United Theological College, Bangalore


United Theological College is a seminary founded in 1910 situated in the southern city of Bangalore in the state of Karnataka in South India and affiliated to the nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.
Currently, the principalship is held by the Old Testament Scholar, The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSI, Dr. Theol., 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 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.
Succession of Old Testament Faculty

  • 1931-1958/1963-1965, The Rev. ✝M. H. Harrison, Th.M.,
  • 1959–1993, The Rev. E. C. John, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1963–1969, The Rev. Samuel Amirtham, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1972–1978, The Rev. G. M. Butterworth, Ph. D.,
  • 1973–1978, The Rev. Gerhard Wehmeier, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1979–1994, The Rev. Theodore N. Swanson, Ph. D.,
  • 1984–1987, The Rev. D. N. Premnath, Th. D.,
  • The Rev. James Vijayakumar, D. Th.,
  • The Rev. D. Jones Muthunayagom, D. Th.,
  • 1993–2000, The Rev. Gnana Robinson, Dr. Theol.,
  • The Rev. Jules Francis Gomes, Ph. D.,
  • The Rev. K. Jesurathnam, Ph. D.,
  • The Rev. J. R. John Samuel Raj, CSI, Dr. Theol.
  • 2016-The Rev. Laila L-Vijayan, D.Th.
  • 2017–The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, Dr. Theol.
Visiting OT Faculty from overseas Universities
  • 1957, The Rev. Norman Henry Snaith,
  • 1979, The Rev. Klaus Koch, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1986, The Rev. John Emerton, M.A.,,
  • 1994, The Rev. Martin Krause, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1994, The Rev. Donata Doerfel, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1994–1996, The Rev. Henning Graf Reventlow, Dr. Theol.,
  • 1995–1996, The Rev. Ed Noort, Dr. Theol.,
  • 2007–2010, The Rev. Byron E. Shafer, Ph.D.,,
  • 2007, The Rev. :de:Friedemann W. Golka, Ph.D.,,

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 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 : οὐ... διακονηθῆναι ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι

Courses offered

The UTC was granted autonomy in the year 1976 by the Senate of Serampore College. The following are the courses offered by the College:
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 with the University of Edinburgh wherein a post-graduate student can study a semester in Bengaluru.

Publications

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

Succession of Administrators

Academic administrators who have led the seminary have been designated Principal.
YearsNameAcademic credentials
1910–1911The Rev. ✝James Mathers, LMS, OBE,B. D.
1911–1924The Rev. ✝L. P. Larsen, DMS,M.A.,
1924–1930The Rev. ✝D. S. Herrick, ABCFMM.A.,
1930–1931The Rev. ✝W. J. T. Small, WMMSM.A.,
1931–1936The Rev. ✝W. H. Thorp, WMMSB.A.,
1936–1937The Rev. ✝George Parker, LMSB. D.
1937–1954The Rev. ✝M. H. Harrison, ABCFMTh.M.,
1954–1983The Rev. ✝J. R. Chandran, CSIS.T.M.,
1983–1993The Rev. E. C. John, CSIDr. Theol.,
1993–2000The Rev. Gnana Robinson, CSIDr. Theol.,
2000–2008The Rev. O. V. Jathanna, CSIDr. Theol.,
2008–2009The Rev. S. I. Selvanayagam, CSID. Th.,
2009–2017The Rev. J. R. Samuel Raj, CSIDr. Theol.
2017–The Rev. Ch. Vasantha Rao, CSIDr. Theol.

Notable people

NameCourseYearsCongre-
gation		Domicile
Hospet SumitraB.D.1910–13CSIAndhra Pradesh
Premaka GurushanthaB.D.1912–16CSIKarnataka
Juhanon Mar ThomaB.D.1917–22MMTSCKerala
Emani SambayyaB.D.1928–32CNIAndhra Pradesh
D. T. NilesB.D.1929–34CMCSri Lanka
H. D. L. AbrahamB.D.1934–37CSIKarnataka
P. SolomonB.D.1936–40CSITelangana
A. E. InbanathanB.D.1939–43CSITamil Nadu
C. ArangadenB.D.1940–44CSIKerala
B. G. Prasada RaoB.D.1941–45CSITelangana
B. G. Prasada RaoM.Th.1953–56CSITelangana
S. J. SamarthaB.D.1941–45CSIKarnataka
B. PrabhudassB.D.1941–45CSITelangana
B. PrabhudassM.Th.1951–52CSITelangana
J. R. ChandranB.D.1941–44CSITamil Nadu
J. R. ChandranM.Th.1944–45CSITamil Nadu
K. DevasahayamM.Th.1942–43AELCAndhra Pradesh
Philipose Mar ChrysostomB.D.1943–46MMTSCKerala
Lynn de SilvaB.D.1943–47CMCSri Lanka
Solomon DoraiswamyB.D.1944–46CSITamil Nadu
Alexander Mar ThomaB.D.1945–48MMTSCKerala
D. J. AmbalavanarB.D.1945–50CSISri Lanka
B. E. DevarajSpecial
course		1946–47CNIAndhra Pradesh
Gaddala SolomonB.D.1949–52STBCAndhra Pradesh
Gaddala SolomonRefresher course in
Hebrew language		1972–73STBCAndhra Pradesh
N. D. Ananda Rao SamuelB.D.1950–53CSIAndhra Pradesh
V. C. SamuelB.D.1950–53MOSCKerala
Victor PremasagarB.D.1950–54CSITelangana
E. C. JohnB.D.1951–54CSIKerala
G. B. DevasahayamB.D.1952–56CSITelangana
K. E. SwamidassB.D.1952–56CSITelangana
C. D. JathannaB.D.1952–55CSIKarnataka
Samuel AmirthamB.D.1953–56CSIKerala
Joseph Mar ThomaB.D.1953–57MMTSCKerala
John PhiliposeB.D.1955–58CSIKerala
K. V. MathewM.Th. '1957–58MMTSCKerala
Gnana RobinsonB.D.1957–60CSITamil Nadu
Gnana RobinsonM.Th. '1961–63CSITamil Nadu
D. P. ShettianB.D.1960–61CSIKarnataka
R. YesurathnamB.D.1963–67CSITelangana
R. YesurathnamM.Th.1969–72CSITelangana
R. YesurathnamD.Th.1978–82CSITelangana
G. T. AbrahamB.D.1962–66CSIAndhra Pradesh
C. L. FurtadoB.D.1962–64CSIKarnataka
Kallarakkal Abraham GeorgeM.Th. '1963–65MOSCKerala
Wesley AriarajahB.D.1963–66MCSLSri Lanka
Mar Aprem MookenM.Th.1964–66ACEKerala
B. P. SugandharB.D.1964–68CSITelangana
Philipose Mar EusebiusB.D.1964–66MMTSCKerala
R. S. SugirtharajahB.D.1965–69MCSLSri Lanka
R. S. SugirtharajahM.Th. '1973–75MCSLSri Lanka
S. John TheodoreB.D.1966–70CSITelangana
S. John TheodoreM.Th. '1972–74CSITelangana
H. S. WilsonB.D.1967–70CSIKarnataka
Basil ReberaB.D.1967–71LaitySri Lanka
Basil ReberaM.Th. '1971–73LaitySri Lanka
Elizabeth PaulB.D.1967–74CSITamil Nadu
Timotheas HembromB.D.1968–70NELCJharkhand
Timotheas HembromM.Th. '1971–73NELCJharkhand
D. I. HansB.D.1968–71CSIKarnataka
D. I. HansM.Th.1977–79CSIKarnataka
P. J. LawrenceB.D.1968–71CSIAndhra Pradesh
J. Paul RajashekarB.D.1968–71IELCTamil Nadu
J. W. GladstoneB.D.1969–72CSIKerala
J. W. GladstoneM.Th.1972–74CSIKerala
D. W. JesudossM.Th.1970–71TELCTamil Nadu
Sydney SalinsB.D.1970–74CSIKarnataka
Sydney SalinsM.Th. '1980–82CSIKarnataka
D. DhanarajB.D.1970–74CSITamil Nadu
D. DhanarajM.Th. '1976–78CSITamil Nadu
D. S. SatyaranjanM.Th. '1971–73IPCAndhra Pradesh
G. Babu RaoM.Th. '1971–73CBCNCAndhra Pradesh
G. Babu RaoDoctoral
studies		1980–82CBCNCAndhra Pradesh
Nitoy AchumiM.Th. '1971–73NBCCNagaland
Christopher AsirB.D.1971–75CSITamil Nadu
John SadanandaB.D.1972–74CSIKarnataka
P. Surya PrakashB.D.1972–76CSITelangana
P. Surya PrakashM.Th. '1980–82CSITelangana
D. N. PremnathB.D.1973–77CSIAndhra Pradesh
M. Mani ChackoB.D.1975–79CSIKerala
M. Mani ChackoM.Th. '1981–83CSIKerala
K. David UdayakumarB.D.1977–81SALCAndhra Pradesh
K. David UdayakumarM.Th. '1982–85SALCAndhra Pradesh
Ravela JosephM.Th.1978–80STBCAndhra Pradesh
Ravela JosephDoctoral
studies		1983–84STBCAndhra Pradesh
G. DevakadashamM.Th.1979–81CSITamil Nadu
G. D. V. PrasadM.Th. '1979–81CSIAndhra Pradesh
Roger GaikwadM.Th.1981MCI
PCI		Maharashtra
G. DyvasirvadamM.Th.1982–84CSIAndhra Pradesh
G. DyvasirvadamDoctoral
studies		1992CSIAndhra Pradesh
Evangeline Anderson-RajkumarB.D.1983–87ALCTamil Nadu
Evangeline Anderson-RajkumarD.Th.1992–97ALCTamil Nadu
K. Reuben MarkB.D.1984–88CSITelangana
K. Reuben MarkM.Th.1992–94CSITelangana
Ch. Victor MosesM.Th. '1986–88AELCAndhra Pradesh
Annie WatsonB.D.1987–91CSIKarnataka
B. D. Prasada RaoM.Th.1987–89CSIAndhra Pradesh
H. R. CabralM.Th.1988–90CSIKarnataka
H. R. CabralD.Th.1992–97CSIKarnataka
Jonadob NathanielM.Th. '1988–90CSITamil Nadu
Daniel SadanandaM.Th. 1988–90CSIKarnataka
A. C. Solomon RajB.D.1988–92CSITelangana
A. C. Solomon RajM.Th.1998-01CSITelangana