Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College

Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College (MBCBC), Shamshabad, founded in 1920,[4] is a ministerial training institution of the Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches in India, a Protestant[6] Church Society headquartered in Jadcherla and is affiliated[2] to the nation's first[7] University, the Senate of Serampore College (University) {a University under Section 2 (f) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956[8]}[9]with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish charter and ratified by the Government of West Bengal.

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

Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College (MBCBC)
యెమె. బి. బైబిల్ కళాశాల
Former names
Bethany Bible School,[1]
Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute
Motto
APTUM EFFICIANT AD TESTIMONIUM DANT UTILE LIGNUM
Motto in English
Equip to Serve for Effective Witness
TypeSeminary
Established1920[1]
AffiliationSenate of Serampore College (University), Serampore 712 201,
Hooghly district, West Bengal[2]
PrincipalThe Rev. I. P. Asheervadam, CMBCI, D. Th.[3](Serampore)
Academic staff
10+
Students500+[4]
Undergraduates100+[5]
Location
Rallaguda Road, Shamshabad 501 218, Rajendranagar Mandal, Rangareddy District
,
Telangana
,
India,
Telephone: 08413222345

17.2726946°N 78.3850377°E / 17.2726946; 78.3850377
Websitewww.mbcbiblecollege.com
Location in Telangana
Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College (India)

The MBCBC is among the four Theologiates operating in Telangana, promoting the vocation of Priesthood to take forward the Christian missions, with the other three being,

Among these theologiates, St. John's Regional Seminary (Theologiate) is affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University, Rome,[12] while the remaining three, which includes the MBCBC, are affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University), Serampore.[2]

History

The Missions

The Mennonites initiated their Christian mission in Telangana with the arrival of Abraham and Maria Friesen in 1890[13] and worked together with the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society/Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches in Nalgonda. Paul D. Wiebe writes that after they went and returned from a furlough in 1899, they began to work on establishing their first mission station in 1903 in Malakpet in Hyderabad.[13] After realising the need for theological education, the CMCBI began to send its ministerial candidates to STBC-Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary in Ramayapatnam.[14]

Establishment of the Bible College

The year 1920[1] is attributed to the founding of the College in Nagarkurnool[13] under the name Bethany Bible School[13] which later on was moved to its present location in Shamshabad.[15] Over a period of time, the School was rechristened as Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute.[11] The Rev. S. Solomon in A Brief History of Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute[16] recorded the movements of the College to various towns chronologically,

It must be noted that even though the Church Society founded a seminary in 1920, it continued[14] to send its ministerial candidates to STBC-Ramayapatnam Baptist Theological Seminary in Ramayapatnam until 1970, when it chose Union Biblical Seminary, Pune and later, CSI-United Theological College, Bangalore. Finally, after gaining University affiliation in the 1990s,[14] it began training its candidates within its Seminary for graduate education.

In 1969 when the Board of Governors of the Andhra Christian Theological College set up an internal curriculum revision committee to introspect their courses, the members of the Kretzmann Commission also visited the MBCBC for a field visit as part of their itinerary[17] led by eminent ecclesiastical personalities who include, The Rev. M. L. Kretzmann, IELC, The Rev. K. Devasahayam, AELC, The Rev. A. B. Masilamani, CBCNC and The Rev. C. S. Sundaresan, CSI.

Main article: Kretzmann Commission Report

University affiliation

Efforts were made by the Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Churches in India to affiliate the MBCBC with the Senate of Serampore College (University) ever since the College began offering B.Th. courses from 1989 onwards during the Principalship of The Rev. R. S. Lemuel,[18] CMBCI. It was in 1994[19] that the Senate Commission visited the College during the tenure of the University Registrar, the New Testament Scholar, The Rev. D. S. Satyaranjan who deputed the Church Historian, Bishop Emeritus J. W. Gladstone, CSI, the Systematic Theologian, The Rev. O. V. Jathanna,[20] CSI and others followed by another Commission led by the Old Testament Scholar, The Rev. Gnana Robinson, CSI and the Systematic Theologian, The Rev. P. Kambar Manickam,[21] TELC, who conducted an academic feasibility following the thorough affiliating regimen of the University and reported to the Senate of Serampore College (University). Subsequently, the College availed the teaching of faculty from the nearest theologiate, the Andhra Christian Theological College for core subjects that included the Old Testament Scholar,[22] The Rev. G. Babu Rao,[23] CBCNC who took up teaching on an adjunct basis and from thereon with the full-time faculty on its rolls, the College built up itself up to the B.D. level. In 1995, the College was provisionally[19] affiliated[24] to the Senate of Serampore College (University) and continues[2] to be an important affiliated institution.

Academics

Course offerings

The MBCBC offers the following three courses, two of which are affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University). For those taking up full-time vocation of Priesthood, the College offers full-time 5-year fully residential B. D. course with University affiliation for Christians of Protestant, Orthodox, Charismatic and the Small and Indigenous Churches. A Diploma level course introducing Christianity is open for people of all faiths,[25] also offered through the University. In addition, the College has initiated a post-graduate diploma in peace studies[26] under the seal of the College.

Course offerings at the MBCBC
Course NameDurationModeAcademic
requirement		Community
requirement		Academic Authority
Bachelor of Divinity[27]5 yearsResidentialIntermediateChristiansSerampore[2]
Diploma in Christian Studies[28]1 yearDistanceIntermediateOpen to all faiths[25]Serampore[2]
P. G. Diploma in Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution Studies[29]1 yearDistanceIntermediateChristiansMBCBC

Faculty

The faculty of the MBCBC have a minimum of master's level qualification with teaching experience across affiliated colleges of the Senate of Serampore College (University) from various Protestant Church congregations.

Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College Faculty
(as per updated faculty list of the MBCBC uploaded by the Senate)[30]
DisciplineFaculty NameGen
der		DomicileHighest
Degree		Alma MaterUniversity
English languageMs. Christina LurdhamaniLaityFTelanganaM. A.FPU, Fresno, CA (United States)[31]Fresno Pacific
ReligionThe Rev. B. Gnana Manohar, AELCMAndhra PradeshM. Th.ARRC, Hyderabad[32]Serampore
New TestamentThe Rev. K. Balakrishnan,[3] CSIMTamil NaduD. Th.UTC, Bangalore (Karnataka)Serampore
New TestamentThe Rev. K. Suraj Kumar, CBMMAndhra PradeshPh.D.University of Cape Town,
Cape Town (South Africa)[33]		Cape Town
Systematic TheologyThe Rev. A. Shyam Rao, CMBCI[34]MTelanganaM. Th.Serampore
MissionsThe Rev. B. Jacob Dhinakar, CMBCIMTelanganaM. Th.Gurukul, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)Serampore
Old TestamentThe Rev. K. Vijaya Kumar, CMBCIMTelanganaM. Th.Faith Theological Seminary,
Manakala (Kerala)[35]		Serampore
History of ChristianityThe Rev. Y. D. Jayaker, CMBCIMTelanganaM. Th.FFRRC, Kottayam (Kerala)[36]Serampore
History of ChristianityThe Rev. I. P. Asheervadam, CMBCIMTelanganaD. Th.UTC, Bangalore (Karnataka)[37]Serampore
ReligionsThe Rev. R. N. Peter[38]MPh. D.
Christian MinistryThe Rev. Devahi Selina, AELCFTamil NaduM. Th.UTC, Bangalore (Karnataka)Serampore
New TestamentThe Rev. Ch. Nehemiah ReddyMM. Th.Serampore
Christian MinistryThe Rev. TsuktitulaMM. Th.
Old TestamentThe Rev. Lalfakawmi PachuauMM. Th.

Library

The Library at the MBCBC is well stocked and has three sections[39] and well maintained. In fact, prior to becoming the Principal, The Rev. I. P. Asheervadam used to oversee the library.[40]

  • Main Library,
  • Historical Library and Archives, and
  • Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies (CPCRS) Peace Library

Peter Penner writes that the missionary Ms. Emma Lepp[1] who used to teach at the College was entrusted in 1962[1] with the task of consolidating the library acquisitions. During the later years, there have been overseas Librarians who have guided and helped in the maintenance of the library, which includes, Ms. Shirley Anne[41] of Kansas.

The library is one of the oldest and continues to preserve archival holdings and was referred to by the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College when it initiated the series Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India[42] in the 1990s during the incumbency of the Christian Theologian, The Rev. H. S. Wilson, CSI, the Christian Ethics Scholar, The Rev. Hunter P. Mabry, UMC and the New Testament Scholar, The Rev. Zaihmingthanga, PCI for which the Christian Theologian, The Rev. Ravela Joseph, STBC,[43] and the Religious Scholar, The Rev. B. Suneel Bhanu, AELC[43] were entrusted with the compilation in Telugu language.[43] The library continues to be oft[40] referred[44] to by Scholars with the recent being the Systematic Theologian, James Elisha Taneti who also made use of the resources here in compiling History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography in 2011 for the American Theological Library Association.

Student Life and Annual Days

Enrolments at the College have been on an all-time high with the College getting affiliation status with the Senate of Serampore College (University) with candidates for Priesthood hailing from the Indian subcontinent as well as overseas candidates from the African continent.[45] At the end of every academic year, the College awards Diplomas to its students pending final University Degree which is awarded by the Senate of Serampore College (University). For every College graduation, notable Theologians and Ministers with substantial pastoral experience have been delivering the graduation address. In recent times, in 2016, it was the Homiletics Scholar, The Right Reverend K. Reuben Mark,[46] Bishop - in - Karimnagar who delivered the graduation address. For the College Annual Graduation of 2017, the new Bishop, The Right Reverend A. C. Solomon Raj,[46] Bishop - in - Medak was invited to deliver the Graduation Address on 8 April 2017.[46]

Succession of Principals since 1920

Since the founding of the Bible College in 1920,[4] there have been many who led the College beginning with The Rev. Daniel F. Bergthold[4] and down the line, The Rev. N. P. James became the first postcolonial Principal of the College.[16] One of the Principals, The Rev. Paul G. Hiebert was Fulbright Visiting Professor[47] at the Osmania University during 1974-1975.[48]

Period (Years)Principal (Names) Academic Credentials (Earned)
1920-1921,
1923-1928		The Rev. Daniel F. Bergthold[15]B. A. (McPherson), M. Div. (Moody)[49]
1921-1923The Rev. Johann H. Pankratz [15]Th. B. (Rochester)[50]
1929-1945The Rev. John H. Lohrenz[51] B. A. (Tabor), M. A. (Bluffton)[52]
1945-1952The Rev. Peter V. BalzerB. A. (Tabor), Th. B. (Central), M. A. (Phillips)[53]
1958-1966The Rev. Paul G. Hiebert[54]B. A. (Tabor), M. A. (Fresno Pacific), M. A. (Minnesota), Ph. D. (Minnesota)[55]
1966-1968The Rev. Peter M. HammB. A. (British Columbia), M. A. (Fresno Pacific)[56]
1970,
1974-1980		The Rev. N. P. James[51]B. D. (Serampore), M. A. (Fresno Pacific)
1971-1973,
1989-1993		The Rev. R. S. Lemuel[51]B. A. (Osmania), M. A. (Fresno Pacific)[57]
1973The Rev. D. J. Arthur[51]B. Com. (Osmania), B. A. (Osmania), B. Ed. (Osmania),
B. D. (Serampore), M. A. (Fresno Pacific), Th. D. (Dallas)
1980-1989
1993-2003		The Rev. V. K. Rufus[54][51]B. A. (Tabor), M. A. (Tabor), M. Div. (Fuller), Th. M. (Trinity)
2003-2004The Rev. S. Solomon[51]B. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore), M. A. (Osmania),
M. Phil. (Madurai),
2004-2008The Rev. Joy Joseph
2008-2011The Rev. Liangao Soto[58]B. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore), D. Th. (Serampore)
2011-PresentThe Rev. I. P. Asheervadam[51]B. A. (Osmania), M. A. (Osmania), B. Th. (Serampore),
B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore), D. Th. (Serampore)

See also

References
  1. Peter Penner, Russians, North Americans, and Telugus: The Mennonite Brethren Mission in India, 1885-1975, Kindred, Winnipeg and Hillsboro, 1997.
  2. Senate of Serampore College (University), List of Affiliated Colleges.
  3. Senate of Serampore College (University), List of the Recipient of the Degree of Doctor of Theology.
  4. H. T. Esau, First Sixty Years of M. B. Missions, The Mennonite Brethren Publishing House, Hillsboro, 1954.
  5. David A. Wiebe, Prayer Update February 2016
  6. R. S. Aseervadam, Mennonite Brethren Church and Social Action in Andhra Pradesh, Ithihas - Journal of Andhra Pradesh Archives, Volume 5, 1977.
  7. Sankar Ray, Hindu Business Line, 11 April 2008 Almost a century later, the charter was endorsed officially under the Bengal Govt Act IV of 1918. Internet, accessed 30 November 2008.
  8. "UGC Act-1956" (PDF). mhrd.gov.in/. Secretary, University Grants Commission. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  9. 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 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.
  10. Joseph C. Houpert, A Christianity in India and Ceylon, Parts 52-1964, Good Pastor Depot, Madras, 1966, p.95.
  11. M. Ezra Sargunam, Mission Mandate: A Compendium on the Perspective of Missions in India, Mission India, Chennai, 1992, pp.495, 508.
  12. Mathew M. Vallipalam, Priestly Formation in the Changing Society of India: A Sociological Investigation in the Major Seminaries of India, St. Paul Publications, Bombay, 1989, p.49.
  13. Paul D. Wiebe, Christians in Andhra Pradesh: the Mennonites of Mahbubnagar, CISRS/CLS, Bangalore/Madras, 1988, pp.67-68, 188.
  14. John Lapp, Churches Engage Asian Traditions: A Global Mennonite History, Good Books, Intercouse, PA, 2011.
  15. Foreign Missions, India: The American Mennonite Brethren Mission in India 1898-1948, Board of Foreign Missions of the Conference of the Mennonite Brethren Church of North America, 1948, p.102.
  16. S. Solomon, A Brief History of Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute in D. N. Purushotham (Compiled), Mennonite Brethren Theological Graduates with their Life History and Literary Contributions (1920-2011), Hyderabad, 2008, pp.229-232.
  17. Theological Education in Andhra Pradesh - The Kretzmann Commission Report, Printed by A. Nageswara Rao at Saraswathi Power Press, Rajahmundry, 1970.
  18. Mennonite Archival Image Database
  19. Light of Life: Magazine of Christian Growth, Volume 38, 1996, p.68
  20. Indian Theological Studies, Volume 39, 2002, p.5
  21. James A. Bergquist, P. Kambar Manickam, The crisis of dependency in third world ministries: a critique of inherited missionary forms in India, Christian Literature Society, Madras, 1976.
  22. G. Babu Rao, Content Analysis of Theological Syllabi – Old Testament in Religion and Society, Volume XXXII, Number 3, September 1985.
  23. Guide to Indian Periodical Literature, Volume 23, 1989, p.57
  24. National Council of Churches Review, Volume 119, 1999, p.440
  25. Senate of Serampore College (University), Courses offered.
  26. John D. Roth, Historical Conditions of Mennonite Peacebuilding Approaches: Global Anabaptism and Neo-Anabaptism in Andrew P. Klager (Edited), From Suffering to Solidarity: The Historical Seeds of Mennonite Interreligious, Interethnic, and International Peacebuilding, Wipf and Stock, Eugene, 2015, p.109.
  27. MBCBC, Entry to B.D.
  28. MBCBC, Academics
  29. MBCBC, Centre for Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies
  30. Senate of Serampore College (University), Faculty with subjects taught.
  31. Theses presented by students seeking the Master of Arts Degree in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies from Fresno Pacific University.
  32. Senate of Serampore College (University), Result M.Th. Qualifying Examinations, 2015.
  33. K. Suraj Kumar, Paul's Rhetorical use of Complex Metaphors in 1 Corinthians 3-4, Doctoral thesis submitted to University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 2007.
  34. Mennonite World Conference, Testimonies - Ministry partner update: ICOMB – February 2017.
  35. Serampore, Year 2013 M. Th. Registered Candidates at Faith Theological Seminary, Manakala.
  36. Y. D. Jayaker, The Role of the Mennonite Brethren Church of India in the upliftment of Telangana region from 1958 - 2008, Masters thesis submitted to Senate of Serampore College (University), 2011.
  37. I. P. Asheervadam, The Historical Setting for Mennonite and Brethren in Christ Churches in India, Mennonite Life, Volume 56, Number 3, September 2001.
  38. Minutes of the Meeting of the Working Committee of the Academic Council held on July 17, 2012, p.43.
  39. MBCBC, The Library
  40. The Mennonite Quarterly Review, Volume 81, 2007, p.18
  41. Kaleidoscope - Bethel College Mennonite Church, April–May 2014, p.6.
  42. Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India, 1994,
  43. R. Joseph, B. Suneel Bhanu (Compiled), Bibliography of Original Christian Writings in India in Telugu, published by the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, Bangalore, 1993.
  44. James Elisha Taneti, History of the Telugu Christians: A Bibliography, Scarecrow, Plymouth, 2011, pp.39, 42, 44, 53, 71, 89, 99.
  45. MBCBC, Our History
  46. Missiology, Volume 10, 1982, p.35
  47. Robert Eric Frykenberg, Paul G. Hiebert 1932-2007 in International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Volume 31, Number 3, 2003, p.128.
  48. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online on Daniel F. Bergthold.
  49. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online on Johann H. Pankratz.
  50. D. N. Purushotham (Compiled), Mennonite Brethren Theological Graduates with their Life History and Literary Contributions (1920-2011), Self-published by the Author, Hyderabad, 2008.
  51. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online on John H. Lohrenz.
  52. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online on Peter V. Balzer.
  53. Mark J.H. Klassen, Hiebert Memorial Academic Center to be dedicated, 2013,
  54. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online on G. Paul Hiebert.
  55. Peter M. Hamm, ‘’Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies’’
  56. R. S. Lemuel, The Mennonite Brethren Medical Centre, Jadcherla provides avenues for Evangelism to Mennonite Brethren Churches of India, Fresno Pacific University Biblical Seminary, Fresno, 1977. Cited in Cornelius J. Dyck, Dennis D. Martin (Edited), The Mennonite Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Reference Work on the Anabaptist-Mennonite Movement, Volume 5, Mennonite Brethren Publishing House, Hillsboro, 1990, p.28.
  57. Liangao Soto, Tribal theology of integral humanhood: A resource from shamanism of the Nagas, ISPCK, New Delhi, 2011.

Further reading
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