Andhra Christian Theological College

Seminary in Telangana, India

This article is about UGC-recognised undergraduate courses (for the Clergy) and diploma, undergraduate and master's courses (for the Laity) offered by ACTC. For UGC-recognised master's courses (for the Clergy) specializing in Religion and Sacred Scripture, see Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture.

17°25′00.4″N 78°29′17.7″E﻿ / ﻿17.416778°N 78.488250°E﻿ / 17.416778; 78.488250

Andhra Christian Theological College

Coat of arms

Other name

| ACTC
Motto|

Latin: Ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii

Motto in English

| "Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry"
Dean of Women| Smt. Margaret Priyadarshini, AELC
Warden| The Rev. M. Yonathan, STBC
Type| Affiliated institution
Established| July 1, 1964; 61 years ago (1964-07-01)
Founders| Churches in Telugu states
Accreditation| Asia Theological Association
Affiliation| Senate of Serampore College (University)

Religious affiliation

| Christianity

Academic affiliation

| Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture
Chairperson| The Rev. R. R. D. Sajeeva Raju, STBC
Visitor| Bishop Anilkumar John Servand, MCI
Principal| The Rev. G. Varaprasad, AELC
Dean| The Rev. K. J. Premavardhan, CSI
Registrar| The Rev. Y. J. Rajendra Prasad, STBC

Academic staff

| 18+

Total staff

| 40+
Address|

Lower Tank Bund Road, Gandhinagar Post

Secunderabad

Telangana

500 080

India

17°25′00.4″N 78°29′17.7″E﻿ / ﻿17.416778°N 78.488250°E﻿ / 17.416778; 78.488250
Campus| Residential, 10+ acres
Language| Telugu and English
Bursar| The Rev. V. Alfred Sudhakar, CBCNC
Chaplain| The Rev. V. John Pradeep, AELC
Website| www.actc.edu.in

Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC) is a seminary[1] in Telangana which was founded in 1964.[2] It is affiliated with India's first[3] university, the Senate of Serampore College (University) (a university under section 2(f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956),[4][5] and has degree-granting authority under a Danish charter ratified by the government of West Bengal.[6] ACTC is on the Hussain Sagar canal (north) in Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Secunderabad Junction railway station.[7]

Participating ecclesiastical societies,
Andhra Christian Theological College,
Secunderabad, Telangana

* Methodist
* Methodist Church in India (MCI); 1964[8]
* Lutheran
* South Andhra Lutheran Church (SALC); 1964[8]
* Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC); 1964[8]
* Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church (GSELC); 1992
* Baptist
* Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars (CBCNC); 1964[8]
* Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches (STBC); 1972[9]
* Anglican, Congregational, Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist: the SPG, WMMS, LMS, ABCFM, CMS and the Church of England
* Church of South India (CSI); 1964[8]

## History

[edit]

The college was founded on the Lutheran Theological College campus in Rajahmundry and the founding societies included[8][10] the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Church of South India, the Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars, the Methodist Church in India and the South Andhra Lutheran Church. The Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches held its B.D. classes at ACTC in 1967, and in 1972 the B.D. programme of the Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary was integrated into the college. When M. Victor Paul was principal (1991–1993), Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church joined the college.[11][12][10]

Christian missions in Andhra Pradesh[13] opened seminaries in Gooty (Union Theological Seminary),[14] Dornakal (Andhra Union Theological College,[15] for the Church of South India), Ramayapatnam (Baptist Theological Seminary, for the American Baptists), Luthergiri[16] (Lutheran Theological College), Kakinada (Baptist Theological Seminary, for Canadian Baptists) and Shamshabad (Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College, for the Anabaptists). Although professors were exchanged among the seminaries, Bachelor of Divinity students attended Serampore College in West Bengal.

### Merger

[edit]

In 1964, the college was founded in Luthergiri, Rajahmundry, East Godavari with the merger of three[17] theological colleges.[18] In 1967, Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam moved from Ramayapatnam to Rajahmundry, as a separate part of the college in Rajahmundry until it merged in 1972.[12][19][11]

* 1964
* Andhra Union Theological College in Dornakal,
* Baptist Theological Seminary in Kakinada,[20] and
* Lutheran Theological College in Rajahmundry.[20]
* 1972
* Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary, Ramayapatnam

With William D. Coleman as its first principal, the college was dedicated on 1 July[19] 1964 by R. M. Clark[19] of the BTESSC.[a] The inaugural address was delivered by Senate of Serampore College registrar C. Devasahayam in Rajahmundry.[21]

### Relocation

[edit]

By 1973, the college had moved from Rajahmundry to Secunderabad due to pollution from nearby paper mills.[22] The new buildings were dedicated by Church of South India bishop Pereji Solomon in the presence of Catholic archbishop Samineni Arulappa and seminarians from St. John's Regional Seminary.[23] During the 1990s, the college's postal address changed to Hyderabad (now in Telangana).

Personalities

Bishop A. C. Solomon Raj, previously Chairperson of Board of Governors

Aprem Mooken, a Visitor to the college in 1988.[24]

Homiletics Scholar, The Rev. A. John Prabhakar, an Alumnus of this institution, and past Principal.

## Overview

[edit]

### Kretzmann Commission

[edit]

ACTC constituted the Kretzmann Commission in 1969,[25] consisting of:

* M. L. Kretzmann, D.D., secretary for planning, study and research of the Lutheran World Federation's Department of World Missions
* K. Devasahayam, M.A., B.D. (Hon.), S.T.M., Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
* A. B. Masilamani, M.A., Th.M., Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
* C. S. Sundaresan, bishop of the Church of South India's Diocese of Rayalaseema

The commission's report, presented to the board of governors, suggested increasing the Bachelor of Divinity curriculum and abolishing the Licentiate in Theology programme.

## Administration and faculty

[edit]

### Board of governors

[edit]

Succession of Old Testament faculty at ACTC, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh (1964-1972) and Secunderabad, Telangana (1973-Present)

* W. D. Coleman, ELCA, PhD (Hartford),[26][27]
* M. Vidyanandam, CSI, B.D. (Serampore),[27][28]
* P. Victor Premasagar, CSI, PhD (St Andrews)[27][29]
* G. Solomon, STBC, Th.M. (Eastern)[27][30]
* G. Babu Rao, CBCNC, M.Th. (Serampore)[31]
* Scott L. Harris, ELCA, PhD (Union)[32]
* N. V. Luther Paul, AELC, D.Th. (Serampore)[33]
* Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI, Dr. Theol. (Hamburg)[34]
* Henriette Howarth, C of E, M.A. (Utrecht)[35]
* T. Mathews Emmanuel, CBCNC, D.Th. (Serampore)[36]
* R. Jeeva Kumar, STBC, D.Th. (Serampore)[37]
* K. Joseph Premavardhan, CSI, M.Th. (Serampore)
* G. Varaprasad, AELC, D.Th. (Serampore)
* G. David, SALC, M.Th. (Serampore)

The college is administered by a board of governors composed of representatives of participating Protestant ecclesiastical societies:

* Telangana
* Church of South India (CSI) Dioceses of Dornakal, Karimnagar, Medak (headquartered in Dornakal, Karimnagar and Medak)
* Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church (headquartered in Bhadrachalam)
* Methodist Church in India, Hyderabad Regional Conference
* Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches Society, Deccan Association
* Tamil Nadu
* CSI Dioceses of Madras and Vellore (headquartered in Chennai and Vellore)
* Andhra Pradesh
* Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, headquartered in Guntur
* CSI Dioceses of Krishna-Godavari, Nandyal and Rayalaseema (headquartered in Machilipatnam, Nandyal and Kadapa, respectively)
* Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars, originally headquartered in Kakinada
* Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches, originally headquartered in Nellore
* South Andhra Lutheran Church, headquartered in Tirupati

### Motto

[edit]

Succession of New Testament faculty at ACTC, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh (1964-1972) and Secunderabad, Telangana (1973-Present)

* K. David,[38] CBCNC, PhD (Edinburgh),[27][39]
* Muriel Spurgeon-Carder, CBM, Th.D. (Toronto)[27]
* M. Victor Paul, AELC, M. Th. (Serampore),[40]
* S. Joseph, STBC, D. Th. (Serampore)
* K. Prasada Rao, STBC, M. Th. (Serampore),[41]
* David Roland Hall, WMMS, M. Th. (Serampore)[42]
* Klaus Schäfer,[43] EMS,[44] Dr. Theol. (Hamburg),[45]
* V. Manikya Rao, AELC, D. Th. (Serampore),[46]
* K. Suraj Kumar, CBCNC, PhD (Cape Town),[47]
* M. John Sundar, CSI, M. Th. (Serampore),[48]
* Ch. Helen Salomy, STBC, M. Th. (Serampore),[49]
* G. Niranjan Nishchal, CSI, M. Th. (Serampore)[50]
* V. John Pradeep Kumar, AELC, M.Th. (Serampore)

The college motto is derived from Ephesians 4:12, which reads in the Latin Vulgate: "Ad consummationem sanctorum in opus ministerii..."[51] ("For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry..." in the King James Version).

### Hall system

[edit]

W. D. Coleman, the college's first principal, explained the hall system: "Each of the participating denominations has its own 'hall'. There are two hours of instruction each week about the liturgy, history, and policy of each denomination".[52]

The churches commonly associated with Protestantism in southern India include the Anglicans, Congregationalists, Wesleyan Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans and Methodists. Each church has its own tradition. At ACTC, students learn their respective church doctrine in addition to general theology.[53]

### Principals

[edit]

The principal serves a four-year term (2022-2026), with each participating church having an opportunity to provide a principal. The current principal is the Rev. G. Varaprasad, AELC, D.Th. (Serampore).

Succession of Principals at Andhra Christian Theological College,
Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh (1964-1972) and Secunderabad, Telangana (1973-Present) Term | Years | Church Society | Tradition | No. | Principals | Domicile

|
|
|
|
|
|

1964–1973 | 8 | AELC | Lutheran | 1. | W. D. Coleman, PhD (Hartford) | United States
1973–1980 | 8 | CSI | Wesleyan Methodist | 2. | P. Victor Premasagar, PhD (St Andrews) | Telangana
1980–1986 | 6 | CBCNC | Baptist | 3. | K. David, PhD (Edinburgh) | Andhra Pradesh
1986–1990 | 4 | STBC | Baptist | 4. | S. Joseph, D.Th. (Serampore) | Andhra Pradesh
1990–1994  | 4  | AELC  | Lutheran  | 5. | M. Victor Paul, D.Min. (Luther) | Andhra Pradesh
6. | G. Sampurna Rao, D.Min. (McCormick) | Andhra Pradesh
1994–1998 | 4 | CSI | Wesleyan Methodist | 7. | R. Yesurathnam, D.Th. (Serampore) | Telangana
1998–2002  | 4  | CBCNC  | Baptist  | 8. | K. D. G. Prakasa Rao, M.Th. (Serampore)  | Andhra Pradesh
9. | D. J. Jeremiah, M. Th. (Serampore)  | Andhra Pradesh
2002–2006 | 4 | STBC | Baptist | 10. | B. J. Christie Kumar, M.Th. (Serampore) | Telangana
2006–2010 | 4 | AELC | Lutheran | 11. | N. V. Luther Paul, D.Th. (Serampore) | Andhra Pradesh
2010–2014 | 4 | CSI | Wesleyan Methodist | 12. | Ch. Vasantha Rao, Dr. Theol. (Hamburg) | Telangana
2014–2018[54] | 4  | CBCNC  | Baptist  | 13. | T. Matthews Emmanuel, D.Th. (Serampore)  | Andhra Pradesh
14. | N. V. Vijaya Kumari, M.Th. (Serampore)  | Telangana
2018–2022 | 4 | STBC | Baptist | 15. | A. John Prabhakar, D. Th. (Serampore) | Andhra Pradesh
2022–2026  | 4  | AELC  | Lutheran  | 16. | T. Swami Raju,[55] D.Th. (Serampore)  | Andhra Pradesh
17. | G. Varaprasad, D.Th. (Serampore)  | Andhra Pradesh

## Serampore University affiliation

[edit]

1887 drawing of Senate of Serampore College (University)

The college has affiliated since its founding with the Senate of Serampore College (University).[56]

### Degrees for pastors

[edit]

ACTC and Serampore[57] offer two degrees for pastors: Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) and Master of Theology (M. Th.) under the aegis of Advanced Institute for Research on Religion and Culture (ARRC).[56]

Campus

Dormitories

Refectory

Students residential quarters

### Distance education

[edit]

Through distance education, ACTC has Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.) and Master of Christian Studies (M.C.S.) programmes for Christian students[58] and a Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.S.) programme for Christian and non-Christian students.[56]

### Registrar visits

[edit]

When the college was founded in 1964, university registrar Chetti Devasahayam (CBCNC) delivered its inaugural address;[21] registrar D. S. Satyaranjan visited the college annually. Current registrar S. K. Patro has visited ACTC to investigate the prospect of upgrading the college to a postgraduate institution.[59]

### University convocations

[edit]

* Senate of Serampore College (University) has held two convocations at ACTC. The February 1979 convocation[60] was hosted by college during the tenures of the Old Testament faculty Victor Premasagar, CSI and G. Babu Rao, CBCNC; both had been associated with the Serampore College.[61] The convocation was attended by university registrar D. S. Satyaranjan and master A. D. Khan. The university president was Victor Premasagar.[62] The Commemoration Mass was led by G. Babu Rao (CBCNC) at St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Cathedral near[63] the college,[64] and the convocation address was delivered by Samuel Rayan,[60] S.J.[62]

Campus

Academic block face

Bell tower

Creche

* The college hosted[59] the 2016 convocation under the tenure of Old Testament scholars T. Matthews Emmanuel,[59] CBCNC and Vasantha Rao, CSI. The university was represented by master John Sadananda,[59] Senate president Issac Mar Philoxenos,[59][62] South Asia Theological Research Institute dean P. G. George[59] and university registrar S. K. Patro. The Commemoration Mass was led by S. I. Nirmal Kumar, CBCNC at the Chapel in the campus. The Convocation address was delivered by Klaus Schäfer.[62] honorary doctoral degrees were conferred on D. S. Satyaranjan[59] (who led the 1979 convocation) and Klaus Schäfer,[59] who taught New Testament courses at the college from 1988[65] to 1993.[66]

##  Master of Divinity programme through ATA

[edit]

The college has begun an initiative to admit Christian candidates to a M.Div. programme, for which it has been accredited by the Asia Theological Association.[67]

## Academics

[edit]

Present active faculty[68][69][54][70] Sl.
No. | Subject | Name | Gender | Tradition | Highest
Degree | Alma mater | University

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

I. | Christian ministry | L. Anitha, MCI | F | Methodist | M.Th. | GLTC, Chennai[71] | Serampore
II. | New Testament | Ch. Helen Salomy, STBC[72] | F | Baptist | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore[73] | Serampore
III. | History of Christianity | P. Usha Priya,[74] STBC | F | Baptist | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
IV. | Religions | K. Vimalesh Kumari,[75] STBC | F | Baptist | M.Th. | ARRC, Hyderabad | Serampore
V. | Old Testament | G. David,[76] SALC | M | Lutheran | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
VI. | Christian Ethics | K. Silo, CSI[77] | M | Anglican | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
VII. | New Testament | V. John Pradeep Kuma[78]r | M | Lutheran | M.Th. | GLTC, Chennai | Serampore
VIII. | History of Christianity | D. Dasu, CBCNC | M | Baptist | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
IX. | Communication | V. Alfred Sudhakar, CBCNC[79] | M | Baptist | M.Th. | TTS, Madurai | Serampore
X. | Christian Ministry | Y. J. Rajendra Prasad,[80] STBC | M | Baptist | D.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
XI. | New Testament | G. Niranjan Nishchal,[81] CSI | M | Wesleyan Methodist | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
XII. | Missiology | Ch. Joshi Ananda Prakash, AELC | M | Lutheran | M.Th. | GLTC, Chennai[82] | Serampore
XIII. | Social Analysis | M. Yonathan,[83] STBC | M | Baptist | M.Th. | TTS, Madurai | Serampore
XIV. | Old Testament[72] | K. Joseph Premavardhan,[84] CSI[85] | M | Congregational | M. Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
XV. | Christian theology | B. N. Ratna Prakash,[86] AELC | M | Lutheran | M.Th. | TTS, Madurai | Serampore
XVI. | Christian Ethics | B. Sunil Vara Kumar[87] | M | Congregational | D.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore
XVII. | Old Testament | G. Varaprasad, AELC | M | Lutheran | D.Th. | UTC, Bangalore[88] | Serampore
Faculty on study leave  Subject | Name | Gender | Denomination | Degree | Studying | Institution | Leave period

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Christian theology | S. I. Nirmal Kumar, CBCNC[82] | M | Baptist | M.Th. | D.Th. | ETC, Jorhat | 2023-2026
Christian theology | M. Gnanak Gerhardson, CSI | M | Wesleyan Methodist | M.Th. | D.Th. | NIIPGTS,
Kolkata | 2024-2027

### Library

[edit]

ACTC's library has reading-room facilities, over 38,000[89] books and 35 periodicals. When the college was founded, it was known as the Dunkelberger Memorial Library.[19] The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America[90] had sponsored the library[90] in memory of Roy Martin Dunkelberger,[91] AELC, a Lutheran missionary in Rajahmundry.[92]

The library was renamed the Gipson Memorial Library in 2014 in honour of Baptist missionary T. G. Gipson, STBC, who had modernized the library during his second term as a visiting faculty member at the college.[93] The renaming ceremony was held during the tenure of T. Matthews Emmanuel (CBCNC) as principal, in the presence of board of governors chair K. Frederick Paradesi Babu (AELC) and board member V. Prasada Rao (CSI).

## Student life

[edit]

ACTC has recreational facilities which include throwball, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a table tennis room and a playing field for football and cricket. Daily mass is said in the chapel for students and teachers, and Sunday mass is open to the public. College festivals include the Christian Home Festival, Carey Day, CSI Day, Reformation Day, and Independence Day.

## Notable figures

[edit]

### Past Faculty

[edit]

* Old Testament
* W. D. Coleman, ELCA, PhD (Hartford): the college's first principal
* M. Vidyanandam, CSI, B.D. (Serampore),
* P. Victor Premasagar, CSI, PhD (St Andrews)
* G. Solomon, STBC, Th.M. (Eastern)
* G. Babu Rao, CBCNC, M.Th. (Serampore)
* Scott L. Harris, ELCA, PhD (Union)
* N. V. Luther Paul, AELC, D.Th. (Serampore)
* Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI, Dr. Theol. (Hamburg)
* Henriette Howarth, C of E, M.A. (Utrecht)
* T. Mathews Emmanuel, CBCNC, D.Th. (Serampore)
* R. Jeeva Kumar, STBC, D.Th. (Serampore)
* New Testament
* K. David, CBCNC, Ph.D. (Edinburgh)
* Muriel Spurgeon-Carder, CBM, Th.D. (Toronto)
* M. Victor Paul, AELC, M. Th. (Serampore)
* S. Joseph, STBC, D. Th. (Serampore)
* K. Prasada Rao, STBC, M. Th. (Serampore),
* David Roland Hall, CoE, WMMS, M. Th. (Serampore)
* Klaus Schäfer, EMS, Dr. Theol. (Hamburg),
* V. Manikya Rao, AELC, D. Th. (Serampore),
* K. Suraj Kumar, CBCNC, PhD (Cape Town),
* M. John Sundar, CSI, M. Th. (Serampore),
* Christian Education
* Alice M. Findlay, ABM,
* Social Analysis
* B. W. David Raju, AELC
* Systematic Theology
* Waldo Penner, ABM, M. Th. (Berkeley): pioneered attempts to found the college with A. B. Masilamani
* Ryder Devapriam, CSI, Th.D. (GTS): bishop of the Diocese of Nandyal and moderator of the Church of South India Synod
* Ravela Joseph, STBC, Th. M. (Andover): church history teacher and lyricist
* B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC, M. Th. (Serampore)
* G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI, M.Th. (Serampore): present bishop of the Krishna-Godavari Diocese and moderator of the Church of South India Synod
* de:Jürgen Fangmeier, EMS, Dr. Theol. (Basel): taught systematic theology from 1987 to 1990[94]
* L. Raymond Waldock, CBM
* M. Rajendra Babu, CSI
* B. J. Moses Shanthi Kumar, CSI[95] CSI[96]
* Practical Theology/Homiletics
* G. Devasahayam, AELC, S.T.M. (Philadelphia): third president of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
* G. Sampurna Rao, AELC, D. Min. (McCormick)
* Manoranjan Luke, MCI[97]
* Perapogu Joseph, STBC, [98] Th. M. (Brite): Former Military chaplain and Pastoral care faculty
* G. T. Abraham, CSI, Th.M. (Virginia): bishop of the Nandyal Diocese
* K. Reuben Mark, CSI, PhD (Higginbottom): present bishop of Karimnagar Diocese
* A. John Prabhakar, STBC, D. Th. (Serampore)
* Religions
* W. P. Peery, ELCA, PhD (Duke): later taught at the United Theological College, Bangalore
* Eric J. Lott, WMMS, PhD (Lancaster): later taught at the United Theological College, Bangalore
* Louis F. Knoll, ABM, Ph. D. (Berkeley): co-founder of the college
* R. R. Sundara Rao, AELC, PhD (Wisconsin): later principal of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in Chennai
* K. D. G. Prakasa Rao, CBCNC, M. Th. (Serampore)
* P. Alexander, SALC, M.Th. (Serampore)[99]
* N. V. Vijaya Kumari, CSI, M.Th. (Serampore)
* T. Swami Raju, AELC, D.Th. (Serampore)[100]
* Church History/History of Christianity
* B. E. Devaraj, CSI, L.Th. (Serampore): wrote the Lambadi version of the New Testament
* W. Gordon Carder, CBM
* Tracy Gipson, ABM
* B. C. Paul, AELC
* C. Yesupadam, AELC
* D. J. Jeremiah, CBCNC
* K. L. Richardson, AELC
* N. V. Grace, AELC[101]
* Telugu
* P. Dass Babu, CSI
* English
* LaVerne Louise-Waldock, CBM
* Librarianship
* Marjorie May Lynch-Gipson, ABM

### Alumni

[edit]

* Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Bathineni Venkata Subbamma, Ph. D. (Wittenberg): first woman senator at Senate of Serampore College (University)
* Ch. Victor Moses, M. Th. (Serampore): twelfth president of the church
* V. E. Christopher, B. D. (Serampore): thirteenth president of the church
* B. Suneel Bhanu, M. Th. (Serampore): fourteenth president of the church
* K. Frederick Paradesi Babu, B. D. (Serampore): current church president
* International Pentecostal Holiness Church
* B. S. Moses Kumar,[102] Ph. D. (Agra)
* Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
* M. S. G. Lalitha Kumari, B. D. (Serampore): First ordained Woman priest of the convention
* Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
* N. Thomas, B. D. (Serampore); Ecclesiastical Administrator of Samavesam
* Church of South India
* D. N. Samuel, B. D. (Serampore): fifth bishop of the Diocese of Dornakal
* A. Rajarathnam, B. D. (Serampore): sixth bishop of Dornakal
* Samuel Kanaka Prasad, B. D. (Serampore): sixth bishop of the Medak Diocese
* Church of South India (Continued)
* B. D. Prasada Rao, M. Th. (Serampore): Bishop Emeritus of the Rayalaseema Diocese
* Vadapalli Prasada Rao, B. D. (Serampore): present bishop of Dornakal
* Eggoni Pushpa Lalitha, B. D. (Serampore): present bishop of the Nandyal Diocese
* T. George Cornelious, B.D. (Serampore): present bishop of Krishna-Godavari Diocese
* P. Issac Vara Prasad, B. Th. (Serampore): present Bishop - in - Rayalaseema Diocese

### Board of Governors

[edit]

* Methodist Church in India
* Elia Peter, Bishop Emeritus, Hyderabad Regional Conference of Methodist Church in India
* M. A. Daniel, Current Bishop, Hyderabad Regional Conference of Methodist Church in India
* South Andhra Lutheran Church
* O. Michael Benhur
* K. S. Chandrasekhar
* E. Vijayabhaskar
* K. J. Premkumar
* Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
* K. Devasahayam, B. A. (Andhra), B. D. (Serampore), Th. M. (LTSP)
* S. W. Schmitthenner
* K. Nathaniel L. Th. (Serampore)
* G. Emmanuel L. Th. (Serampore)
* N. Ch. Joseph
* Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church
* S. Paul Raj
* K. Abraham
* Convention of Baptist Churches of Northern Circars
* K. P. Israel
* S. E. Krupa Rao, S. T. M. (Union): Patriarch of the convention
* C. L. Johnson, B. D. (Serampore)
* Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches
* B. Victor Emmanuel
* P. Sadanandam
* S. Benjamin
* Church of South India
* Eber Priestley, B.A. (Birmingham),
* H. D. L. Abraham, B.D. (Serampore)
* B. G. Prasada Rao, B.D. (Serampore), M.Th. (Serampore)
* B. P. Sugandhar, B.D. (Serampore)
* A. C. Solomon Raj, B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore)
* N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel
* T. B. D. Prakasa Rao
* Church of South India (Continued)
* P. Solomon
* B. Prabhudass
* G. Benjamin Devasahayam
* K. E. Swamidass
* S. John Theodore
* P. Surya Prakash
* G. S. Luke
* D. N. Samuel
* B. S. Devamani
* Clement Venkataramiah
* Ernest John
* Pabbathi John
* P. J. Lawrence
* L. V. Azariah, B.D. (Serampore), Th. M. (WTS)
* C. B. M. Frederick, B.D. (Serampore)
* K. B. Yesu Vara Prasad, B.D. (Serampore)

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Formerly known as the Board of Theological Education of the National Council of Churches in India.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Roger E. Hedlund, World Christianity: South Asia, Missions Advanced Research and Communication Center, 1980, p.48. [1]
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4. ^ "UGC Act-1956" (PDF). mhrd.gov.in/. Secretary, University Grants Commission. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
5. ^ 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.[4] Archived 12 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine
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14. ^ Edmund Davies draws attention to Prof. Wilfred Scopes, a Missionary of the London Missionary Society who taught in the seminaries in Gooty and Dornakal. Edmund Davis, The History of Theological Education in Jamaica: The United Theological College of the West Indies and its four antecedent colleges (1841-1966), 1998, page 167. [9]
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18. ^ Victor Premasagar "Merging Currents, Inc.: Books on Christianity in India, Hinduism and Indian culture and history: Titles". Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2006. Interpretive Diary of a Bishop, Chennai, 2001, p.88
19. ^ a b c d Margaret Eunice Hawkinson née Coleman, That they may be one - The Story of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Published by the Mission Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, and printed at the Lenox Press, Madurai, 1966. [12]
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40. ^ Victor Paul has a postgraduate degree in New Testament from the Senate of Serampore College (University). In addition, he also has a doctoral degree in the field of Christian Ministry.
41. ^ K. M. Hiwale (Compiled), Directory 1910-1997 of the United Theological College, Bangalore, 1997, p.111
42. ^ 70 years of God's Faithfulness: CSI (Medak Diocese) UK Telugu Christians Souvenir commemorating the 70th year of the formation of the Church of South India, 2016, p.15.[21] Archived 27 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine
43. ^ The Bulletin of the Henry Martyn Institute of Islamic Studies, Volume 12, 1993, p.2.[22]
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46. ^ List of Recipients of Doctor of Theology Degree, Senate of Serampore College (University). [25] Archived 14 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine
47. ^ "Lisa Lohnes, W5 on Missions, Tidings, p.16, September 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
48. ^ Church of South India Synod, Diocese of Medak. [26]
49. ^ Minutes of the Meeting of the Working Committee of the Academic Council held on 17 July 2012, p.32.
50. ^ Church of South India Synod, Pastoral Concerns Department, Lenten Meditations, 2020.[27]
51. ^ Vulgate, Ephesians 4 Retrieved 23 April 2006.
52. ^ Edgar R. Trexler, Mission in a New World, Fortress Press, 1977. p. 29.[28]
53. ^ The American Lutheran, American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi (town), New York, 1965. p. 12. [29]
54. ^ a b Principal's Annual Report 2016-2017 presented at the 53rd graduation service, ACTC, Hyderabad
55. ^ Principal's Annual Report 2023-2024 presented at the 60th graduation service, ACTC, Hyderabad
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## Further reading

[edit]

* Charles W. Ranson (1946). "The Christian Minister in India, His Vocation and Training: A Study Based on a Survey of Theological Education by the National Christian Council, United Society for Christian Literature, Lutterworth Press".
* Margaret Eunice Hawkinson née Coleman (1966). "That they may be one - The Story of the Andhra Christian Theological College, Published by the Mission Council of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, and printed at the Lenox Press, Madurai".
* M. L. Kretzmann (1970). "Kretzmann Commission Report: a survey and study of the task of theological education in the churches related to the Andhra Christian Theological College, Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad".
* J. Herbert Kane (1971). "A Global View of Christian Missions from Pentecost to the Present, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan". Second.
* Senftleben, Martin (1992). Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished PhD thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati (PDF) (Thesis). Vol. I. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2006.[self-published source?]
* Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh. Unpublished PhD thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati (PDF) (Thesis). Vol. II. 1992. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2006.[self-published source?]
* Talathoti Punnaiah (2010). My Memoir, Ministry and Message - 60 years Life Experiences 1950-2010.[full citation needed]
* P. Satyanarayana, Emmanuel D.K. Meduri (April 2013). "Use of Distance Education by Christian Religion to Train, Edify and Educate Adherents in Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education" (PDF).

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