Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College

The Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College (BTESSC) is the arm of theological education under the Senate of Serampore College (University).[1][2] BTESSC was formed in 1975.

Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College
BTESSC
TypeRegulatory body for Theological education in India
Established1975
PresidentZacharias Mar Aprem
Location
Bangalore
,
Karnataka
,
India
AffiliationsSenate of Serampore College (University)
Websitebtessc.org

The Senate of Serampore College (University), under which the BTESSC was constituted, is a university within the meaning of Section 2 (f)[3] of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956[4] (as modified up to 20 December 1985).

In fact, Serampore was the first institution[5] to be given the status of a university in India.

The BTESSC is one of the major representative bodies of churches legally constituted and responsible for administering theological education in South Asia[6]

Secretary of BTESSC, The Rev. T. Matthews Emmanuel, CBCNC died on 24 April 2021 in Bangalore. He began his theological studies in Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad and upgraded his studies in Union Biblical Seminary, Pune. For postgraduate studies, he enrolled in Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture, Kottayam and went on to complete doctoral studies in South Asia Theological Research Institute, then in Bangalore. He began his teaching career from Baptist Theological College, Pfütsero (Nagaland), Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College, Shamshabad (Telangana), and Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad (Telangana). He was Secretary of BTESSC from 2018 to 2021.

Membership

The BTESSC is a participating member in the World Conference of Associations of Theological Institutions[7]

History

Serampore was the only means of validating evangelical theological training in India until 1978.[8] The Union Biblical Seminary, Poona was constituted in 1953 as an evangelical theological college at B.Th. and B.D. levels. It was accredited by the Board of Theological Education of the National Council of Churches in India in 1964 which was formed in 1955 to bring together the unaffiliated Bible schools and seminaries. UBS was affiliated to Serampore in 1973 at B.D. level. After a series of joint consultations with Serampore, the Board of Theological Education of NCCI decided in favour of the formation of one national structure for Theological Education in India. When Serampore accepted the proposal, a joint structure was formed in July 1975 as the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College.[8]

Its functions

The functions of the Board as given in the Constitution of the BTESSC (revised and adopted on 3–4 February 1994 portray its mandatory role in the promotion of theological education in the country, viz.,

  • Reflection and pioneering on new methods and style in theological education in relation to the need of the country and of the Churches
  • Production of theological literature in general especially in regional languages
  • Promotion of the welfare of theological teachers and students
  • Development of ecumenical cooperation among theological institutions and their libraries
  • Promotion of relationship between Churches, Theological institutions and study centres
  • Any other issues related to theological education
  • The Board shall recommend names of persons to be considered by the Senate for nomination to be appointed as Senators.

In matters of theological education, the BTESSC acts as an "advisory body" of the Senate of Serampore College (University) and the Senate is its voice.

Administration
  • Chairperson - The Rev. Zacharias Mar Aprem
  • Secretary – Vacant
  • Treasurer – The Rev. Akumarthi Samuel

Notable persons associated with BTESSC

References
  1. Wati Longchar Towards a common strategy and mechanism
  2. Christian Conference of Asia "ETE paper". Archived from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008. Towards a common strategy and mechanism to facilitate theological education and human resource development in south Asia churches
  3. Under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956, 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 recoginsed 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."UGC and Senate of Serampore College (University)". Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  4. The University Grants Commission Act, 1956 Archived 29 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Murli Manohar Joshi, Higher Education in India Vision and Action, A paper presented at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in the Twenty First Century, Paris, 5–9 October 1998. Internet, accessed 22 August 2008. "Department of Secondary&Higher Education". Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
  6. Wati Longchar, "Challenges for Ecumenical Theological Education : Towards a common strategy and mechanism", Jorhat, 2002, p.2
  7. WOCATI web site. Internet, accessed 28 June 2008 Archived 27 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  8. D. K. Sahu, Reorganizing the Structure: A possibility for Mission Today "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link), p.12
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