United Theological College, Bangalore

United Theological College (UTC) is an ecumenical Mainline Protestant seminary founded in 1910.Vijaya Kumar, Ecumenical Cooperation of the Missions in Karnataka (India), 1834–1989: A Historical Analysis of the Evangelistic Strategy of the Missions, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2005, pp.99–105. It is situated in the southern city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in South India and is affiliated with the Senate of Serampore College (University).The Senate of Serampore College (University) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under which a University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recognised by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal. It is an ecumenical institution in Bangalore, recognized as the principal center for the development and practice of Dalit theology.

The College Since 1976, it has been granted the status of an autonomousO. V. Jathanna, Principal's Report 2007-2008, Saplings, United Theological College, Benson Town, Bengaluru. p. 2 college under Senate of Serampore. The college has welcomed world leaders. Mahatma Gandhi visited it in 1927 and declared, To live the gospel is the most effective way…I can say that the life of service and uttermost simplicity is the best preaching. India Post released a centenary commemorative stamp in honor of the United Theological College (UTC) on 8 July 2011.

Motto UTC's motto comes from Matthew 20:28 in the Vulgate: SICUT FILIUS HOMINIS NON VENIT MINISTRARI SED MINISTRARE ET DARE ANIMAM SUAM REDEMPTIONEM PRO MULTIS which translates as "Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a redemption for many".Latin Vulgate It is sometimes condensed to Not to be Served but to Serve. In the University emblem the motto is in Greek (not in Latin): οὐ... διακονηθῆναι ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι

Courses offered The UTC was granted autonomy in the year 1976 by the Senate of Serampore College (University). The following are the courses offered by the College:College Handbook 2008–2009.

Diploma in Women's Studies Certificate Course in Christian Studies Diploma for Proficiency in Counselling Diploma in Young Men's Christian Association Professional Secretaryship Bachelor of Divinity, B.Div. Master of Theology, Th.M. Doctor of Theology, Th.D.

Succession of Old Testament Faculty at UTC, BangaloreFull-time faculty 1931-1958/1963-1965, The Rev. ✝M. H. Harrison, Th.M. (ANTS), 1959–1993, The Rev. E. C. John, Dr.theol. (Heidelberg), 1963–1969, The Rev. Samuel Amirtham, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), 1972–1978, The Rev. G. M. Butterworth, Ph. D. (London), 1973–1978, The Rev. Gerhard Wehmeier, Dr.theol. (Basel), 1979–1994, The Rev. Theodore N. Swanson, Ph. D. (Vanderbilt), 1979-1985, The Rev. Rudolf Ficker, Dr. Theol. (Heidelberg), 1984–1987, The Rev. D. N. Premnath, Th. D. (GTU), The Rev. James Vijayakumar, D. Th. (Serampore), The Rev. D. Jones Muthunayagom, D. Th. (Serampore), 1993–2000, The Rev. Gnana Robinson, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), The Rev. Jules Francis Gomes, Ph. D. (Cantab.), The Rev. K. Jesurathnam, Ph. D. (Edinburgh), The Rev. J. R. John Samuel Raj, Dr.theol. (Hamburg)Johann Anselm Steiger (Edited), 500 Jahre Theologie in Hamburg: Hamburg als Zentrum christlicher Theologie und Kultur zwischen Tradition und Zukunft, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 2005, pp.449, 470, 477. 2016-The Rev. Laila L-Vijayan,Serampore College. D.Th. (Serampore) 2017–The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, Dr.theol. (Hamburg) 2022-The Rev. R. Jeeva Kumar, D.Th. (Serampore)

Visiting Faculty 1957, The Rev. Norman Henry Snaith, 1968, The Rev. Victor Premasagar, Ph.D. (St.Andrews), 1979, The Rev. Klaus Koch, Dr.theol. (Heidelberg), 1986, The Rev. John Emerton, M.A., (Oxon.), 1994, The Rev. Martin Krause, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), 1994, The Rev. Donata Doerfel, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), 1994–1996, The Rev. Henning Graf Reventlow, Dr.theol. (Göttingen), 1995–1996, The Rev. Ed Noort, Dr.theol. (Göttingen), 2007–2010, The Rev. Byron E. Shafer, Ph.D., (Harvard), 2007, The Rev. :de:Friedemann W. Golka, Ph.D., (Oxon.),

Exchange programs The UTC has exchange programs with the Theological Faculty of the University of Basel SwitzerlandUniversity of Basel signed by Revd Dr O V Jathanna UTC and Prof Kenneth Brown from New College Edinburgh. Internet, accessed 16 September 2008 and the Divinity School of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.Postgraduate Exchange with UTC, Bengaluru. Divinity School, University of Edinburgh. Internet, accessed 16 September 2008. It has a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Revd Dr O V Jathanna and Prof Kenneth Brown with the University of Edinburgh wherein a post-graduate student can study a semester in Bengaluru.

Publications

Masihi Sevak, a pastoral magazine with three releases in a year.Publications. utcbangalore.in Hymns of the Tamil Śaivite Saints an English Translation of the Tiruvacakam, by Francis Kingsbury and GE Phillips (edited by Fred Goodwill)

Campus life The college had been a recipient of prizes from the Mysore Horticultural Society, Bengaluru for well-maintained gardens and lawns. Good environment for study purpose.

Library The college has a large theological library including 200-year-old palm leaf manuscripts. The United States Embassy awarded a grant for preservation of these rare palm leaf manuscripts in 2006.Protecting Historic Treasures Accessed 16 September 2008.

Present Faculty +Present Faculty at the United Theological College with subjects taughtUTC Faculty Directory. utc.edu.inFaculty Name GenderDomicileHighestDegreeAlma materUniversityDiscipline: Old TestamentThe Rev. D. J. Muthunayagom, CSIMTamil NaduD.Th.Missions Academy, Hamburg (Germany)/SATHRI, BangaloreSerampore The Rev. K. Jesurathnam, STBCMAndhra PradeshPh.D.New College, Edinburgh (Scotland)Edinburgh The Rev. J. R. John Samuel Raj, CSIMKeralaDr. Theol.Missions Academy, Hamburg (Germany)HamburgDiscipline: New TestamentThe Rev. J. G. Muthuraj, CSIMTamil NaduPh.D.University of Durham, Durham (England)DurhamThe Rev. J. Jeyakumar, MCIMTamil NaduM.Th.UTC, BangaloreSerampore The Rev. Johnson ThomaskuttyMKeralaPh.D.Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Holland)NijmegenThe Rev. Dexter S. Maben, CSIMKarnatakaDr. Theol.Theological Seminary Bethel (Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel), Bielefeld (Germany)BethelDiscipline: Theology and EthicsThe Rev. R. Sahayadhas, IELCMTamil NaduD.Th.UTC, BangaloreSeramporeThe Rev. George Zachariah, MMTSCMKeralaPh. DLutheran School of Theology,Chicago (United States)LSTCThe Rev. Allan Samuel Palanna, CSIMKarnatakaPh.D.University of Kent, Canterbury (England)KentThe Rev. Mervin Shinoj Boas, CSIMKeralaPh. DLutheran School of Theology,Chicago (United States)LSTCDiscipline: History of ChristianityThe Fr. M. O. John, MOSCMKeralaD. D.University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria)Malankara Association. yimg.comViennaDiscipline: Mission and EcumenicismThe Prof. Rev. Dr. P.T. George, University of BirminghamMUnited KingdomPh.D.University of Birmingham, Heidelberg (Germany)United KingdomRev. Sr. Rani Joseph Mary Sruthi, SNDFKarnatakaPh.D.Pontifical Urban University, Rome (Italy)UrbanThe Rev. Gudrun Löwner, EKDFGermanyPh.D.Heidelberg University, Heidelberg (Germany)HeidelbergDiscipline: Christian MinistryDr. Nalini ArlesLaityFKarnatakaPh.D.New College, Edinburgh (Scotland)EdinburghDr. Joseph GeorgeLaityMKeralaTh.D.Candler School of Theology,Atlanta (United States)EmoryThe Rev. Santosh S. Kumar, CSIMKeralaD.Th.Melbourne College of Divinity, Melbourne (Australia)DivinityDiscipline: Women's StudiesDr. Lalrinawmi RalteLaityFMizoramD.Min., D.Th.Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge (United States)/SATHRI, BangaloreSeramporeDiscipline: CommunicationThe Fr. Jerry Kurian, MJSOCMKeralaM.Th.UTC, BangaloreSeramporeDiscipline: EnglishMs. Geetha BasappaLaityFKarnatakaM.A.

Succession of Administrators Academic administrators who have led the seminary have been designated Principal.To Serve Not to be Served 1910–1985, United Theological College, Bangalore, 1985, p.57. Cited in Merithung Tüngoe, Administrators, Missionaries and a World Turned Upside Down, ETC/ISPCK, Jorhat/New Delhi, 2000, p.78. Tenure No.Names of Administrators at UTC, BangaloreEarned academic credentials(highest degree)1910–1911I.The Rev. ✝James Mathers, LMS,Brian Stanley, The World Missionary Conference, Edinburgh 1910, William B. Eerdmans Publishing, Grand Rapids, 2009, p.215. OBE,The Expository Times, Volume 32, 1920, p.189. B. D.Vijaya Kumar, Ecumenical Cooperation of the Missions in Karnataka (India), 1834–1989: A Historical Analysis of the Evangelistic Strategy of the Missions, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2005, p.102. 1911–1924II.The Rev. ✝L. P. Larsen, DMS,Henriette Bugge, Mission and Tamil Society: Social and Religious Change in South India (1840–1900), Curzon Press, Richmond, 1994, p.69.M.A.,George Oommen, The Radical Founding Vision, 1910–11 in Bangalore Theological Forum Centenary Issue: Journeying with Jesus: The continuing theological legacy of the United Theological College, 1910–2010, Volume XLII, Number 2, 8 July 2010, pp.11–12.University of Calcutta Calendar 1926, p.483.1924–1930III.The Rev. ✝D. S. Herrick, ABCFM M.A.,Angus Stewart Woodburne, Psychological Tests of Mental Abilities, Superintendent, Government Press, 1924, p.93. 1930–1931IV.The Rev. ✝W. J. T. Small, WMMSM.A. (Cantab.),1931–1936V.The Rev. ✝W. H. Thorp, WMMSB.A. (London),Minutes of Several Conversations – Yearly Conference of the People Called Methodists, Volume 152, 1895, p.538.1936–1937VI.The Rev. ✝George Parker,Annual Report – American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Volumes 126–132, 1936, p.13. LMSB. D. 1937–1954VII.The Rev. ✝M. H. Harrison, ABCFMTh.M. (Andover),The Missionary Herald at Home and Abroad, Volume 133, Missionary herald, 1937, p.315. 1954–1983VIII.The Rev. ✝J. R. Chandran, CSIS.T.M. (Union),1983–1993IX.The Rev. ✝E. C. John, CSIDr. Theol. (Heidelberg),1993–2000X.The Rev. ✝Gnana Robinson, CSIDr. Theol. (Hamburg),2000–2008XI.The Rev. O. V. Jathanna, CSIDr. Theol. (Basel),O. V. Jathanna, The decisiveness of the Christ-event and the universality of Christianity in a world of religious plurality: with special reference to Hendrik Kraemer and Alfred George Hogg as well as to William Ernest Hocking and Pandipeddi Chenchiah, Peter Lang, Frankfurt, 1981. National Council of Churches Review, Volume 120, 2000, p. 8732008–2009XII.The Rev. S. I. Selvanayagam, CSID. Th. (Serampore),Senate of Serampore College (University), List of the Recipient of the Degree of Doctor of Theology. 2009–2017XIII.The Rev. J. R. Samuel Raj, CSIDr. Theol. (Hamburg)2017–2025XIV.The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSIDr. Theol. (Hamburg)2025–XV.The Rev. A. Israel David, CSID. Th. (Serampore)

Notable people