and friends from the Kolar Gold Fields presented cultural progrmmes. Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas said the opening prayer, and the celebrations came to an end with prayer and benediction by Rev. Dr. C. I. David Joy. 

Reported by Dr. George Zachariah

Photo credits- Mr. Calvin Sushith Ambler (BD III)

JK

UTC Annual Refresher Course 2013

                                        The United Theological College

63, Millers Road, Benson Town,  Bangalore – 560 046.

 

To:

       All UTC Alumni                                                                 2^nd  September  2013

 

Dear Friends,

 

          Greetings from the United Theological College (UTC), Bangalore.

 

I am happy to announce that the UTC Annual Refresher Course for the year 2013 is scheduled to take place from 22^nd October to 24^th October 2013.  The theme for this year is: “The Church and Theological Education : Challenges and Prospects.”     

 

The UTC Alumni will also have their Annual General Body meeting on the 24^th of October at 2:00 p.m. (for members only).   Those of you who have not yet become active members of the UTC Alumni Association are encouraged to do so by paying the membership fee as follows:

 

Life Membership    Rs.1,000/-  ;    Annual Membership    Rs.150/-

 

Please get in touch with Rev. J. Jeyakumar, the Interim PRO of UTC, to let us know about your willingness to participate in this programme.  Accommodation and food will be arranged from 22^nd October morning until 24^th October afternoon (4.00 p.m.) only.  However, if anyone is arriving on 21^stOctober (evening), please inform Rev. J. Jeyakumar for accommodation.  Accommodation is only for 100 people.  Kindly book in advance.

 

Telephone Numbers:   0091-80-23332844, 23333438, 23330502.

E-mail IDs:  unitedtcb@gmail.com / proutc@gmail.com 

 

We will appreciate if you attend all the sessions since the two evenings from 5:00 p.m. are kept free.  Hoping to see you at the UTC Annual Refresher Course, 2013!

 

          With best wishes,

                                                                             Yours sincerely,

 

 

                                                                                               Dr. Nalini Arles

                                                                                   Convener, Refresher Course.

 

PS:  Food and Accommodation will be made available on Actual Charges

            for those who wish to bring their families along.

 

vm

 

 

 

"----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Please send the duly filled Registration Form back by 10^th October 2013

To:  Dr. Nalini Arles, Convener, Refresher Course

or

To Rev. J. Jeyakumar, PRO (Interim)

United Theological College

63 Miller’s Road

Benson Town

Bangalore 560 046.

 

E-mail IDs:  unitedtcb@gmail.com / proutc@gmail.com

 

 

Alumni Association of the United Theological College, Bangalore

Notice of Meeting

 

To

     All the Former Students of the United Theological College, Bangalore.

 

Dear Friends,

 

Greetings to you all!

We are delighted to inform you that the General Body Meeting of the Alumni Association of the UTC will be held on 23^rd October 2013, at 5:00 pm, at the United Theological College, Bangalore.  All the members of the Association are requested to be present:

We are enclosing herewith the following for your information.

 

1.      Agenda for the Meeting

2.      Minutes of the Last Meeting held on 25^th October 2012

3.      Refresher Course Notice from the Convener

4.      Registration Form for the Refresher Course 2013

 

            With regards

            Yours sincerely,

 

 

        Rev. B. Devaputhra              Rev. Stephen Selvinraj                 

           Joint Secretary                        President                        Joint Secretary

 

 

                   Agenda

 

1. Opening Prayer
2. Roll Call
3. Appointment of Recording Secretaries
4. Obituary
5. Minutes of the Previous Meeting
6. Matters Arising
7. Principal’s Report
8. Report on Marriages, Ordination and Consecration of  Former Students of UTC.
9. Statement of Accounts
10. Election of Office Bearers
11. Remarks by the President
12. Any Other Matter
13. Vote of Thanks
14. Prayer and Benediction

 

 

 

 

 

 

"----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The United Theological College, Bangalore  560 046.

Refresher Course / Alumni Meeting – 2013

REGISTRATION FORM

 

Name (in capitals):  …………………………………………………………….……………………….

Address:  ……………………………………………………………………….……………………………

          ………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..

          ………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..

 

E-mail ID:…………………………………                 Telephone/Mobile……………………….

Accommodation at UTC     :   Yes/No

UTC Alumni                      :                 Year of Study ……………………………………

Date of Arrival: . .…………………             Date of Departure …..…………………………..                                                        

 

(Signature)

 

Professorial lecture of Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas

The Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas delivered his professorial lecture titled "A Theologians Wrestling with Anger and its Trajectories in shaping theology" in UTC yesterday at 4:30 P.M. in the Tagore Hall. The lecture was chaired by the Dean of the Masters Division, Rev. Dr. K. Jesurathnam and introductory remarks were made by the dean of the Doctoral Division, Dr. Nalini Arles. Dr. Sahadhas started by thanking his teachers Dr. O.V. Jathanna, Dr Sathianathan Clarke, Dr. Jayakiran Sebastian, Dr. Christopher Doraisingh, his faculty colleagues, principal, all UTC staff and wife Usha and son Benil.

Dr. Sahayadhas in his lecture talked about the role of anger in our lives and tried to bring out the theology of anger and how it can be channelised to be used by all communities who face oppression. He introduced the participants in the lecture to how anger was seen over the centuries. He looked at anger from the perspective of church fathers, Martin Luther and Buddha.

He then tried to contextualize it by talking of the experience of the Arunthathiyars. He spoke of how they are angry at being oppressed and relegated to the sidelines. But this anger according to Dr. Sahayadhas has taken a good direction and has become the anger of hope rather than the anger of despair. He reminded those present that theology is very ritualistic in India and we have to come out of this.

 Those present congratulated Dr. Sahayadhas and his family.

Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas, his wife Usha and their son Benil

Study group from Edinburgh visits UTC

A group of students from the NewCollege Missionary Society, Edinburgh lead by Mr. Dan Harper are concluding their stay in the United Theological College. They arrived on May 30^th and will leave today. The group consisting of eight people were here on a study trip to understand the culture and diversity of India. Their interests also included cross cultural learning, learning about the Indian church and the challenges it faces now. The programme included lectures by faculty members in UTC and resource persons from other fields. The group was co-ordinated and helped by Dr. Nalini Arles who arranged several exposure trips to religious places and NGO’s in Bangalore and in CMC, Vellore.

The group was introduced to the UTC community during chapel service. They have made a donation towards the support of theological education in the college. The group members are Dan Harper, Kirsty Harper, Taisie Pennick, Rebecca Blakey, Francesca Castagnetti, Lauren Massetti, Liam Fraser and Rachel Harrison. 

Dr. Nalini Arles

Dr. Nalini Arles

Dr. Nalini Arles is currently the Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Christian Ministry Department in the United Theological College. She is a distinguished alumnus of New College, University of Edinburgh where she completed her Doctoral Degree. Dr.Nalini is presently serving as the Doctoral Dean. She also served as the Acting Registrar for the September Term. She defines herself as a strict person who stands by her convictions which have taken her to this level. Being a counsellor she is someone who identifies with people in their distressing situations. She has travelled extensively and she is enriched with the enormous experiences that she has gained from these wide exposures.

Family details

Dr.Nalini is married to renowned Missiologist Dr. Siga Arles. He is a prolific writer and scholar in the field of Missiology. At present he heads the organization Contemporary Center for Christianity. They are blessed with two children. The eldest son Naveen is a musician who is based in London at present. Recently he was invited to the House of Commons. Younger son is Sandhesh who is married to Pamila who is an American. He is working as a Financial Analyst. The family exists as an exemplary model of Christian witnessing.

Remarkable Positions Held

·         She was the President of the International Council on Pastoral care and Council for a term.

·         She served as the President and the Vice President of Asia Pacific Council on Pastoral Care and Counselling

·         She is one of the founding members of Association of Theologically Trained Women in India. She also served as the President of the same in 1970.

·         She has taught in a few of the prestigious universities all around the globe. She has had the privilege of teaching in Graduate Theological Union Berkley, Lutheran Theological seminary Minneapolis, St.Thomas University Miami. She was also associated with the Society for Inter-cultural Mission and Pastoral Work.

Contributions to the academic, eclessia and society in the year 2012-13

·         Presented a paper as part of the Faculty Research Seminar in UTC entitled “The Psychology of the Terrorists” which has grabbed the attention of many.

·         Led a session on the theme “Women of Yesterday and Today”.

·         Handled a workshop on “Child Sexual Abuse” for CMS Hostel Wardens at Nagercoil.

·         Handled a workshop for NGO leaders on women empowerment and conflict resolution models.

·         She has preached in various churches in and around Bangalore.

·         She was instrumental in organizing a protest at KGF against Government’s decision of dumping the  Nuclear Waste of Koodankulam at KGF.

·         She is also engaged in Counselling.

A Ray of Hope for those in Distress

Dr.Nalini along with her husband runs an NGO named India Ministries Fellowship. The NGO has three centres which are Boys’ Home at Thiruthanny which accommodates 45 boys, a Girls’ Home at KGF which accommodates 110 girls and a centre to take care of the children of alcoholic parents at Madhavaram, Chennai. In Madhavaram the NGO provides lunch for Senior Citizens. The organization has more than 25 staff members. They also run other institutions such as Tailoring Units, DMLT lab, a primary school and a Nursing school. The NGO has changed the destiny of hundreds of children from poor families. It aims at the holistic development of the children.There are Doctors, Dentists, IT Professionals and many others who are well settled now, who were once part of these Children’s Homes.

Dr. Nalini looks back at her life with contentment for what she has achieved so far. “Walking her talk” is her life’s motto. She believes in practicing what she believes than talking about it always. This is her constant prayer that “God grant me an alert mind till the end”.  Her relentless fight for justice still continues to inspire many. She stands out as a unique personality in the theological arena with her out of the box thinking and vision.

Phone: 91-9686800403/91-80-23545604
E mail:  arles.nalini@gmail.com

Prepared by Rency Thomas George, BD III