Turning the sod ceremony of the Mahatma Gandhi Centenary hostel and quarters

Most Rev. G. Devakadasham, President of the UTC Society, unveiling the foundation stone

 The turning of the sod ceremeony of the UTC Centenary Mahatma Gandhi Hostel and Quarters was held on Wednesday, September 26, 2012. The president of the UTC society Most Rev. G. Devakadasham, Moderator of the Church of South India presided over the ceremony.

The function started with chapel service at 7:30 A.M. in which the president preached about the need for the building project and the importance for the strong future of the UTC. The chapel service was followed by the turning of the sod ceremony in which the bishop president, executive members of the UTC council, faculty, students, staff, well wishers of the college and guests were present.

Student representatives

The worship and turning of the sod ceremony was followed by a community breakfast. The building project is expected to be completed within one and a half years.

Foundation stone

Community breakfast

Refresher course and alumni meeting 2012

The refresher course and alumni meeting of the UTC will be held on October 23, 24 and 25, 2012 in the United Theological College. The annual general body meeting of the UTC alumni will be held on October 24th at 5:00 P.M. 

The faculty convenor for this year is Rev. Dr. R. Sahayadhas (sahayadhasutc@rediffmail.com). The PRO Rev. M. Jacob Frank (jacobfranknkd@gmail.com) can also be contacted for details. The theme for this year is “Lord, renew the Church—begin from Me”.

Last year's refresher course and meeting was well received and had participants from all over the country.  Rev. Dr. Peniel Rufus was the convenor.

Paper being presented for the refresher course

Worship being conducted by the alumni

Worship preacher Rev. Viji Varghese Eapen

Few of the alumni with Dr. Eric Lott

 

Inter-Seminary inauguration

 

The Inter-Seminary programmes for the year 2012-13 was inaugurated on Saturday, August 11 in the Tagore Hall, UTC at 4:00 P.M. The talk for the inauguration was given by Rev. Dr. Peniel J. Rufus, Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Ethics. Mr. Rohan Pushparajan, the Inter-Sem secretary, Brother Sanu Thomas and Fr. Jerry Kurian, the General Advisor were also present.

Rev. Dr. Peniel J. Rufus

Rohan Pushparajan

The meeting was attended by students from various Catholic seminaries and several students from the UTC. Brother Sanu welcomed the gathering and Fr. Jerry Kurian gave the introductory talk on the theme for the year. He talked about the need for theological students to be aware of the problems brought about by poverty and corruption and caste and gender discrimination in India. Dr. Peniel elaborated the theme for the year, "Go, grow and glow." He talked about the theme drawing insights from the disciples of Jesus and called upon the gathering to understand the real call of discipleship by Jesus.

The inaugural function included a song by the UTC students and an action song by the Junior Bible Fellowship of the UTC. Mr. Rohan Pushparajan proposed the vote of thanks. The Inter-Sem arranges several cultural and sports competitions all year round and is a time for Catholic and protestant seminaries to come together. 

Opening prayer

Sanu Thomas

Closing prayer

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.

Quiet Day

Rev. Dr. Daniel Premkumar

The first term Quiet Day retreat was held on August 1 and 2 in the UTC. Rev. Dr. Daniel Premkumar, Director of the CSI Synod Diaconal Concerns was the retreat leader. The retreat was divided into four sessions and started  yesterday night and ended late in the afternoon today. The retreat leader emphasized on entering into the persona and talked of three things which is love for God, love for neighbour and love for both God and neighbour.

Matthew 22:32-40, Mark 5:1-10 and Mark 4:1-9 were the various passages chosen. As part of the persona of the self, Dr. Premkumar talked of the caste divide in the church in India and the anti-people thrust by the government and insisted that the good news is not seeking personal gains but transformation of the total context in which we live. In a re-reading of the bible passage of the prodigal son he stressed that the forces of darkness have taken over the land of the poor. The story of the prodigal son was used to highlight the plight of those with HIV-AIDS. He therefore called for a re-conferring of the status of sons and daughters to those who have been distanced from the church just like the prodigal son is re-conferred his status by his father.

Inauguration of the Francke Foundation exhibition

Hon. Hans-Günter Löffler, German Deputy Consul General, Bangalore.

The Francke foundation exhibition was inaugurated in UTC by the German deputy consul general in Bangalore Mr. Hans-Günter Löffler on June 10, 2012. In his speech he talked of the coming together of Indian and German culture and how important it is to learn  from each other.

Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj talked about the importance of such an exhibition in UTC. He said "The Francke Foundation was founded by the Prof. Dr. August Hermann Francke (1663-1727) in Halle, which is in the eastern part of Germany. Prof. Francke was an outstanding theologian and a visionary as well. He is known for his piety but more than that he is remembered for the great contribution of imparting knowledge with others who did not have access to it." The need for this exhibition according to the principal "is because of someone who is known to all of us – Prof. August Hermann Francke’s famous student, the missionary Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg and his colleague Henrik Plütschau. When the Danish king wanted missionaries for his Danish Colony in Tanquebar he did not find anyone suitable or willing among the Danish clergy, and therefore he asked Father Prof. Francke whether he could be of help in this regard. Francke was already sending missionaries to various parts of the world at this time, and he readily agreed to send two young students, who came then in the year 1706 via Denmark to the shores of India and landed in Tranquebar. Both were full of enthusiasm and commitment for modern education following the pattern of Halle and eager to explore their new place." 

 

He continued "He was followed by more than 50 other missionaries of the Danish Halle Mission. Among them is the famous missionary Schwartz, who was very influential at the Tanjavore court and initiated there a palm-leaf library. All these missionaries because of their incredible passion for scientific education took keen interest in improving the system of education in the native schools they established, and encouraged literacy particularly among Dalits and women. Ziegenbalg started most probably the first school for Indian girls. The missionaries had regular communication with Germany in the form of letters and reports whenever they saw something new. These letters and reports are well preserved in the Halle library."

 

Today the letters and reports of the missionaries are an indispensable source of research-material for anyone doing research on 17th and 18th century in South India. Therefore scholars in the areas of religion, sociology, mission, anthropology, history, botany, biology etc., take keen interest in the archives of Halle.

College opening and covenant service

Welcoming the students

 

The re-opening of the United Theological College, Bangalore was held with the traditional principal’s tea, introduction of students and staff, and the covenant service on Sunday evening. The opening tea which brought all members of the community together was held at 4:30 P.M. while the service was held at 6:30 P.M. in the Tagore Hall. The old students are back after a two month vacation and the new students joining for the BD, MTh and DTh programmes have just arrived. The principal Rev. Dr. John Samuel Raj along with Rev. Dr. Sahayadas and Rev. Dr. Allan Samuel Palanna led the covenant service. 

Covenant service

Holy Communion

Communion

The principal also introduced the new faculty member for the  department of Mission and Ecumenics, Sr. Dr. Rani Joseph Mary Shruti. She is a member of the Congregation of Sisters of Notre Dame, Coesfeld, Germany. This is the first time that a Roman Catholic nun has been appointed as a full time faculty member of the UTC. Sr. Dr. Rani has taught in two theological seminaries in India and has worked among the tribals in West Bengal and other parts of North India.  

The principal welcoming Sr. Dr. Rani Joseph Mary Shruti