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.