| 4 September 2010 |
| Theological college turns 100 |
BANGALORE, India (APEN) – An ecumenical theological college that has trained generations of students to become pastors, priests, bishops and church leaders has turned 100.
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The United Theological College (UTC) in the southern Indian city of Bangalore was founded on 8 July 1910 by a European missionary, Bernard Lucas.
Hans Raj Bhardwaj, governor of Karnataka lauded the UTC for its contributions in the field of theological education and church ministerial formation at a function held here on July 8 to mark the centenary celebrations, which was attended by church leaders from different denominations.
The governor also recalled the contributions of the Christians in the national freedom struggle for the country’s independence.
The academic programs of the UTC include the four-year Batchelor of Divinity, the two-year Master of Theology, the Doctorate of Theology, YMCA secretaries training course and diploma courses on counseling and women’s studies.
The college serves students belonging to the Protestant, Orthodox, Pentecostal and independent churches from different parts of the country.
The college gives special attention to students coming from the marginalized sections of the society.
According to Reverend John Samuel, principal of UTC, field education is an important component of the ministerial training at the UTC, whose motto has been “Not to be served, but to serve.”
The college strongly believes that class room experience needs to be supplemented by direct learning experiences from actual life situations and so “our students are placed in communities, confronting varying concerns and challenges, in order to understand the depth of human struggles,”
The college also has programs for the students to get involved in social work among the urban poor, inmates of old age homes and children’s homes.
The UTC has “produced eminent theologians and leaders for the churches, and has played an important role in developing third world theologies, such as dalit theology, tribal theology and Indian feminist theology.
The UTC library, the largest in Asia, continues to attract theological community in India and outside, as well as non-theology scholars and researchers.
The library has about 75, 000 books, 672 periodical titles, 420 microfilms of historical record and 23, 023 microfiches which includes Indian census from 1872.
Among the future plans of the UTC are setting up of a Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Center for Dalit Research, and a Network of Lay Theologians.
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