# United Theological College, Bangalore

United Theological College (UTC) is an ecumenical Mainline seminary founded in 1910. It is situated in the southern city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in South India and affiliated to India's first Theological University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956}with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal. Renowned for its contributions to Subaltern and Dalit theology, it is a highly respected ecumenical institution in Bangalore.
Currently, the principalship is held by the Old Testament Scholar, The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI, Dr.theol. (Hamburg), an alma mater of this institution and an acknowledged lead in Old Testament studies and Biblical Hebrew language, having been groomed by the Old Testament Scholar, Victor Premasagar, CSI, throughout his Spiritual formation period, beginning with his graduate and post-graduate studies, well into his doctoral studies. Vasantha Rao is also known for his continuing association with the fully ecumenical Society for Biblical Studies in India (SBSI) right from the New millennium to the Golden Jubilee conclave held in 2012, where he was elected President, at the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Whitefield and continues to steer the Society.

## The College

Since 1976, it has been granted the status of an autonomous college under the University. 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". 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:
* 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.

## Exchange programs

The UTC has exchange programs with the Theological Faculty of the University of Basel Switzerland and the Divinity School of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. 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

* Bangalore Theological Forum, an academic journal brought out twice a year.
* Masihi Sevak, a pastoral magazine with three releases in a year.
* 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 massive 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.

## Present Faculty

Present Faculty at the United Theological College with subjects taught :
| Faculty Name | Gen der | Domicile | Highest Degree | Alma Mater | University |
| Discipline: Old Testament ||||||
| The Rev. D. J. Muthunayagom, CSI | M | Tamil Nadu | D.Th. | Missions Academy, Hamburg (Germany)/ SATHRI, Bangalore | Serampore |
| The Rev. K. Jesurathnam, STBC | M | Andhra Pradesh | Ph.D. | New College, Edinburgh (Scotland) | Edinburgh |
| The Rev. J. R. John Samuel Raj, CSI | M | Kerala | Dr. Theol. | Missions Academy, Hamburg (Germany) | Hamburg |
| Discipline: New Testament ||||||
| The Rev. J. G. Muthuraj, CSI | M | Tamil Nadu | Ph.D. | University of Durham, Durham (England) | Durham |
| The Rev. J. Jeyakumar, MCI | M | Tamil Nadu | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore |
| The Rev. Johnson Thomaskutty | M | Kerala | Ph.D | Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen (Holland) | Nijmegen |
| The Rev. Dexter S. Maben, CSI | M | Karnataka | Dr. Theol. | Theological Seminary Bethel (Kirchliche Hochschule Bethel), Bielefeld (Germany) | Bethel |
| Discipline: Theology and Ethics ||||||
| The Rev. R. Sahayadhas, IELC | M | Tamil Nadu | D.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore |
| The Rev. George Zachariah, MMTSC | M | Kerala | Ph. D | Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (United States) | LSTC |
| The Rev. Allan Samuel Palanna, CSI | M | Karnataka | Ph.D | University of Kent, Canterbury (England) | Kent |
| The Rev. Mervin Shinoj Boas, CSI | M | Kerala | Ph. D | Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (United States) | LSTC |
| Discipline: History of Christianity ||||||
| The Fr. M. O. John, MOSC | M | Kerala | D. D. | University of Vienna, Vienna (Austria) | Vienna |
| Discipline: Mission and Ecumenicism ||||||
| The Sr. Rani Joseph Mary Sruthi, SND | F | Karnataka | Ph.D. | Pontifical Urban University, Rome (Italy) | Urban |
| The Rev. Gudrun Löwner, EKD | F | Germany | Ph.D. | Heidelberg University, Heidelberg (Germany) | Heidelberg |
| Discipline: Christian Ministry ||||||
| Dr. Nalini Arles | F | Karnataka | Ph.D. | New College, Edinburgh (Scotland) | Edinburgh |
| Dr. Joseph George | M | Kerala | Th.D. | Candler School of Theology, Atlanta (United States) | Emory |
| The Rev. Santosh S. Kumar, CSI | M | Kerala | D.Th. | Melbourne College of Divinity, Melbourne (Australia) | Divinity |
| Discipline: Women's Studies ||||||
| Dr. Lalrinawmi Ralte | F | Mizoram | D.Min., D.Th. | Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge (United States)/ SATHRI, Bangalore | Serampore |
| Discipline: Communication ||||||
| The Fr. Jerry Kurian, MJSOC | M | Kerala | M.Th. | UTC, Bangalore | Serampore |
| Discipline: English ||||||
| Ms. Geetha Basappa | F | Karnataka | M.A. | | |

## Succession of Administrators

Academic administrators who have led the seminary have been designated Principal.
| Tenure | Names of Administrators at UTC, Bangalore | Earned academic credentials (highest degree) |
| 1910–1911 | The Rev. James Mathers, LMS, OBE, | B. D. |
| 1911–1924 | The Rev. L. P. Larsen, DMS, | M.A., |
| 1924–1930 | The Rev. D. S. Herrick, ABCFM | M.A., |
| 1930–1931 | The Rev. W. J. T. Small, WMMS | M.A. (Cantab.), |
| 1931–1936 | The Rev. W. H. Thorp, WMMS | B.A. (London), |
| 1936–1937 | The Rev. George Parker, |LMS | B. D. |
| 1937–1954 | The Rev. M. H. Harrison, ABCFM | Th.M. (Andover), |
| 1954–1983 | The Rev. J. R. Chandran, CSI | S.T.M. (Union), |
| 1983–1993 | The Rev. E. C. John, CSI | Dr. Theol. (Heidelberg), |
| 1993–2000 | The Rev. Gnana Robinson, CSI | Dr. Theol. (Hamburg), |
| 2000–2008 | The Rev. O. V. Jathanna, CSI | Dr. Theol. (Basel), |
| 2008–2009 | The Rev. S. I. Selvanayagam, CSI | D. Th. (Serampore), |
| 2009–2017 | The Rev. J. R. Samuel Raj, CSI | Dr. Theol. (Hamburg) |
| 2017–present | The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI | Dr. Theol. (Hamburg) |

## Notable people

Notable alumni with course undertaken and years of study :
| Name | Course | Years | Congre- gation | Domicile |
| Hospet Sumitra | B.D. | 1910–13 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| Premaka Gurushantha | B.D. | 1912–16 | CSI | Karnataka |
| Juhanon Mar Thoma | B.D. | 1917–22 | MMTSC | Kerala |
| Emani Sambayya | B.D. | 1928–32 | CNI | Andhra Pradesh |
| D. T. Niles | B.D. | 1929–34 | CMC | Sri Lanka |
| H. D. L. Abraham | B.D. | 1934–37 | CSI | Karnataka |
| P. Solomon | B.D. | 1936–40 | CSI | Telangana |
| A. E. Inbanathan | B.D. | 1939–43 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| C. Arangaden | B.D. | 1940–44 | CSI | Kerala |
| B. G. Prasada Rao | B.D. | 1941–45 | CSI | Telangana |
| B. G. Prasada Rao | M.Th. | 1953–56 | CSI | Telangana |
| S. J. Samartha | B.D. | 1941–45 | CSI | Karnataka |
| B. Prabhudass | B.D. | 1941–45 | CSI | Telangana |
| B. Prabhudass | M.Th. | 1951–52 | CSI | Telangana |
| J. R. Chandran | B.D. | 1941–44 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| J. R. Chandran | M.Th. | 1944–45 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| K. Devasahayam | M.Th. | 1942–43 | AELC | Andhra Pradesh |
| Philipose Mar Chrysostom | B.D. | 1943–46 | MMTSC | Kerala |
| Lynn de Silva | B.D. | 1943–47 | CMC | Sri Lanka |
| Solomon Doraiswamy | B.D. | 1944–46 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| Alexander Mar Thoma | B.D. | 1945–48 | MMTSC | Kerala |
| D. J. Ambalavanar | B.D. | 1945–50 | CSI | Sri Lanka |
| B. E. Devaraj | Special course | 1946–47 | CNI | Andhra Pradesh |
| Gaddala Solomon | B.D. | 1949–52 | STBC | Andhra Pradesh |
| Gaddala Solomon | Refresher course in Hebrew language | 1972–73 | STBC | Andhra Pradesh |
| N. D. Ananda Rao Samuel | B.D. | 1950–53 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| V. C. Samuel | B.D. | 1950–53 | MOSC | Kerala |
| Victor Premasagar | B.D. | 1950–54 | CSI | Telangana |
| E. C. John | B.D. | 1951–54 | CSI | Kerala |
| G. B. Devasahayam | B.D. | 1952–56 | CSI | Telangana |
| K. E. Swamidass | B.D. | 1952–56 | CSI | Telangana |
| C. D. Jathanna | B.D. | 1952–55 | CSI | Karnataka |
| Samuel Amirtham | B.D. | 1953–56 | CSI | Kerala |
| Joseph Mar Thoma | B.D. | 1953–57 | MMTSC | Kerala |
| John Philipose | B.D. | 1955–58 | CSI | Kerala |
| K. V. Mathew | M.Th. (OT) | 1957–58 | MMTSC | Kerala |
| Gnana Robinson | B.D. | 1957–60 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| Gnana Robinson | M.Th. (OT) | 1961–63 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| D. P. Shettian | B.D. | 1960–61 | CSI | Karnataka |
| R. Yesurathnam | B.D. | 1963–67 | CSI | Telangana |
| R. Yesurathnam | M.Th. | 1969–72 | CSI | Telangana |
| R. Yesurathnam | D.Th. | 1978–82 | CSI | Telangana |
| G. T. Abraham | B.D. | 1962–66 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| C. L. Furtado | B.D. | 1962–64 | CSI | Karnataka |
| Arvind P. Nirmal | B.D | 1962- 65 | CNI | Maharashtra |
| Kallarakkal Abraham George | M.Th. (OT) | 1963–65 | MOSC | Kerala |
| Wesley Ariarajah | B.D. | 1963–66 | MCSL | Sri Lanka |
| Mar Aprem Mooken | M.Th. | 1964–66 | ACE | Kerala |
| B. P. Sugandhar | B.D. | 1964–68 | CSI | Telangana |
| Philipose Mar Eusebius | B.D. | 1964–66 | MMTSC | Kerala |
| R. S. Sugirtharajah | B.D. | 1965–69 | MCSL | Sri Lanka |
| R. S. Sugirtharajah | M.Th. (NT) | 1973–75 | MCSL | Sri Lanka |
| S. John Theodore | B.D. | 1966–70 | CSI | Telangana |
| S. John Theodore | M.Th. (OT) | 1972–74 | CSI | Telangana |
| H. S. Wilson | B.D. | 1967–70 | CSI | Karnataka |
| Basil Rebera | B.D. | 1967–71 | Laity | Sri Lanka |
| Basil Rebera | M.Th. (OT) | 1971–73 | Laity | Sri Lanka |
| Elizabeth Paul | B.D. | 1967–74 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| Timotheas Hembrom | B.D. | 1968–70 | NELC | Jharkhand |
| Timotheas Hembrom | M.Th. (OT) | 1971–73 | NELC | Jharkhand |
| D. I. Hans | B.D. | 1968–71 | CSI | Karnataka |
| D. I. Hans | M.Th. | 1977–79 | CSI | Karnataka |
| P. J. Lawrence | B.D. | 1968–71 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| J. Paul Rajashekar | B.D. | 1968–71 | IELC | Tamil Nadu |
| J. W. Gladstone | B.D. | 1969–72 | CSI | Kerala |
| J. W. Gladstone | M.Th. | 1972–74 | CSI | Kerala |
| D. W. Jesudoss | M.Th. | 1970–71 | TELC | Tamil Nadu |
| Sydney Salins | B.D. | 1970–74 | CSI | Karnataka |
| Sydney Salins | M.Th. (NT) | 1980–82 | CSI | Karnataka |
| D. Dhanaraj | B.D. | 1970–74 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| D. Dhanaraj | M.Th. (OT) | 1976–78 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| D. S. Satyaranjan | M.Th. (NT) | 1971–73 | IPC | Andhra Pradesh |
| G. Babu Rao | M.Th. (OT) | 1971–73 | CBCNC | Andhra Pradesh |
| G. Babu Rao | Doctoral studies | 1980–82 | CBCNC | Andhra Pradesh |
| Nitoy Achümi | M.Th. (OT) | 1971–73 | NBCC | Nagaland |
| Christopher Asir | B.D. | 1971–75 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| John Sadananda | B.D. | 1972–74 | CSI | Karnataka |
| P. Surya Prakash | B.D. | 1972–76 | CSI | Telangana |
| P. Surya Prakash | M.Th. (NT) | 1980–82 | CSI | Telangana |
| D. N. Premnath | B.D. | 1973–77 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| M. Mani Chacko | B.D. | 1975–79 | CSI | Kerala |
| M. Mani Chacko | M.Th. (OT) | 1981–83 | CSI | Kerala |
| K. David Udayakumar | B.D. | 1977–81 | SALC | Andhra Pradesh |
| K. David Udayakumar | M.Th. (NT) | 1982–85 | SALC | Andhra Pradesh |
| Ravela Joseph | M.Th. | 1978–80 | STBC | Andhra Pradesh |
| Ravela Joseph | Doctoral studies | 1983–84 | STBC | Andhra Pradesh |
| G. Devakadasham | M.Th. | 1979–81 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| N. Sam Yesudhas | M. Th. | 1979-81 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| G. D. V. Prasad | M.Th. (OT) | 1979–81 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| Roger Gaikwad | M.Th. | 1981 | MCI PCI | Maharashtra |
| G. Dyvasirvadam | M.Th. | 1982–84 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| G. Dyvasirvadam | Doctoral studies | 1992 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar | B.D. | 1983–87 | ALC | Tamil Nadu |
| Evangeline Anderson-Rajkumar | D.Th. | 1992–97 | ALC | Tamil Nadu |
| K. Reuben Mark | B.D. | 1984–88 | CSI | Telangana |
| K. Reuben Mark | M.Th. | 1992–94 | CSI | Telangana |
| Ch. Victor Moses | M.Th. (OT) | 1986–88 | AELC | Andhra Pradesh |
| Annie Watson | B.D. | 1987–91 | CSI | Karnataka |
| B. D. Prasada Rao | M.Th. | 1987–89 | CSI | Andhra Pradesh |
| H. R. Cabral | M.Th. | 1988–90 | CSI | Karnataka |
| H. R. Cabral | D.Th. | 1992–97 | CSI | Karnataka |
| Jonadob Nathaniel | M.Th. (NT) | 1988–90 | CSI | Tamil Nadu |
| Daniel Sadananda | M.Th. (NT) | 1988–90 | CSI | Karnataka |
| A. C. Solomon Raj | B.D. | 1988–92 | CSI | Telangana |
| A. C. Solomon Raj | M.Th. | 1998-01 | CSI | Telangana |